At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the creation of a new integrated Adolescent and Youth Justice Service in Bury.
- Company: Bury Council, dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, market supplement, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to continuous improvement and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable adolescents and their families.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills and experience in youth services or social care.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Lead the future of adolescent services in Bury. We're creating a brand‑new integrated Adolescent and Youth Justice Service and we're looking for an exceptional leader to shape it from the ground up.
About the role
We are on a journey in Bury and doing things differently. The creation of our new Adolescent Service and the disaggregation of the Youth Justice Service from a joint Bury & Rochdale model into a dedicated Bury service marks a significant and exciting step forward for Bury Childrens Services. This is a unique opportunity to take on a senior leadership role at the heart of this transformation, shaping a service that is ambitious, innovative and rooted in the needs of our children and young people.
We consider our leaders to be a vital part of this journey, and we are committed to supporting your growth, developing your leadership capability, and enabling you to influence how services are designed and delivered. We want the best talent in Bury leaders who are passionate about improving outcomes for adolescents and their families, and who will help us build a targeted, specialist and trauma-informed adolescent offer.
This service brings together Youth Justice, Complex Safeguarding, Edge of Care and Youth Services into a single, integrated service, allowing us to respond more effectively to risk, vulnerability and exploitation, and to provide the right support at the right time.
National reforms and priorities:
- Families First
- Youth Justice reform and Child First principles
- Youth Strategy and serious violence prevention
At the heart of everything we do are the children and young people of Bury. We want leaders who can build strong relationships, champion strengths‑based practice, and ensure that children and families are supported to achieve the best possible outcomes. Working collectively, we prioritise support, learning and continuous improvement. This is a high‑challenge, high‑support environment where you will work alongside committed colleagues and partners to drive meaningful change.
Key responsibilities:
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across a complex portfolio, leading multidisciplinary teams and overseeing services supporting vulnerable adolescents, including those at risk of offending, exploitation, harm and care entry.
- Designing and embedding the new Bury Youth Justice Service.
- Leading multi‑agency partnership arrangements.
- Driving service quality, performance and innovation.
- Ensuring strong safeguarding and risk management practice across services.
This is a challenging and rewarding leadership role where your impact will be felt across the whole system.
About Bury
The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment may be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check. We support employees to work with agility, where appropriate for the post and service requirements.
Equal Opportunities
We are committed to Bury being an equal society that recognises, values and embraces all people for the skills, abilities and experiences they bring to the workforce and the wider community. We guarantee an interview for disabled people, care leavers, armed forces personnel (including reservists and veterans), and carers who meet the essential criteria.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - Youth Justice & Prevention in Bury
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Bury Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Bury Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Bury Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Bury Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager - Youth Justice & Prevention in Bury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Bury Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Bury Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bury Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.