Head of Service I Youth Justice
Bath, Somerset
£36.11 p/h PAYE
Temporary, on-going position
This senior leadership role directs a medium-sized, complex service area. The position requires high organisational awareness and extensive collaboration across various service sectors. The post holder develops medium-term business plans and informs long-term strategic planning. This ensures the delivery of high service standards and the achievement of strategic objectives. The role involves substantial co-ordination, partnership working, and commissioning arrangements to meet defined outcomes within wider policy frameworks.
Key Accountabilities
Strategic Planning & Delivery
- Lead service development plans focused on partnership, co-ordination, and commissioning activities.
- Translate overarching strategy into clear operational priorities and sub-function activities.
- Develop business plans for the medium term and contribute recommendations for long-term strategy.
- Drive transformation and organisational change while maintaining service performance, financial limits, and statutory duties.
Partnership & Stakeholder Management
- Build strong relationships with internal and external partners, public sector bodies, and stakeholders.
- Influence key decision-makers at political, senior, and management levels to promote local interests.
- Manage complex partnerships to ensure high-quality public service commissioning and delivery.
- Resolve high-risk disputes and complex operational issues through collaboration.
Operational Excellence & Governance
- Set operational direction based on organisational frameworks and provide tactical advice to providers.
- Analyse local intelligence and data to identify alternative, responsive service delivery models.
- Implement operational standards to meet internal reporting needs, legislation, and best practice.
- Promote health and safety by fulfilling all designated management responsibilities.
Resource & People Management
- Manage annual budgets ranging from £5m to £50m to ensure maximum value for money.
- Plan resource allocation across financial and human assets to deliver specific outcomes.
- Lead professional teams, motivating staff to cultivate a high-performance culture.
- Address performance issues promptly to maintain productivity within fixed resource levels.
Essential CriteriaQualifications & Expertise
- Degree or equivalent high-level strategic experience.
- Management qualification or senior executive experience.
- Expert knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations.
- Business insight to align services with wider strategies.
Experience & Leadership
- Senior leadership experience managing complex service areas.
- Partnership delivery on high-profile, innovative projects.
- Risk management experience handling reputational hazards.
- Budget oversight managing portfolios from £5m to £50m.
Core Skills
- Stakeholder management at senior and political levels.
- Performance coaching to build high-achieving professional teams.
- Influence and persuasion to resolve complex disputes.
- Resource optimisation to deliver value under financial constraints.
Working Conditions
- Demands: The role features standard executive demands with no exceptional physical, environmental, or emotional conditions impacting the nature of the work.
Core Values and Behaviours
Boldness
- Set aspirational goals.
- Create innovative solutions.
- Adapt quickly to changing environments.
- Proactively deliver positive outcomes.
Empowerment
- Trust staff to make decisions.
- Encourage constructive challenge.
- Build staff knowledge and authority.
- Enable independent solution-finding.
Support
- Work collaboratively across sectors.
- Build trusting relationships.
- Demonstrate care for the community.
- Encourage team development.
Transparency
- Act with absolute integrity.
- Maintain open accountability.
- Learn from mistakes to improve.
- Deliver reliably on promises.
INDMAIN
Pay: £36.11 per hour
Application question(s):
- Are you on the DBS Update Service
- Are you a qualified a Social Worker
- Do you have experience working as the Head of Service or similar role
Work Location: In person
