At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead youth services, ensuring high-quality delivery and safeguarding practices.
- Company: Inspire, a dynamic organisation dedicated to empowering young people.
- Benefits: Career development, birthday off, extra Christmas leave, and childcare support.
- Other info: Join a passionate team committed to youth-led initiatives and impactful change.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in youth services, management, and strong safeguarding knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 30398 - 42724 € per year.
Inspire is seeking a Head of Services / Designated Safeguarding Lead. This is a key leadership role within Inspire, responsible for providing both strategic and operational oversight of all youth-facing services. You’ll lead 5 Service Leads across our core areas of:
- youth and community work
- wellbeing
- personal development skills
- employer partnerships
Working closely with the CEO and wider SLT, you’ll ensure our services are high-quality, impactful, and centred around the needs of young people. You’ll also act as our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), playing a vital role in maintaining a strong safeguarding culture across the organisation.
Responsibilities
- Line management responsibility of our team of service leads, creating a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Strategic oversight of service delivery, ensuring alignment with Inspire’s vision and strategic priorities
- Budget responsibility
- Acting as Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring best practice and compliance across all services
- Using insight, data, and youth voice to demonstrate quality and impact of services
- Building strong relationships with funders, partners, and stakeholders
- Contributing to organisational strategy and planning as a member of the Senior Leadership Team
Qualifications
- Have experience leading youth-focused services and driving impactful delivery
- Have management experience
- Have strong safeguarding knowledge and experience
- Be able to manage budgets, contracts, and funding relationships effectively
- Be insight-driven, using data and feedback to improve services
- Be able to build strong partnerships and work collaboratively
- Have a genuine passion for supporting young people to reach their potential
About us
At Inspire, we support thousands of young people each year to build confidence, develop skills, and move forward positively in their lives. Everything we do is shaped by our commitment to being led by youth, driven by insight, and growing with purpose.
Benefits
- Career development: We invest in your future with access to training and opportunities for career advancement within the organisation
- Your birthday off! After a successful probation period you will be awarded an additional day’s leave to celebrate your birthday
- Gifted leave: We give additional annual leave over the Christmas period to staff, allowing you to fully enjoy the festive break
- Annual leave and Pension contributions accrual: The longer you stay, the more annual leave and pension contributions you accrue because loyalty deserves to be celebrated
- Childcare support: We offer your children free places (aged 5-11) at our holiday clubs, making it easier to balance work and family life
- Uniform: We provide a professional, high-quality uniform at no cost to you
- Free parking: Enjoy the convenience of free car parking at all of our sites
Head of Services in Ipswich employer: Suffolk County Council
Inspire is an exceptional employer located in Ipswich, dedicated to empowering young people through high-quality services. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer extensive career development opportunities, generous leave policies including your birthday off, and childcare support to help balance work and family life. Our collaborative work culture fosters accountability and continuous improvement, making Inspire a rewarding place to build a meaningful career in youth services.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Services in Ipswich
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, attend events, and connect with others on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. At Inspire, we’re all about supporting young people, so think about how your experience aligns with our mission and be ready to share examples.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family to build your confidence. Focus on articulating your leadership experience and how you’ve driven impactful delivery in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Inspire team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Services in Ipswich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Head of Services. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Show Your Passion:We want to see your genuine enthusiasm for supporting young people. Share specific examples of how you've made a difference in youth-focused services and why this role excites you.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your key achievements stand out. This helps us quickly see your potential fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the position. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Suffolk County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in Inspire’s mission and values. Familiarise yourself with their youth-focused services and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will show that you’re genuinely interested and ready to contribute.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Services, you’ll need to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities. Prepare examples from your past roles where you’ve successfully managed teams or projects. Highlight how you foster collaboration and accountability among team members.
✨Be Data-Driven
Inspire values insight and impact, so come prepared with examples of how you’ve used data to drive improvements in service delivery. Discuss specific metrics or feedback you’ve leveraged to enhance youth services in your previous roles.
✨Prepare for Safeguarding Questions
Since you’ll be acting as the Designated Safeguarding Lead, brush up on safeguarding best practices and relevant legislation. Be ready to discuss how you’ve ensured compliance and created a strong safeguarding culture in your past positions.
