The West Mercia Youth Justice Service Management Board are seeking a new Head of Service following the retirement of the current post holder.
The Role
The Management Board is looking for an experienced, committed and dynamic individual to lead the service and deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people as well as the wider community.
The service is on an improvement journey following an HMI inspection in 2022. A revised governance structure is being embedded and the wider management structure of the service is under review as part of the improvement plan. The service needs an excellent leader to take the service through the next steps of improvement and deliver a high-quality youth justice service across West Mercia, with a clear focus on improving outcomes for children in the youth justice system, their families, victims, reducing reoffending and diverting children from crime and criminalisation.
The Head of Service post is currently based at the Worcester Office. It would however be possible for the primary base to be at any of the offices. Extensive travel across West Mercia will be required. The opportunity for some working from home is also available.
You will also be responsible for ensuring the service’s effective engagement in local partnerships and promoting partnership working in the locality areas including improved joint and integrated working with relevant agencies and services.
Reporting to the Chief Executive of the OPCC, on behalf of the service management board, you will have a professional qualification in either a criminal justice, social care or other relevant discipline, a qualification (or evidence of sustained learning and development) in leadership and management, a knowledge of the legal and policy context for youth justice and substantial experience of management and leadership in a high-risk client facing service for vulnerable groups.
The Service
The Youth Justice Service is a joint Local Authority service covering Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire. The service is hosted within the Office of the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) on behalf of the Local Authorities.
The service covers a large geographical area of 2,868 square miles and a population of around 1.3 million of which 115,000 are children aged 10 to 17 years. The service is mainly delivered from teams aligned to the local authority areas, and has office bases in Hereford, Shrewsbury, Telford and Worcester.
For further information and to see the current Youth Justice Plan, please visit: https://westmerciayouthjustice.org.uk/
Further Information and Applications
The role profile is attached. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will commence in post in November / December 2023.
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter (of no more than two sides per document) outlining how you meet the key requirements of the role profile, to Gareth Boulton, Chief Executive, West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner via [email protected]
Applications close at 17:00 on Friday 2nd June 2023. Interviews for shortlisted candidates are scheduled for Thursday 29th June at West Mercia Police headquarters, Hindlip, Worcester.
If you would like an informal conversation about the post please contact Gareth Boulton, Chief Executive, West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, on 01905 331 656, or [email protected]
