Leeds Youth Service Team Leader

Leeds City Council; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Leeds is seeking a passionate Youth Service Team Leader to oversee operational youth work. This role involves leading a team to ensure engaging delivery of youth services while promoting community values aligned with city-wide goals. The successful candidate will manage resources, foster partnerships, and ensure performance targets are met. Applicants should have substantial leadership experience, budget management skills, and a proven track record in youth engagement, all while promoting a positive outlook on youth development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Membership of pension fund with generous contributions

Qualifications

• Significant experience of both leadership and management.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience of developing policy, operational and strategic plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational oversight of Youth Work delivery across the city.
• Support the Youth Service Manager in developing a strategic plan.
• Ensure that Youth Service performance targets are met.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Partnership working

Communication

Youth engagement

Job description

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the ongoing growth and development of Leeds Youth Service. You will lead on the operational oversight of Youth Work delivery across the city whilst supporting the strategic growth of the service with multiple stakeholders. As a Youth Service Team Leader, you\'ll thrive on the delivery, development, and promotion of Youth Work, bringing value to Young People and Communities across Leeds. You will have the opportunity to lead the implementation and growth of Youth Work provision across the city, embracing leading a team to ensure the needs of Young People and communities are met through developing a range of innovative projects to engage Young People in universal and targeted Youth Work Provision. You will be responsible for promoting and embedding the Youth Work approach and Leeds Vision For Youth Work in a variety of environments and forums. You will be integral to the ongoing development of the service across the authority and the wider sector, embracing opportunities to integrate the values of Youth Work and the voice of Young People at both operational and strategic levels.

Job Purpose: Working as part of the Management team to lead the continuous service improvement of Leeds Youth Service. Lead a team in providing high performing universal and targeted youth work delivery.

• Support the Youth Service Manager in developing a strategic plan for the delivery of targeted youth work across the city to ensure it contributes to measurable improvements linked to the Leeds Vision For Youth Work, Children and Young People\'s Plan priorities, and Community Safety Strategy.
• Lead, manage and supervise a team of staff within the framework of the council\'s policies and conditions of service.
• Facilitate the strategic development of the service by planning, delivering, monitoring and reviewing youth work provision in line with Leeds Vision for Youth Work, Children and Young People\'s Plan priorities, and Community Safety Strategy.
• Ensure that programmes are developed in response to the service, locality plans and Directorates objectives.
• Take the lead responsibility for ensuring appropriate data is inputted onto the management information system and critically analyse that data in order to inform future planning and strategic direction of youth work provision.
• Identify, secure and manage resources, budgets, external funding opportunities for youth work and ensure the efficient and effective use of those resources.
• Inform service planning and development ensuring the right services are available to young people at the right time within the locality.
• Ensure that Youth Service performance targets are met for a defined area of responsibility.
• Ensure the effective performance management of staff to the required standards through appropriate assessments of practice.
• Recruitment and induction of appropriate practitioners.
• Demonstrate high quality leadership and take responsibility for the professional development of teams and individuals.
• Be a visible and active member of an integrated management team at cluster/area or citywide level as appropriate and contribute to departmental, multi-agency groups as required.
• Manage relationships to ensure effective working with all appropriate services and partners, including elected members.
• Establish and implement service level agreements with partners and stakeholders to promote high quality youth work.
• Establish systems and engagement opportunities to enable all stakeholders to contribute to and influence the strategic development of Youth Service provision.
• Work to agreed targets, monitor and report to deadlines on progress to the Youth Service Manager.
• Ensure the opportunities available to young people are well publicised within the posts remit.
• Take a lead responsibility for the care of premises, resources and equipment, ensuring statutory requirements in relation to Health, Safety and Well-being of staff, visitors and service users are met.
• Use a Restorative Practice approach as an overarching ethos.
• Be contactable by telephone and deal with out of hours emergencies.
• Promote and instigate appropriate use of information technology, processes and systems in service delivery, maintaining records and management information to ensure efficient and effective services delivery including planning and control.
• Be proactive in safeguarding and promoting welfare of Children & Young People.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, national standards and best practice in pursuit of excellence in service delivery.
• Promote, demonstrate and evidence the council\'s values and expected behaviours through your own role and through the work of the service.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the level of the role.

You will bring to the role

• A passion for working with young people and communities
• Significant experience of both leadership and management
• A proven track record of partnership working across multiple sectors
• The ability to implement and lead on multiple initiatives and projects simultaneously

Essential requirements

• Able to work with a minimum of supervision
• Able to effectively lead, support, manage, supervise and co-ordinate staff team
• Able to facilitate and support staff professional development
• Able to offer high level training, support and guidance to staff
• Able to promote and develop effective team working
• Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with partner agencies and organisations
• Able to prepare and present clear and concise reports on complex issues
• Financial management experience including managing a budget and working within resource constraints
• Able to develop policy, operational and strategic plans
• Able to manage systems to safeguard young people\'s welfare
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Able to undertake a flexible and varied working pattern
• Able to take a solution focused approach to challenges
• Positive view of young people and a commitment to a young person-centred approach
• Significant knowledge of outcome measurement methodologies relevant to youth work
• In-depth understanding of safeguarding and related issues
• Extensive knowledge of local and national policies which influence youth work practices and priorities
• Understanding of a range of differing approaches and responses to provision for young people
• Comprehensive understanding of the roles of a youth worker within this changing environment
• Substantial working knowledge of Health and Safety issues in working with young people
• Knowledge of Leeds City Council values and ways of working
• Excellent working knowledge and understanding of Outcome Based Accountability (OBA), restorative practice, Child Friendly City priorities and Leeds Vision for Youth Work
• Experience of managing youth work and staff, creating effective working relationships and maximising performance
• Experience of effectively recording and evaluating youth work including the provision of required reports within specified timescales
• Experience of developing and maintaining partnership working within a Youth work context
• Experience of managing diverse range of resources
• Experience of working within a team setting
• Substantial experience of involving young people in governance arrangements with measurable outcomes
• Proven track record of attracting and securing external funding
• Extensive experience of involving young people in governance arrangements
• Experience of analysing complex data to inform service delivery

Benefits and additional information

• Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
• A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• A range of staff benefits to help your wellbeing and financial wellbeing
• If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider eligibility for sponsorship through the Skilled Worker route before applying.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
• Carry out duties having regard to Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up-to-date knowledge and skills
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner
• Recognise and challenge incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and abuse, reporting concerns to the appropriate person
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters