Interim Operational Manager - Children and Young People Service

Overview

Lead and manage Midland Mencap\’s Children and Young People (CYP) services in the West Midlands, ensuring high-quality, person-centred support that empowers children and young people. Reporting to the Senior Operations Manager of Community Services, you will provide support, direction and leadership for the effective delivery of day-to-day operational activities and business development across Midland Mencap\’s CYP services portfolio. Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and legislation. Be part of the management team that drives a proactive, responsive and exceptional service to citizens and families, and lead a performance-related, person-centred culture. Work collaboratively with the Chief Executive, Director of Operations and other senior colleagues to ensure Midland Mencap is sustainable, ambitious, dynamic and successful.

Key Tasks

1. To lead and develop the strategic priorities and plans for all operational functions, ensuring excellent customer service, developing and delivering a comprehensive range of services to meet children and young people\\\’s needs and aspirations. Identify business development, tendering and procurement opportunities consistent with Midland Mencap\\\’s strategic aspirations.
2. To provide support to management colleagues to ensure all services are effective, responsive, deliver value for money and are compliant with best practice, regulatory and statutory requirements.
3. Ensure the service meets high performance objectives, safeguarding standards, regulatory and quality standards and deliver outcomes for children and young people.
4. To oversee and ensure effective and robust contract management and compliance on all operational contracts, ensuring quality assurance and compliance.
5. Ensure teams and individuals are managed, supported and developed to provide high performance targeted services for children and young people, and be accountable for the quality of work of both individuals and the team.
6. To support ongoing organisational change and help embed a performance-related and child/young person-focussed culture across teams, ensuring dynamic services and the highest standards of customer care and support.
7. To be part of a management team that ensures clarity of direction, effective communication and development of personal and team potential.
8. Adopt a collaborative and supportive approach, maintaining up-to-date professional knowledge and providing advice and assistance to teams as required.
9. Contribute to the development of strategic and financial plans and keep business plans and other key strategies under review, ensuring risk is managed and mitigated against.
10. Support the achieving of and accountability for performance targets, communicating relevant business and performance data to the Senior Operations Manager and Leadership team as appropriate.
11. Support the Senior Operations Manager and the Director of Operations to monitor and report to the CEO on standards of performance across all services, ensuring the development of effective services that remain responsive to changing circumstances and demands.
12. In all aspects of Midland Mencap\\\’s work, promote effective communications, excellence in customer service, and a focus on continuous improvement.
13. Be proactive in the development of key partnerships, working with stakeholders to ensure the effective co-ordination and delivery of services with other organisations, agencies and partners.
14. Ensure the Midland Mencap values are reflected in the work the teams and that all services provided are delivered in line with the Midland Mencap vision and values.
15. Act as an ambassador for Midland Mencap, attending and contributing to professional forums and events.
16. Ensure compliance with all regulatory, statutory and legal requirements.

General

1. To work flexibly and positively as part of the management team.
2. To put citizens first at all times, providing a high standard of customer service both internally and externally.
3. To adhere to the spirit and requirements of Midland Mencap\\\’s equal opportunities and other policies.
4. To represent Midland Mencap at internal and external meetings as required, portraying a professional image at all times.
5. To exercise a duty of care with respect to the health and safety of all.
6. To undertake any other reasonable duties that may be required from time to time.

What we are looking for

We are seeking an experienced and inspiring Interim Operational Manager who is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of children and young people. The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven leadership and operational management experience within children and young people\\\’s services or a related sector.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to engage confidently with children, young people, families and stakeholders.
• The ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams to deliver high-quality, person-centred services.
• An understanding of the challenges and opportunities in delivering responsive, inclusive, and outcomes-focused support.
• A commitment to safeguarding, quality assurance and continuous improvement.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Desirable

• Experience of service development, contract management, and compliance within the children and young people\\\’s sector.
• A track record of building and sustaining strong partnerships across statutory, voluntary, and community sectors.
• Knowledge of relevant regulations, legislation, and best practice in children and young people\\\’s services.

Benefits

• Flexible and family-friendly working practices.
• Learning, development, and progression opportunities.
• Supportive team culture and access to employee wellbeing services.
• Pension scheme and expenses reimbursement.