Operational Manager – Oldham Youth Justice Service and Missing from Home

Positive Steps is an award-winning charitable trust which delivers a range of integrated services across Greater Manchester through local authority contracts and grants. The organisation has a long-standing and unique commissioning arrangement with the local authority to deliver the statutory Youth Justice Service in Oldham. Oldham Youth Justice Service are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic, motivated and committed Operational Manager, who has experience of working with children in the field of criminal justice or safeguarding.

As an Operational Manager, you will be responsible for the oversight of the statutory youth justice, missing from home and related services, through ensuring the team achieve the required results to improve outcomes for children in the borough, in line with relevant legislation, quality standards and best practice. You will be responsible for managing Case Managers, Engagement Workers and seconded staff, while working alongside partners, to ensure children, families, victims and communities are safe by reducing re-offending for children involved in the criminal justice system, reducing the number of children entering the criminal justice system and reducing the use of custody for children. We value agile working so you will be working from our central Oldham office, home, and out in the community. Our training, partnership links and excellent management support will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to further progress your career.

JOB PURPOSE

Responsible for operational management of the statutory Youth Justice, Missing from Home and related services. Be a member of the Operational Group and represent the organisation as required.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the operational team to ensure we are meeting contract requirements and achieving the required results to improve outcomes for children.
• Manage operational compliance in relation to all relevant legislation, quality standards and best practice to safeguard the service.
• Manage the operational team in safeguarding and the management of risk to the public to ensure community, children and organisational safety.
• Manage relationships across relevant operational partnerships to improve outcomes for children.
• Assist in the completion of bids for funding to achieve sustainable growth.
• Manage and monitor specific project budgets to support the services’ financial sustainability.
• Manage the appropriate deployment of human and physical resources within the operational team to ensure effective delivery.
• Manage the consistent application of all relevant policies and procedures including safeguarding, health & safety and equality & diversity to ensure a compliant service.
• Collaborate to promote the overarching integrated service offer within Positive Steps to grow the organisation.
• Monitor qualitative and quantitative data to provide evidence to inform service delivery and ongoing improvement.
• Maintain effective partnership or service level agreements with relevant organisations to ensure clear expectations and delivery models.
• Apply co-production principles to ensure that the user’s voice is represented in service delivery.
• Deputise for the Head of Service where relevant to YJS and MfH service.
• Undertake any other duties in order to meet service and organisational objectives following consultation with your manager.

Qualifications and specific training

Educated to degree level in a relevant subject area.

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of working at a supervisory or management level in the field of youth justice/safeguarding services or a related field.
• Demonstrable experience of supervising or managing teams and individuals in line with HR policies and procedures.
• Significant experience of planning, monitoring and evaluating your own work.
• Demonstrable experience of managing performance and quality management.
• Significant experience of partnership working at operational levels.
• Significant experience of communicating at an operational level through verbal and written reports and presentations.
• Demonstrable experience of budget and financial management.
• Demonstrable experience of maintaining Service Level Agreements, Partnership Agreements and/or contracts for delivery of provision.
• Significant experience in promoting diversity.

Knowledge

• Understanding of Criminal Justice or Safeguarding Services.
• Awareness of project management principles.
• Awareness of political, economic and social landscape at local, regional and national level in relation to youth justice and missing from home services.
• Understanding of adolescent development and the impact of trauma.
• Awareness of commissioning arrangements, including supporting the writing of bids.
• Understanding of risk management, safeguarding legislation and guidance, implementation of Child Protection Procedures and the boundaries of professional relationships.
• Understanding of Health & Safety legal requirements and best practice.

Skills

• Developed communication and presentational skills, with the ability to communicate ideas, issues, systems and procedures successfully at all levels to a variety of audiences.
• Developed negotiation and influencing skills.
• Developed ability to share information accurately and concisely.
• Developed ability to record information with a high degree of accuracy.
• Developed skills in creativity and original thinking with the ability to develop practical solutions to problems.
• Developed skills in formal assessment and report writing.
• Developed inter-personal and team working skills, and a proven ability to form partnerships, motivate and inspire individuals.
• Primary contract management skills.
• Developed skills in Microsoft Office and database systems.
• Developed ability to engage individuals, organisations and partnerships.

Personal attributes

• Sound judgement and awareness of political sensitivities.
• Ability to manage the team through the phases/challenges of its development.
• Resilient and able to work independently as required.
• Sound professional and tactical judgement and the ability to establish priorities and principles.
• Commitment to Positive Steps vision and values.

Additional requirements

• Prepared to work flexibly to meet the needs of customers and the organisation.
• Able to travel throughout the region and at times the country.