Assistant Head of Service - Birmingham Youth Justice Service

An exciting opportunity has arisen for the right person to join Birmingham Youth Justice Service as an Assistant Head of Service.

Birmingham is one of the largest Youth Justice Services in England and Wales. Our latest HMIP inspection in 2022 found that the Service had improved since its previous inspection in 2020, but there remains more work to do.

The Service is on a significant development journey to support the achievement of better outcomes for children, victims, care-givers and communities.  You will be joining an organisation and service committed to continuous improvement; striving to deliver excellence and embracing best practice, innovation and research.  This is a great time to join Birmingham Youth Justice Service as we continue our transformation.

You will be a key member of a dedicated and highly competent senior leadership team. You will have a critical role in leading reform across the service and delivering against a number of strategic priorities. You will be confident in working strategically across the partnership with key stakeholders, ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources and delivery of services.  

Birmingham Youth Justice Service is committed to embedding inclusive, anti-discriminatory, Child First and trauma responsive practices across all aspects of Service design and delivery. The successful candidate will be expected to proactively demonstrate an understanding, experience, and ability to apply these principles.

You are the right person for this role if you:

• Can see beyond the offence and see the child
  
  
• Want to tackle head on disproportionality and inequality across youth justice 

• Believe that behaviour is a form of communication and offending is symptomatic of their experiences 

• Are committed to hearing the voice of the child, their families/carers and their victims and bringing this into the centre of what we do    

• Are passionate, motivated, and enthusiastic about delivering high quality services to children, victims, caregivers, and communities. 

• Have experience and skills matched to the job description and person specification and expertise set out in this advert.  

• Have a desire to work with and alongside others, to learn, innovate and deliver improvements  

You should have the following expertise:

• Have a proven record of effective leadership and change management.
  
  
• Have experience and understanding of the barriers children face engaging in Education, Training and Employment and the strategic partnership approaches needed to support re-engagement.
  
  
• A comprehensive knowledge of effective research-based interventions delivered within a Youth Justice setting, to support social inclusion, develop pro-social identity and ensure safety of victims and communities.
  
  
• Have a comprehensive understanding of the legal and statutory framework in which Youth Justice operates including the work in the Youth Court and Out of Court diversions
  
  
• Be committed to work with and alongside others, to learn, innovate and drive forward developments.

In return you will receive:

• Competitive salary and rewards (Currently under pay and grade review) 

• Generous Annual Leave allocation
   
  
• Various additional employee benefits
   
  
• Opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme
  
  
• A commitment to your personal learning and development

• Excellent career progression opportunities

Help us to change children and young people’s lives!

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values

We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.