Joy Hopkinson, CBE/OBE/KC

Employed Barrister, London Borough of Southwark

I am an experienced Barrister of over 24 years call. In my current role as the Head of the Safeguarding and Community Services Legal Team for the LB of Southwark, I am responsible for a team of child care and adult social care lawyers, advocates and legal assistants. I provide specialist legal advice to children social care clients and officers and members within the council on children law and education law matters.

During my career I have practised at the independent Bar in chambers, central government at Treasury Solicitors and was appointed to an Inquiry. Practice areas included immigration and judicial review, crime and family law and regulatory law in respect of fitness to practise.

I enjoy delivering training to legal and social work professionals within the area of child protection and safeguarding with an emphasis on interactive learning and development workshops. I co–ordinated the delivery of training to professionals involved in preparing and presenting care proceedings at the Central Family Courts from 2017–2019 and currently sit on the CFC Family Justice Board Training Sub Committee. In October 2022, I was invited to be a speaker at the Central Family Courts conference, Guildhall, London and presented 'Public Law Reforms – 1 Year on. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. A Local Authority Perspective'.

I sit as a Senior Member of the Valuation Tribunal and as a Lawyer on the Independent Review Board for the Labour Party. I am a Member on Workforce Racial Equality Standards Advisory Board for Social Care.

Contributed to

2

Placing children with a connected person/kinship carer as a foster carer

Practice Notes

This Practice Note provides an overview of the key legislation and procedure in respect of placing looked after children with a connected person as a foster carer. It covers who is considered to be a connected person; what the procedure is for placing a child with a connected person; the assessment procedure for appointing a connected person as a foster carer including on a temporary basis; how the appointment is reviewed and common pitfalls in conducting an assessment.

Local Government

The pre-proceedings process

Practice Notes

This is a Practice Note for local authority practitioners covering the pre-proceedings process prior to the issue of care proceedings. It covers all outcomes arising from a referral to children’s services, from no action required, assessment, accommodation to investigation and the practical steps involved.

Local Government

Practice Area

Local Government

Panel

Contributing Author

Qualified Year

1999

Experience

Labour Party - Lawyer on Independent Reviewing Board (2022 - Present)
Social Work England – Legal Adviser on Fitness to Practise Panels (January 2022 - June 2023)
LB of Lambeth - Principal Lawyer for Social Care Team (2017 - February 2023)
LB of Lambeth - Senior Lawyer (2013 - 2017)
LB of Lambeth - In house Childcare Advocate (2009 - 2013)
4 Brick Court Chambers (2002 - 2009)
Treasury Solicitors (2000 - 2002)