Job Overview

The Jersey Youth Service is looking to recruit to the role of a Team Leader who will play a key part within the Leadership Team contributing to the overall strategic development of the Service and being directly responsible for the development, management and operational delivery of a of cluster of Youth work projects. 

This post is open to relevantly qualified experienced colleagues who have a minimum of 3 year's experience as a Senior Youth Worker and are seeking an opportunity to progress as part of their professional development into a leadership role. The role initially will be a supported guided phase, with an incremental introduction of role responsibilities within the first 2 years, followed in year 3 the full responsibilities that are entailed within the Team Leader remit

For an informal discussion please call Karen Ali or Nathan Le Mottee on 01534 280500

Job Purpose

Contribute to the overall strategic development of the Youth Service and be responsible for overseeing the development, management and operational delivery of a youth work cluster team within the Jersey Youth Service (JYS)

Principal Accountabilities

To contribute to the overall strategic development of the Jersey Youth Service and take a lead in the development and implementation of specific strategic development areas of the Youth Service

Have responsibility for the operational development of the Youth Service within an allocated area/cluster responsibility either geographic or specific projects to include allocating resources, setting up systems for monitoring progress, encourage experimentation and innovative ways of working and remove barriers to implement change to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service while working within the restrains of policy and procedures

Set up systems for the direction, monitoring and evaluation of face-to-face work within youth projects within an allocated area/cluster of responsibility. To work closely with Project lead Youth Workers to encourage the participation and involvement of young people, ensuring that all opportunities are consistent with States of Jersey, Departmental and specific Youth Service policy and procedures.

To provide direction and management to a Cluster team of Youth Workers and Admin staff including support and supervision, annual performance, review and appraisals, dealing with poor performance and to ensure individuals and teams understand how they contribute to the Youth Service strategic plan as well as use the Workforce Development Framework to develop, deliver, monitor and evaluate staff.

Monitor and review youth work delivery using Quality Assurance, and Curriculum Frameworks, to ensure a high quality of youth work practice within allocated area of responsibility.

Identify opportunities to improve delivery of services through partnership working, including creating partnership / service level agreements which take a youth service corporate approach with relevant key agencies and organizations for the benefit of young people and the Youth Service, as well as representing the Youth Service at inter-agency and inter-departmental meetings, forums and states of Jersey working groups

Be part of a regular ‘out of hours’ on call roster  

Deputise for Senior Leadership members if required, carrying out delegated duties to ensure continuity of service.

Budgetary Responsibility

Responsibility for the monitoring of the following budgets to ensure that the States of Jersey Youth Service Financial Guidelines are adhered to:

• Youth Projects budget allocation from the central Youth Service budget to cover staffing costs, building costs, etc.
• Individual Youth Project finances consisting of income and expenditure and overseeing projects separate bank accounts.
• External funding including partnership funding, private sponsorship, grants and donations from various trusts and charitable organisations.
• Recharges to the Youth Service for staffing and income from the hire and letting of States buildings

Knowledge

Team Leaders will have to have the following

A professional youth work qualification (i.e. at least a diploma at level 4 or a degree in informal and community education / youth work / Youth & Community Studies  is required together with the proven ability
to work within a wide range of youth work contexts with a minimum of 5 years post qualifying experience as a Senior Youth Worker.

Experience in the writing / development and implementation of policy is required as well as a working knowledge of all Youth Service current policy,  strategy and curriculum. An up-to-date knowledge of UK trends and developments and an ability to consider and act on these in relation to the local environment is also required.

To have undertaken or be prepared to undertake some form of management training such as the States of Jersey Modern Managers programme

Excellent oral and interpersonal skills are critical to this role as the postholder is required to communicate at all levels efficiently and effectively. The proven ability to deal with difficult and demanding situations is required as the post involves from time to time dealing with conflict, hostility and disagreements between service users, parents, members of the community and outside agencies.

A professional training qualification such as PETTLS or DETTLS or Cert. Ed is required.

Job Context

This post is very demanding and with a wide variety of work. Team Leaders need to manage the effective and efficient running of operational youth work in allocated areas/clusters of work. Research, write and review policy for the service and contribute towards the strategic development of the service.

The work of the Youth Service is wide and varied which includes centre-based work, outdoor education, school based youth work, work in the prison, working with vulnerable young people, off island / residential work, special needs work, information and advice work etc

There is a responsibility to make sure that young people’s health, safety and wellbeing is paramount, that risks are mitigated and minimised, and that young people have a positive learning experience when they come into contact with the Youth Service.

This range of different settings presents a variety of challenging situations and issues where decisions may be required such as safeguarding and child protection concerns, risks about young people’s mental health, when and when not to challenge
young people and when there is a need to involve other agencies such as social service, police, probation, mental health service etc. The majority of these decisions are likely to be out of normal office working hours, such as evening and weekends.

Team Leaders will also be required to investigate the conduct of colleagues within the Youth Service, so there is a need to have a good working knowledge and understanding of policies and procedure that exist with in the States of Jersey.

The post holder is required to contribute to the development of all Youth Service Strategy and work as a member of the leadership team to continually review, evaluate and develop Youth Service provision in Jersey to meet the changing and growing needs of the client group and to support other agencies in the achievement of States of Jersey strategies.

As a Team Leader the post holder is responsible for overseeing all youth work carried out within an allocated area/cluster They must ensure all youth programmes run within their allocated area/cluster are designed and implemented in line with the youth work Curriculum and its
cornerstones of participation, equality of opportunity and learning  Other key responsibilities within this role include workforce development and quality assurance, including planning, organisation and management of developmental opportunities for groups, individuals and/or across the service as a whole.

The training elements requires the Team Leader to share a service wide responsibility for training and development opportunities within the service.

The range of training and development opportunities cover the broad range of roles, projects and experiences that the youth service embraces.

The nature of the work involved may require the post holder to work a proportion of unsocial hours and be available for ‘on call’ shifts as part of a regular roster.