Kirstine Hidalgo Souto Appointed Joint Head of Child Protection

We are thrilled to announce Kirstine Hidalgo Souto’s appointment as Joint Head of Child Protection, working alongside Helen Osborn. Kirstine joined Kent County Council as a Senior Solicitor in 2015 (Kent County Council Legal Services transitioned to become Invicta Law, in 2017) and was later promoted to Principal Solicitor and then Deputy Head of Child Protection. In addition to her leadership role in the team, she undertakes her own advocacy when possible and provides training to social workers on a variety of topics. Here, she reflects on some of the milestones in her professional journey and celebrates the teamwork and dedication that define the Child Protection team.

Reflecting on your professional journey, what are some of the key milestones?

I started my career in 2008 at one of the largest legal aid firms in England and qualified there in July 2011. After I qualified, I moved to work at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets undertaking predominantly child protection work. We were a small team which allowed me to gain experience in a wide variety of cases including  some adult social care work too. It was a very interesting borough to work in, full of cultural and economic contrasts.

In July 2015, I moved to Kent County Council and was appointed the lead solicitor for the legal work relating to Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children. This was amid the migrant crisis spurred on by the Syrian war. We had a huge volume of work come into that team – three or four judicial review letters a day. Together as a team, we grew in our knowledge to the point that the Asylum team are now considered experts in this field of practice.

After taking maternity leave in 2017 and returning in 2018, I moved into a Principal Solicitor role within the Child Protection Team, managing a pod of 16 people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I took on an interim leadership role while a colleague was on maternity leave, stepping into a Deputy Head of Group role upon her return.

What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced, and how did you navigate them?

One of our biggest challenges in working with clients who are public bodies is ensuring that we always deliver best value. Sometimes, it means making changes to enable the team to run more efficiently and effectively, or to ensure we are meeting the client’s expectations and managing the client relationship. Over time, with effective management and communication, we’ve been able to really focus on delivering the best possible value, and looking ahead, it remains a priority.

What do you enjoy most about working within the Child Protection team, and at Invicta Law as a whole? What makes this team special?

The Child Protection team is absolutely amazing! The teamwork is unparalleled. When something goes wrong, everyone jumps in to help, regardless of their role. Whether it means making a cup of tea for a colleague, making calls for counsel or sending a silly GIF to cheer someone up, the support is always there. I’ve never experienced this level of teamwork in any other workplace.

Their dedication is inspirational, too. Everyone here is committed to this kind of work and takes pride in their cases. They see their work as vocational and understand the importance of what they do.

I feel grateful to be surrounded by such a dedicated, inspirational team.

Working in Child Protection exposes you to some difficult realities. What resources or strategies have you found to be effective in supporting your mental well-being?

Every now and then, there is a case that unexpectedly affects me. I am so grateful to be surrounded by a supportive team which means there is always someone who I can call to talk through any mentally difficult cases. Having someone to talk to – someone who understands the work we do and its emotional impact – has been really helpful.

Taking breaks from work is also important. I live near an estuary and often take my dog for a walk down by the water; the smell of the sea has a calming effect on me. It  really helps me to just stand there, breathe, and take in the surroundings. Invicta Law arranges a monthly Breath Club and I use some of the techniques and they have a calming effect.

Having someone to talk to and taking time for myself, like going for a walk, are my go-to strategies. Knowing that we have really good mental health support services available that I can access if I ever need them provides me with a sense of security too.

What are you looking forward to most in the coming year?

I am excited about the opportunity to lead the team alongside Helen and explore ways to strengthen our external presence together, as well as to be able to support anyone in the team who wants to progress in their career. It’s always rewarding to be part of someone’s growth journey. I am also really looking forward to partnership-working with our clients and continuing to deliver excellent services to them.