Somerset Council
Operations Manager - Prevention & Youth justice Service
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Operations Manager - Prevention & Youth justice Service
Operations Manager – Prevention Services
Closing date: 05/07/2028 Salary: Grade 7 – £55,101 per annum + £9,679 recruitment allowance until 31/08/2028 Location: Taunton
About the Role
Are you a strategic leader with a passion for improving outcomes for children, young people, and families?
Children’s Services in Somerset is seeking a dynamic Operations Manager to lead our Prevention Services, playing a pivotal role in shaping and delivering innovative, responsive, and high-quality services across the county.
At Somerset Council, we’re proud to be on an ambitious journey to transform how we support children and families across the county. As part of our Families First Partnership programme, we are reshaping services to ensure families receive the right help, at the right time, in the right way—working closely with partners across social care, education, Police, health, and communities.
This is a significant and exciting period of change. We’re developing a more connected, relationship-based system that puts children, young people, and families at the centre—strengthening early help, enhancing multi-agency working, and supporting more children to grow up safely within their families and communities.
This two-year fixed-term role will give you the opportunity to help deliver this transformation, shape new ways of working, embed innovation, and build a sustainable system that makes a lasting difference. If you’re passionate about improving outcomes and thrive in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Role Summary
The Operations Manager – Prevention Services provides strategic and operational leadership across prevention and youth justice services in Somerset. The role focuses on ensuring children, young people, families, and victims receive coordinated, timely, and effective support at the earliest opportunity—helping to prevent escalation and improve long-term outcomes.
Through strong leadership and oversight, the postholder will:
- Ensure alignment with statutory and regulatory requirements
- Drive continuous improvement in quality, performance, and impact
- Support effective prevention pathways
- Promote safer outcomes for children, families, and communities
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As part of the senior leadership team, the role contributes to wide-reaching priorities of Children’s Services, including:
- Building strong partnerships
- Shaping service development
- Leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver joined-up, responsive, and forward-thinking support in line with the Council’s priorities and County Plan.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Lead
- Lead the operational delivery of prevention and youth justice services, ensuring timely, effective, and restorative support for children, young people, families, and victims.
- Provide strategic leadership in shaping early help and prevention services aligned with the Families First Partnership and transformation programme.
Strategic Implementation
- Drive performance, innovation, and transformation in line with Council plans, including:
- Children & Young People’s Plan
- Children’s Social Care Plan
- Youth Justice Plan
Financial and Resource Management
- Manage a £3 million budget, ensuring effective and efficient use of resources.
Collaboration & Partnerships
- Lead multi-agency teams and partnerships, strengthening collaboration across statutory and community services (e.g., social care, education, Police, health).
- Oversee Rapid Response and out-of-hours provisions where applicable.
Continuous Improvement & Quality Assurance
- Embed a culture of improvement, upholding equality and relationship-based practice.
- Support workforce development, supervision, and performance management across diverse services.
Knowledge, Experience & Skills
Essential
Knowledge & Expertise
- Strong understanding of performance management and quality assurance, including designing, implementing, and reviewing systems.
- Comprehensive knowledge of statutory, regulatory, and policy reforms related to:
- Prevention services
- Youth justice
- Children’s services
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Leadership & Delivery Experience
- Demonstrated success working with Elected Members, Directors, and senior partners on complex service issues.
- A proven track record of:
- Leading or delivering complex projects
- Providing strategic advice
- Influencing policy development
- Commissioning and delivering high-quality services at value for money
Professional Qualification
- Relevant degree or qualified professional standing in their specialist field.
- Evidence of ongoing professional development.
Core Attributes
- Leadership with a focus on improvement and positive change (acting as a role model).
- Highly organised with:
- Ability to work under pressure
- Meet deadlines and maintain high service standards
- Strong analytical and decision-making skills, particularly in:
- Complex safeguarding
- Policy development
- Operational delivery in youth justice
- Customer-focused ethos and the ability to engage effectively with communities and stakeholders.
- Committed to diversity and inclusion in delivery and employment.
Personal Effectiveness
- High personal integrity and professionalism.
- Resilience and drive to motivate others toward excellence.
Desirable
- Experience in:
- Early help services
- Youth justice
- Safeguarding
- Familiarity with:
- Children’s social care legal framework
- Youth Justice Board requirements
- HMIP standards
Benefits Package
- 30 days’ annual leave (including public holidays)
- Two-year fixed-term contract (37 hours per week)
- Generous benefits supporting:
- Wellbeing
- Work-life balance
- Continued professional development
Note: Regretfully, sponsorship for this role is unavailable.
For an informal discussion, contact Sam Fahey (Sam.Fahey@somerset.gov.uk).
Interviews scheduled for: 13/07/2026.
A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or upon request.
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