Essex is a diverse county which encompasses some of the highest levels of deprivation in the country as well as some highly affluent communities. This is reflected in a wide variance of educational need and attainment. Essex Youth Service inspires young people to achieve their full potential; to aspire to find their place and to contribute as active citizens enabling their voice to be heard.

The role

This role will lead and oversee the delivery of youth work solutions to young people to enable them to achieve personal, social and educational achievements which enrich their lives and prepare them for adulthood. Working at a strategic level, developing and influencing effective partnerships that work collaboratively with service users and stakeholders.

The Youth Service Lead will provide expert knowledge and strategic direction for specific areas Community Capacity Building, Young Carers, Commissioning and Youth Work Practice, Working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure the workforce is equipped with the tools, skills and capabilities required to deliver first class youth work solutions.

You will

• Lead on a strategic area of youth work, developing capability frameworks and managing the cultural shift associated with innovative capacity building models and working practices.
• Ensure that appropriate mechanisms and protocols are in place with all other partner agencies for effective discharge of statutory joint obligations and duties including safeguarding, equality and diversity standards, national registration and inspection requirements.
• Develop, sustain and manage strong working relationships within Essex and the UK that influence and promote a coherent, aligned approach to the implementation of youth work and the wider education and skills aims offer to young people in Essex.
• Establish, develop and maintain strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders to ensure current and future needs are understood and services are commissioned and delivered accordingly.
• Provide leadership and influence employees and partners to adapt to new ways of working, ensuring the required change journey is understood, accepted and implemented.
• Ensure that ECC policies, procedures and youth work practices are reviewed, developed and fit for purpose.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

• Educated to RQF level 6 (Bachelor's degree) or equivalent by experience in a youth or education setting.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Evidence of leading sector specific innovation and development through ongoing engagement with professional bodies such as NYA, UK Youth, UKYP.
• Experience within the Education/Lifelong Learning sector particularly in relation to youth work with significant knowledge of youth work solutions and models.
• Knowledge of commissioning-based service models and their application in a public and/or private sector context. Evidence of success in determining and evaluating service quality and identifying opportunities to achieve efficiencies, best value and/ or cost reduction.
• Demonstrable achievement of outcomes for customers with a strong focus on evidence-based decision making and maximising value for money.
• Evidence of creative, innovative, transformative working practices within the youth work or education professions.
• Experience of working at a senior level within a large complex organisation, with skills in understanding and responding to different perspectives and taking a cross organisational perspective.

Interviews to be held on Tuesday 23rd June 2020

As part of employment with Essex County Council should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please visit:

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. For more information please use the following link:

Please note ECC regularly reviews its reward and benefits

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

If you have any queries regarding this role, or require anything further, please contact the Resourcing Team on 03330135888.
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