Programme Manager – Family Help and Youth Transformation

It’s a hybrid role but the expectation is 3 days on site.

Role purpose

The Programme Manager will lead and coordinate a portfolio of high-profile transformation projects across Family Help, youth services and support for care leavers. The postholder will turn strategic priorities into clear, deliverable plans, bringing together council services, partners, providers, communities, young people and families to achieve sustainable change. The role will provide strong project leadership from development and design through to implementation, mobilisation and evaluation. It will ensure projects are well governed, evidence-led, financially controlled and focused on improving outcomes for children, young people and families across Nottingham.

Key areas of work

• Local Youth Transformation: Lead projects that strengthen Nottingham’s local youth offer, including the development of integrated, accessible and sustainable services shaped by young people and local communities.
• Staying Close for care leavers: Manage the development and delivery of Nottingham’s Staying Close approach, coordinating accommodation, practical support and trusted relationships to help care leavers make a successful transition to independence.
• Young Futures Hub expansion: Lead expansion projects across Nottingham, supporting the development of a connected network of welcoming, multi-agency spaces that provide early support, positive activities and targeted help for young people.
• Families First social care reform: Manage Family Help elements of the Families First Partnership Programme, supporting the design and implementation of more integrated, multi-agency and family-centred ways of working.
• Best Start in Life/Family Hubs: Manage all elements of transformation in Family Hubs and coordinate the delivery of the BSIL plan.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and maintain clear project plans, milestones, dependencies, budgets, benefits and success measures.
• Lead projects through discovery, options development, business case approval, implementation, mobilisation and review.
• Establish proportionate governance arrangements and provide clear, accurate reporting to programme boards, senior leaders, elected members and partners.
• Identify and manage risks, issues, assumptions, constraints and interdependencies, escalating concerns and proposing practical solutions.
• Coordinate input from services including Family Help, youth services, children’s social care, commissioning, property, finance, human resources, digital and data.
• Build effective relationships with schools, health, police, voluntary and community organisations, commissioned providers and other key partners.
• Ensure children, young people, care leavers and families are involved meaningfully in service design, delivery and evaluation.
• Support commissioning, procurement, grant funding and contract mobilisation activity where required.
• Manage project resources and expenditure, ensuring value for money and compliance with council governance and financial requirements.
• Develop outcome and benefits frameworks, using performance information, feedback and learning to assess impact and support continuous improvement.
• Prepare high-quality briefings, reports, presentations, decision papers and communications for a range of audiences.
• Support effective change management, including stakeholder engagement, workforce involvement, communications, training and implementation planning.
• Promote equality, inclusion, safeguarding and trauma-informed practice throughout all areas of project delivery.

Key outcomes

• Transformation projects are delivered to agreed scope, timescales, budget and quality standards.
• Young people, families and care leavers can access coordinated support earlier and closer to home.
• Family Help reforms are translated into effective local operating arrangements and practice.
• Partners have a shared understanding of their contribution and work together effectively.
• New and expanded services are sustainable, evidence-led and able to demonstrate improved outcomes.

Person specification

Essential experience and knowledge

• Significant experience of managing complex transformation programmes, service redesign or implementation projects in Local Authority / Trust Children Services.
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries and influencing senior stakeholders, partners and providers.
• Knowledge of services for children, young people and families, with an understanding of prevention, early help, Family Help, youth provision or care leaver support.
• Experience of project governance, risk management, financial monitoring, performance reporting and benefits realisation.
• Experience of co-production or meaningful engagement with children, young people, families or communities.
• Understanding of safeguarding, equality and inclusion and their application within project delivery.
• Project or programme qualification – MSP / Prince2 or APMG.

Essential criteria

Skills and behaviours

• Strong planning, organisation and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Confident leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust and create shared ownership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to present complex information clearly.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to use evidence, data and insight to support decisions.
• A practical, collaborative and outcomes-focused approach to change.
• Resilience, sound judgement and the confidence to challenge constructively.