Youth Justice Assistant Service Manager

Sheffield City Council HQ; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Part time

Job summary

A local government authority in Sheffield is seeking a part-time Assistant Service Manager for the Youth Justice Service. The successful candidate will co-lead operations, supervise team managers, and oversee compliance with national standards. The role requires an experienced manager with relevant qualifications and a commitment to improving outcomes for children involved with the justice system. The council offers flexible working and values diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Flexible working

Generous leave

Employee-led benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in managing teams in a youth justice context.
• Track record of improving outcomes for children involved in youth justice.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Co-lead day-to-day operations for Sheffield's Youth Justice Services.
• Supervise and develop Team Managers and colleagues.
• Oversee performance and compliance with National Standards.
• Lead partnerships and projects to improve community safety.
• Handle high-risk decisions with clear rationale.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Multi-agency collaboration

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Sector-relevant qualification (e.g. Social Work, Youth Justice)

Job description

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Assistant Service Manager (Youth Justice) - Part-time

A note from Sam Taylor, Service Manager

I'm recruiting a part-time Assistant Service Manager to work alongside our existing part-time ASM, so together you'll form a strong operational pairing. If you're motivated by improving outcomes for children - especially those in contact with the youth justice system - I'd love to hear from you. We're a pragmatic, supportive team. We get things done, we learn, and we keep children and the public safe.

About the Youth Justice Service (YJS)

Our aim is simple and important: prevent offending by children. We're a multi-agency team drawing on Children's Services, Police, Probation, Education and Health - assessing each child's needs and risks, and working with families and partners to reduce harm. We take a child-first, trauma-informed approach and expect our leaders to model that in every decision.

The role - what you'll lead and deliver

In this role you will:

• Co-lead day-to-day operations for Sheffield's Youth Justice Services, with direct operational control for your area and full deputising responsibilities when needed.
• Supervise and develop Team Managers and multi-agency colleagues - setting clear expectations, providing reflective supervision, and driving quality, performance and continuous improvement.
• Oversee performance, quality assurance and compliance with National Standards for Children in the Youth Justice System; use data to target improvement and prepare the service for external scrutiny/inspection (HM Inspectorate of Probation, YJB).
• Lead partnerships and projects across Children's Social Care, Health, Education, Police, and the voluntary, community and faith sector to improve outcomes and keep communities safe. You'll represent the service in city-wide initiatives and at senior forums.
• Handle escalations and high-risk decisions, offering proportionate challenge, clear rationale and timely escalation to the Service Manager only for the most complex or sensitive matters.

About you

You're an experienced practitioner/manager with a sector-relevant qualification (e.g. Social Work, Youth Justice, Probation, Youth & Community) and a track record of leading multi-agency work that improves outcomes for children. You bring credibility with partners, confidence with data and performance, and you communicate in a way that motivates people to do their best work.

Why Sheffield YJS

Sheffield is a great place to work and live - with a strong sense of community, culture and access to the outdoors. Our staff are highly valued; we offer flexible working, generous leave and employee-led benefits, making a rewarding job even more satisfying. We're a Disability Confident Employer and we're committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview.

How to find out more / apply

If you'd like an informal chat about the role, please contact Sam Taylor, Service Manager - 0114 2288555 or [e-mail]

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone and where appropriate to the role the successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding checks.

Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.

If you are appointed to this role, your starting salary will be at the bottom of the grade. If you provide payslip evidence that your basic pay is greater than the bottom of the grade, we will consider starting you at the point of minimum advantage within the grade.

Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026. Find out more on our New job evaluation process to be introduced at Sheffield City Council | Sheffield City Council