YJS Team Manager in Walsall

This is a 12-month fixed term opportunity to lead meaningful change for children, families and victims of crime. As a Youth Justice Service Team Manager in Walsall, you will play a central role in supporting service priorities during this period, shaping how we respond to children who are often facing the most complex challenges, helping to reduce harm, promote safety and support long-term positive outcomes.

We are looking for a confident and values-driven leader who can make an immediate contribution, is committed to Child First practice, partnership working and continuous improvement, and who wants to contribute to a service that is ambitious, reflective and focused on making a tangible difference every day.

Walsall Youth Justice Service (YJS) is a multi-agency partnership working with children aged 10–18, their families and victims of crime. Our purpose is clear: to prevent and reduce offending, while supporting children to build safer, more positive futures. We are proud of our Child First approach, where children are seen as children first — with strengths, potential and a right to be heard. Our work is grounded in trauma-informed, restorative and strengths-based practice, underpinned by strong partnership working and a commitment to continuous improvement.

You will be joining a service that is reflective, ambitious and committed to doing the right thing for children, families and communities. Walsall YJS is an integral part of the Children’s Services Directorate within Walsall Council. It aligns with the "Walsall Right 4 Children" vision, which aims to ensure children are safe, happy, and supported.

At Walsall Council, we recognise that the quality of our service is directly shaped by the experience and wellbeing of our staff. During this fixed term opportunity, you will be supported to contribute quickly and confidently to a service that places strong emphasis on learning, reflection and continuous improvement. You will work within a culture where leadership is visible and supportive, and where there is a genuine commitment to developing practice and people.

We invest in our workforce through access to ongoing professional development, reflective supervision and opportunities to contribute to service-wide improvement and innovation. We understand the importance of flexibility and balance. Subject to service needs, we offer hybrid and flexible working arrangements, alongside a culture that promotes wellbeing and recognises the demands of working within youth justice.

You will be part of a team that works collaboratively, supports one another, and takes pride in making a meaningful difference to the lives of children, families and communities throughout the duration of the fixed term contract.

We are committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are particularly keen to hear from candidates who can contribute to our work in addressing inequalities and disproportionality within the youth justice system. We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment processes and to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued and able to contribute.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact the Youth Justice Service Strategic Lead, Frances Bate on 01922 650400.

Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We appreciate that AI can be a useful tool for ideas or guidance. However, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. Over-reliance on AI can make responses feel less personal, and we really want to understand what makes you unique. Your experiences, skills, and perspective are what set you apart, so please ensure your application as a whole – particularly your ‘Supporting Information’ – reflects your own voice.

Walsall Council’s Children’s Services are the only Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ local authority in the Black Country. During a visit in May 2025, Inspectors described Walsall Council as a place where children were at the heart of. The council’s journey of continuous improvement started in 2017 and has since transformed into a service with a clear vision, clear priorities and a clear plan, all informed by the views of our staff and children. Staff are at the core of delivering great outcomes for children and young people in Walsall, which is underpinned by our Walsall Right 4 Children vision. The latest Ofsted inspection demonstrated that staff in children’s services are proud to work for Walsall Council and feel supported to do great work.