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Inspection Lead
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Inspection Lead
Youth Justice Inspection and Improvement Lead
Suffolk County Council
Location: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX (Hybrid working)
Salary: £60,135 per annum (pro rata for part-time) Hours: 37 hours per week (flexible working options available) Contract: Fixed-Term/Secondment (1-year timescale, ending upon completion of HMIP Inspection preparation)
About the Role
We champion high standards in Children and Young People’s Services (CYP) across Suffolk by listening to practitioners, learning from lived experiences, and fostering a collaborative culture that ensures the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
This role requires an experienced and driven professional to take on the position of Youth Justice Inspection and Improvement Lead. Your responsibility will be to ensure the Suffolk Youth Justice Service is inspection-ready, evidence-informed, and demonstrates Child First practice, effective partnership governance, and continuous improvement.
Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children in the youth justice system? Do you understand restorative practice, the importance of victims’ voices, and youth justice inspection frameworks? If so, we would love to hear from you.
Your Role and Responsibilities
You will lead and coordinate youth justice inspection readiness activities, ensuring that the service can evidence impact, quality of practice, compliance with standards, and alignment with management expectations.
Key Duties:
- Lead and coordinate inspection readiness activity, ensuring clear evidence of impact, practice quality, and compliance with HMIP expectations, Youth Justice Board standards, and statutory duties.
- Act as the (subject-matter expert) on youth justice inspection frameworks, providing guidance, insights, and national learning to senior leaders, managers, practitioners, and partners.
- Plan and facilitate inspection readiness meetings, with oversight of actions, risks, progress, and reporting to senior leadership and the Youth Justice Partnership Board.
- Collaborate with Directors, senior managers, and operational teams to identify strengths and development areas, improving evidence robustness and accessibility.
- Support frontline practitioners, managers, senior leaders, elected members, and partners in insomnia and assurance activities.
- Collate and manage inspection evidence, including data, audits, casework, partnership information, and documentation, and maintain a comprehensive digital library demonstrating areas such as:
- Child First practice
- Assessment and planning
- Management oversight
- Safeguarding and risk management
- Victim engagement and education outcomes
- Partnership impact
- Track and drive progress against inspection findings, audit action plans, peer reviews, and quality assurance activity, ensuring documented impact.
- Partner with police, probation, health, education, social care, and victims’ services to promote shared accountability for youth justice outcomes.
- Act as the central coordinator for HMIP inspection activity and related communications.
- Lead the on-going delivery of youth justice inspection and improvement, linking with broader service improvement goals.
- Analyse and synthesise local/regional/national findings, producing reports, briefings, workshops, and action plans to improve practice.
- Contribute to Quality Assurance Service activity, including audits, performance analysis, and cross-service improvement projects.
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You Will Need
Essential Qualifications and Experience:
- A relevant postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in youth justice, children’s services, quality assurance, inspection readiness, or partnership improvement.
- Demonstrated ability to deliver projects, support programmes, or drive improvement in complex public service/multi-agency settings.
- Strong analytical skills in reviewing data, audits, case reviews, and evidence for assurance purposes.
- Exceptional organisation and time management skills, capable of juggling multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience working within large organisations or multidisciplinary teams, understanding governance, accountability, and collaborative working principles.
- Familiarity with inspection-regulatory frameworks (e.g., HMIP/Ofsted) or the ability to quickly develop expertise in this area.
- Proven communication and influencing skills, including engagement at senior leadership, board, and external stakeholder levels.
- Ability to prepare teams for inspections, offering constructive feedback and support where needed.
- Self-motivation and ability to work independently while contributing effectively to collaborative teams.
- History of leading or supporting complex workstreams, coordinating multiple stakeholder interests.
- Proficiency in using data tools, spreadsheets, or dashboards for performance monitoring and reporting.
- Resilient and adaptable mindset, with the ability to prioritise under pressure and manage tight timelines.
- Strong written communication for producing clear, concise reports, briefings, and presentations for diverse audiences.
- Proactive, solution-focused approach to anticipating challenges, strengthening systems, and driving improvements.
- Interest in national youth justice policy, Child First practice, victims’ services, and quality assurance models.
- ** Commitment to improving outcomes** for children, young people, families, victims, and communities.
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Empowering Everyone
At Suffolk County Council, we believe in diversity, inclusion, and individual potential. We encourage applications from individuals with underrepresented backgrounds and welcome candidates who can bring new perspectives to our work.
For further information, contact: Rachel Cogman | rachel.cogman@suffolk.gov.uk | 01473 264704
If applying as a secondment, please review the council’s Secondment Policy and seek approval from your current line manager.
How to Apply
Step 1: Read the Job and Person Profile (Word Document). Step 2: Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application. Step 3: Upload a supporting statement addressing:
- A time you led or supported inspection readiness, audit preparation, improvement programmes, or peer review workstream—highlight your role, actions, and impact.
- An example where you used data/audit findings to improve practice—what you analysed, the actionable insights, and the outcome.
- Your understanding of current Suffolk youth justice practice and how you would apply this to effectively build partnership-based quality assurance.
The supporting statement must be no more than 400 words per question using the provided template (Word).
⚠️ Without a supporting statement, your application will not be considered.
Additional Notes:
- Reasonable adjustments are available for disabled applicants—contact the Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk.
- Closing date: 11:30 PM, 15 July 2024
Application Guidance
For clarity, see our How to Apply page.
Disclaimer: Avoid using AI tools without verifying your own skills/experience result. Refer to our AI Policy.
Safeguarding & Selection
We are committed to safeguarding and DBS-checking/ Polizei Vetting where relevant.
About Us
Suffolk County Council offers a variety of fulfilling career opportunities, flexible setups, and a culture that values your growth and wellbeing. We inspire you to reimagine possibilities.
Key Benefits:
- Up to 29 days annual leave (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and 2 x volunteering days.
- Membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Travel, lifestyle, health, and wellbeing support.
- Annual pay progression and cost-of-living adjustment.
- Career training and development.
- Staff networking and diverse interest groups.
- Flexible working—requested from Day One.
Visit careers.Suffolk.gov.uk for further benefits and values.
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