Responsible for the day-to-day operational delivery of the Youth Justice Service, working alongside Senior Managers in the Integrated Adolescent Service to deliver effective support for young people in Lewisham.
To provide support, guidance and management of operational line management reports.
To provide senior level management cover within the service as required.
To ensure that practice is aligned with youth justice national standards, quality assurance and performance frameworks.
To lead on thematic areas within the service providing specialist knowledge and skills in one or more areas to prevent offending by young people.
To work across a wide range of services, both internal and external, to achieve sustainable change which achieves demonstrable outcomes.
To support the Head of Service ensuring processes and resources are in place to effectively deliver Youth Justice Services.
Provide supervision and support to staff based within the YJS ensuring that practice meets legal requirements, YJS policies, National Standards and good professional practice.
Provide oversight and participation to the recruitment, induction and appraisal of staff whether employed by or seconded to the service.
To ensure programmes are managed to time and cost in terms of efficiency and effectiveness with service improvement programmes and plans in place.
To support the Head of Service and key stakeholders with the production and delivery of Youth Justice Strategic Plan.
To support the Head of Service to maintain effective day to day operational management arrangements.
To lead on implementing effective quality assurance systems and process that enable delivery of high-quality youth justice services enabling the service to maintain HMIP inspection readiness.
Lead on developing and embedding effective practice in every area of youth justice work in line with the Youth Justice Board national standards that is enabled by workforce development planning ensuring all staff are skilled, supported, and enabled to deliver high quality service to meet the needs of children.
To lead on development and embedding service policies and working protocols, including communication plan for workforce such as newsletters, practice, and policy updates.
To produce high quality reports and presentations for a variety of audience at operational and strategic level.
To chair operational panels within the service.
Any other duties reasonably requested by the Head of Service or Directors.
In conjunction with the Head of Service be responsible for and manage the range of budgets made available to the service area to ensure that resources are deployed to best effect, provide value for money, are well monitored and controlled, and adherence to ensure delivery of necessary savings.
To lead and provide guidance to others to ensure that forecasting activity is accurate and timely and corrective action is made as required.
Able to manage and direct service delivery initiatives and projects from inception to implementation within budget and set timescales.
Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, Council Policies, the Council Constitution, and Financial Regulations.
Ensure compliance within the service with relevant legislation including legislation specific to the delivery of Children’s Services, the Data Protection Act 1998, Health and Safety, Equalities Act.
Take responsibility for continuing professional development.
Work flexibly across the Division as required undertaking any such duties as may be commensurate with the grade of the post.
The Person Specification is a picture of the skills, knowledge and experience needed to carry out the job. It has been used to draw up the advert and will also be used in the shortlisting and interview process for this post.
If you are a disabled person, but are unable to meet some of the job requirements specifically because of your disability, please address this in your application. If you meet all the other criteria you will be shortlisted and we will explore jointly with you if there are ways in which the job can be changed to enable you to meet the requirements.
A thorough working knowledge of the legislation governing the work of the Youth Justice Service, including the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the Criminal Justice Act 1991, the Children’s Act 1989, and the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.
A thorough working knowledge of the National Standards for children in the youth justice system and young people at risk of offending.
Knowledge of current research concerning the factors which place young people at risk of involvement in crime, and knowledge of Effective Practice methods.
A proven record in developing high quality and innovative Youth Justice Services.
To understand complex operations and diverse issues relating to youth justice and be able to apply technical management skills and knowledge from a range of specialist disciplines and approaches such as social work, psychology, teaching and youth work.
Sound understanding of operational management, the design and implementation of effective practice.
Experience of staff supervision, including task allocation, priority setting, performance management and training and development.
Experience of developing, implementing and embedding a quality assurance framework.
A track record of effectively delivering safe services within a multi-agency framework and working collaboratively with other services, e.g. probation service, police and education to deliver a responsive and coordinated service with excellent outcomes.
Demonstrable experience in using performance information to inform improvements to service delivery.
Experience of and commitment towards the implementation of anti-discriminatory practice in a multi-racial / multi-cultural environment.
Evidences ability to be informed by, contribute to and understand research and its translation for service delivery.
Ability to provide clear leadership and empower and motivate staff to ensure optimum delivery of services.
Deliver on programme management of projects, from initiation to delivery ensuring milestones are met and mechanisms for consultation and briefing of key stakeholders and decision makers.
Demonstrates understanding of the council strategy, vision and priorities.
Actively seeks and offers new approaches, methods, techniques and tools. Tries out new ways of working and shares their insights with colleagues.
Ability to make difficult decisions in a timely way.
Degree level and/or professional qualification in Youth Justice, Social Work, Education, Health, Youth Work, Probation, Police.
Demonstrates an ease, fluency and resilience in terms of:
Problem analysis and decision making
Using performance information to plan, shape and improve service delivery.
Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing to a range of stakeholders.
Planning own and others activities
Organising arrangements for delivery of service with contingencies in place.
Directing and motivating others within a pressured environment
Use of technology and other management tools.
Time management and prioritisation within competing demands.
Energises others and self to overcome barriers
Encourages, mentors and coaches others to deliver
Demonstrates regard for others.
Responsive to others needs and considers impact within decision making.
Builds relationships and influences others for mutual benefits
Awareness of equal opportunities issues in the context of service provision in this role.
Welcome to Lewisham – a vibrant and culturally diverse borough that is bursting with fantastic things to see and do. As a truly international borough with over 170 languages spoken in our homes and businesses, a thriving cultural scene, and a treasure trove of indie shops, bustling markets and more, it’s a great place to start and build a career.
Social work in Lewisham is changing and we have set out our vision and values for how we practice. In Lewisham Children’s Social Care (CSC), we know what good social work looks like and we are passionate about creating the right conditions and culture for good practice to thrive.
Our social workers benefit from working in small, supportive teams with caseloads on average between 15-20 children. Our ‘Signs of Safety’ practice framework means we are committed to working in a relationship-based way with children and families, focussing on strengths in the family network to effect change. A positive learning culture which promotes opportunities for reflection and relationship-based practice is important to us. We are committed to developing our practice using reflective practice spaces such as case mapping, thinking spaces and group supervision.
Our permanent and stable senior management team are visible and approachable. Our dedicated PSW and workforce team supports professional development across the service so that you will;
be supported through our comprehensive learning and development offer, which includes subscriptions to ‘Research in Practice’ and ‘Making Research Count’.
receive regular supervision and appraisal.
have 1-1 practice development coaching as a case holding practitioner, and professional development coaching as a manager.
have access to regular ‘Signs of Safety’ training and the opportunity to become a practice leader through attending our bespoke practice leader course.
have access to external leadership development opportunities such as Pathways and the Black and Asian Leadership Initiative (BALI).
have a clearly defined career progression pathway with opportunities for professional development at all levels.
We have a strong working relationship with Goldsmiths, University of London as part of the South East London Teaching Partnership so our practitioners have the opportunity to teach on social work courses as teaching consultants. We host ‘Step Up’, ‘Frontline’ and traditional route students and social workers have the opportunity to become practice educators.
Core CSC Staff Benefits include:
We have been awarded the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard – a benchmark for high employment standards. We are also one of the first London Councils to be accredited a London Living Wage employer and are a Disability Confident employer as well as a Timewise accredited Flex positive employer. We offer a 35-hour working week, and:
The opportunity to work in a thriving, diverse and developing inner London borough with a stable management team, manageable caseloads and a workforce group committed to promoting your development and emotional wellbeing
Generous salary for social workers at all levels
Generous holiday entitlement - starting at 27 days a year (plus public holidays) rising to 32 and 35 days after 5- and 10-years’ continued service.
Oyster card access for travelling in and around London for work and we are exploring initiatives, including Zip cars
Flexible working policies and a variety of hybrid, and flexible working options – we know how important this is to you
Smarter Working with new modern technology and training to support this
Career average pension scheme
Family friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, and special leave for emergencies.
Variety of support schemes including key worker housing, tax-free childcare scheme, access to Civil Service Sports Club which offers financial discounts and savings on days out and entertainment. KAARP activities and entertainment discounts. We offer a shop local discount scheme, volunteering leave, long service awards, membership of the Crownsavers Credit Union and access to Payroll Giving.
Health and Wellbeing support includes a staff support hub and 24/7 employee assistance programme which incorporates mental health support, counselling services and access to the PAM Assist health and wellbeing app.
We have signed the Menopause Pledge and offer gender specific and gender-neutral health and wellbeing support with access to financial advice. We offer discounted gym and leisure centre membership including free lunch time swimming; interest free loans for season tickets, nursery childcare, and bikes, a “try before you buy” bike scheme and cycle training, smoking cessation, free eye tests and money towards glasses.
Active Employee Groups including the Black and Multicultural Forum, Anti-racist Network Group, LGBTQ+ Forum, Disabled Staff Forum, Climate Emergency Staff Forum, Trade Union Memberships, and a staff-led Change Network
Staff tell us they feel valued and enjoy working in Lewisham and are well supported by their managers with regular reflective supervision and good access to training.
“Lewisham has so much to offer any social worker. I feel supported, respected and valued every step of the way”
Lewisham Social Worker
If you have any questions about applying for this role, or if you are interested in having an informal discussion about working with us, please contact our Recruitment and Retention Manager, Angela Main at angela.main@lewisham.gov.uk or Sara Taylor, our Principal Social Worker: sara.taylor@lewisham.gov.uk