Service Manager - Young & Thriving

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About the role

This is an exciting time to join Children's Services at Dorset Council. As a Pathfinder authority, we are committed to investing in young people, expanding our Targeted Youth Work Offer from 8 to 26 roles, and strengthening our Learning and Belonging teams. Our focus is on supporting vulnerable learners to ensure they successfully transition into post-16 education, employment, or training.

We are looking for an experienced and passionate leader with a relevant qualification in youth work, education, or a related field, and a strong track record in both operational and strategic management.

About the Role

This role will lead on two key areas:

Shaping Dorset's Youth Work Approach

You will drive the development of the local authority's youth work strategy, ensuring high-quality delivery, workforce development, and policy and practice improvement. With staff undertaking Level 3 and Level 6 Youth Work Apprenticeships, you will support their professional growth and oversee a wider programme to embed best practice. A key part of this role is leading the local authority's work on contextual safeguarding, working with strategic partners to develop preventative approaches and reduce extra-familial risks to young people. You will also collaborate closely with the voluntary and community sector, ensuring they have the support and resources needed to sustain universal open-access youth provision. This includes managing the Dorset Youth Grant scheme, distributing funding to voluntary sector organisations.

Preventing NEET and Supporting Young People into Education, Employment, or Training

You will lead Dorset's approach to preventing young people from becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and supporting those who need help to re-engage. Managing the EET Tracking and Re-Engagement Team, as well as the Pan-Dorset Careers Hub, you will work closely with education leaders, further education providers, and colleagues across the region, including the neighbouring BCP authority, to ensure young people have the best possible opportunities for their future.

About You

We are looking for a proactive leader who thrives on building strong relationships and driving change. You will have:

• experience in youth work, education, or a related field, with expertise in both strategic planning and operational delivery.
• a track record of working in complex environments, collaborating with partners, and delivering real outcomes for young people.
• the ability to respond to challenging and dynamic situations with creativity, resilience, and a commitment to making a difference.

If you are passionate about empowering young people, shaping innovative services, and leading positive change, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now to join us in making a lasting impact on young people's futures in Dorset.

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Further Information

For an informal discussion on the role, please contact Simon Fraiz-Brown, Head of Commissioning, Family Help, 01305 224776, [email protected].

Interview dates are to be confirmed but likely to be the week commencing 31st March 2025.

This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed.

This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders.

See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.

About Us

We're passionate about making Dorset a great place to live, work and visit. Working for us should be no exception.

At Dorset Council we:

• provide more than 450 services to over 300,000 residents
• have ambitious aspirations
• are excited about our future
• care about Dorset and all the people who live here
• know that all roles make a difference and that our employees are key to our success

You will:

• have access to a range of employee benefits
• be part of an organisation that supports each other to grow and succeed
• have access to range of training opportunities which will help with your personal development and career progression

We are challenging ourselves to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation. We recognise that recruitment and inclusion of individuals with diverse skills, perspectives and backgrounds will bring real strength to the council and our communities. We have a commitment to equality and welcome applications from everyone.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We offer an interview to everyone who declares a disability and meets the essential criteria for the role. We are keen to make our interviews accessible. Let us know on your job application if you have a disability and need any reasonable adjustments.

We also look for applicants who share our commitment to our values. We will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the selection process.

This role is UK based, and we will need to establish your Right to Work as part of the appointment process.

We use generic job descriptions and person specifications. This means the job title on any attachments may differ from the job title in the advert. We may provide specific information in a context statement if relevant.

Find out more about how to apply.