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, additional festive leave, and childcare support.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on young 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.
You will be responsible for:
- 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
You will need to:
- 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
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.
We will offer you a range of benefits to enhance your own well-being, improve your work-life balance and most importantly make a difference to the lives of the young people we work with. Here is what makes us a great place to work:
- 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 gift additional annual leave over the Christmas period to staff
- Annual leave and Pension contributions accrual: The longer you stay, the more annual leave and pension contributions you will accrue
- Childcare support: We offer your children free places (aged between 5-11 years) at our holiday clubs
- Uniform: A professional, high-quality uniform provided at no cost to you
- Free parking: Enjoy the convenience of free car parking at all of our sites
We believe in equality, diversity and inclusion. We are committed to welcoming, respecting and valuing people for who they are as individuals, learning from their differences, embracing their uniqueness, and providing a positive workplace for all.
If you’re ready to take on a senior leadership role where you can influence real change for young people, we’d love to hear from you. Please email your CV and covering letter to Andy Crump, CEO at andyc@inspirecharityuk.org
Closing date: 5 pm, 8 June 2026. Interview date: 29 June 2026 and 7 July 2026.
Head of Services in Ipswich employer: Suffolk Jobs Direct
Inspire is an exceptional employer located in Ipswich, dedicated to empowering young people through high-quality services. With a strong focus on employee development, we offer career advancement opportunities, generous leave policies including birthday leave and additional holiday time during Christmas, and childcare support to help you balance work and family life. Our inclusive work culture values diversity and fosters collaboration, making it a rewarding place to contribute to meaningful change in the community.
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 industry, especially those connected to Inspire. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching Inspire’s values and services. Understand their mission and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as someone who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend or mentor to do mock interviews with you. Focus on articulating your leadership experience and safeguarding knowledge clearly. The more comfortable you are, the better you’ll perform when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Services in Ipswich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Services role. Highlight your leadership experience, safeguarding knowledge, and any relevant achievements in youth-focused services.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to express your passion for supporting young people and how your vision aligns with Inspire's mission. Be sure to mention specific examples of your impact in previous roles.
Showcase Your Insight-Driven Approach:In your application, emphasise how you use data and feedback to drive improvements in service delivery. This will demonstrate your ability to lead with insight and make informed decisions that benefit young people.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves, and we can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Suffolk Jobs Direct
✨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
Prepare examples of how you’ve successfully led teams in the past, especially in youth services. Highlight your management style and how you foster collaboration and accountability within your team. This is crucial for a role like Head of Services.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since the role requires insight-driven decision-making, come prepared with examples of how you’ve used data and feedback to improve services. Discuss specific metrics or outcomes that demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
✨Build Relationships
Think about how you can build strong partnerships with funders and stakeholders. Be ready to discuss your approach to relationship-building and how you’ve successfully collaborated with others to achieve common goals in the past.
