- Suffolk County Council – Locations see below - Hybrid
- £45,380 - £55,634 per annum (pro rata if part time)
- 37 hours per week - Flexible working options available
- Post 1: West team - West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3YU - Fixed Term or Secondment up to 1 year (absence cover)
- Post 2: North team - Riverside, Lowestoft, NR33 0EQ - Fixed Term or Secondment up to 1 year (absence cover)
- Post 3: Improvement - Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX or West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3YU or Riverside, Lowestoft, NR33 0EQ (with the opportunity for remote working with the occasional visit to the office when required) - Fixed Term or secondment for 1 year (task/project)
- Post 4: Restorative Approaches - Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX or West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3YU or Riverside, Lowestoft, NR33 0EQ - Fixed Term or Secondment up to 12 months (absence cover)
In these varied, challenging and rewarding roles, and you will be part of a small, supportive leadership team, and have the opportunity to shape service delivery both locally and on a countywide basis.
Suffolk Youth Justice Service (SYJS) vision is to work towards child first youth justice system, where children are seen as first as children, treated fairly and supported to build on their strengths. The service delivers child focussed, relationship-based practice to reduce offending improve safety and wellbeing and protect others from risk of harm. The service also works with victims of youth crime.
Your role and responsibilities
Your role, as the Operations Manager, will be split between team management and leading on specific areas of service improvement or development countywide.
Post 1 (West team) and Post 2 (North team)
- manage a multi-agency team to deliver high-quality youth justice services
- have strategic responsibility for one or more service lead areas
- have a high level of autonomy to make decisions in your team and area of work
- be passionate and committed to improving the life chances of children in or on the edge of the youth justice system
- be responsible for the operational delivery of a multi-agency team
- drive improvements in service, team and individual performance
- monitor and report on progress towards improvement goals
- work with colleagues from different professional disciplines to achieve an integrated and responsive service.
Post 3 - Improvement:
- work closely with the Heads of Service to prepare the service for the next inspection
- have strategic responsibility for one or more service lead areas
- be passionate and committed to improving the life chances of children in or on the edge of the youth justice system
- drive improvements in service, team and individual performance
- monitor and report on progress towards improvement goals
- work with colleagues from different professional disciplines to achieve an integrated and responsive service.
Post 4 - Restorative Approaches:
- delivery against the service restorative approaches development plan
- managing staff resources and operations
- agreeing measures to enable you to monitor and report on team performance and outcomes
- ensuring the team work in an integrated way with other professionals, including the voluntary sector and wider community stakeholders
- ensuring that restorative approaches practice is in line with the Restorative Justice Council’s Guidelines
Your normal hours of work will be 37 hours per week (to be agreed locally). In addition to these hours, you will form part of an Operational Managers rota, with an occasional requirement for you to be on-call outside of Monday to Friday core hours and on Saturdays, for which you will receive an additional payment (or time off in lieu, if preferred).
You will need
- flexibility, a high level of organisational skills and resilience to manage the demands of the post
- a professional qualification at post graduate level or equivalent experience at seasoned professional level in a relevant area of work. For example: Probation, Social Work, Teaching, Police or Prison
- recent management experience in either a criminal justice or children’s services setting and have experience of working in both settings.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
The Suffolk Youth Justice Service (SYJS):
- works with children, young people who are in, or on the edge of the Youth Justice System
- works with parents and carers and the victims of youth crime
- is a multi-agency partnership hosted by Suffolk County Council
- aims to prevent offending by children and young people and protect the public from the harm caused by their offending.
At the same time the service works to ensure the safety and wellbeing of these children and young people and to enhance their life aspirations and opportunities. Staff and managers are committed to the sometimes, challenging work they do.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report
For more information
Please contact Catherine Bennett or Dan Wilson for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling:
Catherine on 07753310241 or by emailing catherine.bennett@suffolk.gov.uk or
Dan on 07926705129 or by emailing dan.wilson@suffolk.gov.uk
If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (docx).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Please ensure you tell us which posts you are applying for in the questions section of the application.
Step 4 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.
1. Describe a time when you had to effectively manage a team or project to deliver high-quality and effective services. What strategies did you use to motivate your staff and ensure successful outcomes?
2. Provide an example of how you have built and maintained strong partnerships and collaboration with a range of internal and external stakeholders. How did you ensure effective communication and joint working?
3. Tell us about a time when you had to manage and respond to safeguarding and risk issues within your area of responsibility. How did you approach this, and what was the outcome?
4. Explain how you have used data, quality assurance processes, and case audits to drive continuous service improvement and ensure high-quality standards. What insights did you gain, and how did you implement changes?
5. Provide an example of how you have used your communication and engagement skills to ensure the active participation of children, young people, and parents/carers in service planning and delivery. How did you use their feedback to inform service improvements?
Step 5 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).
Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 17 November 2024
Interview date: To be confirmed
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).