Operations Manager - Prevention Service

• Flexible working available, using a hybrid model and in line with the demands of the role
• 33 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Full time for 37 hours per week
• Recruitment allowance of £9,679 payable until 31/08/2028

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.

Somerset Council has invested significantly in its Prevention Services (Family Intervention Service (FIS) and Youth Justice Teams (YJT). We are seeking a full time Operations Manager to work in the West of the county, managing the Prevention teams in Bridgwater, Taunton and West Somerset. There will also be an expectation to work cross county as required to support teams in South Somerset and Mendip and develop new initiatives. 

FIS is now an established and well-regarded service in the county, offering high quality, intensive support to families experiencing multiple and complex issues.

We’re working to improve the lives of people in Somerset – and you’ll be a key part of that.

As Operations Manager, you will:

• Lead the operational delivery of prevention and youth justice services, ensuring safe, effective, and resource-intelligent support.
• Drive performance and transformation aligned with the Councils Children & Young People’s Plan, Children Social Care Plan and Youth Justice Plan.
• Manage a budget of approximately £3 million, ensuring efficient use of resources.
• Provide strategic leadership across multi-agency teams, including out-of-hours Rapid Response services.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, equality, and customer responsiveness.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to develop protocols and improve service delivery.
• Support staff development, supervision, and performance management across diverse teams.

FIS offers extended hours support to families, working over 7 day a week and with flexible hours from 7 am – 10 pm.  This includes a crisis response duty service for children, aiming to keep them safely at home wherever possible and also a Rapid Response overnight call out service to stabilise families at home until day services can re-engage.  

Further Prevention Service offer includes Young Carers assessment and support, Preventing Exploitation, Missing Children and Education Engagement to improve school attendance meaning that the service has a wide and rapidly developing portfolio of service provision.

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be.

You will be an experienced and exceptional manager who is excited about the need for families to lead their positive change and is an aspirational leader and role model for your teams, and support to your strategic lead.

You will have a high level of personal integrity and the drive, commitment and self-motivation to motivate others.  You will need to be tenacious to carry out this role.

You will have a systemic approach to Think Family putting the child and family at the centre of all that you do and ensuring that your teams support the same approach. You will be focused on achieving evidenced best outcomes for children, young people, their families and communities.

As part of our Prevention Service management team, you will be available to work flexibly and, when necessary. Operations Managers in Prevention Services cover for each other during periods of absence, and this includes providing operational management cover for our Youth Justice Service.

What We’re Looking For:

Essential:

• Proven experience in leading complex services and working with senior stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of statutory frameworks and performance management.
• Relevant degree or professional qualification.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Commitment to diversity, innovation, and community-focused service delivery.

Desirable:

• Experience in early help or youth justice, safeguarding, and restorative practices.
• Familiarity with childrens social care legal framework, Youth Justice Board requirement and HMIP standards.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a forward-thinking council committed to transformational change.
• Lead services that make a real difference in the lives of children and families.
• Work within a supportive leadership team with a shared vision for excellence.
• Benefit from Somerset Council’s dynamic working strategy, promoting flexibility and wellbeing.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more.

This is a Grade 7 role with a salary of £55,101 per annum, plus a supplement allowance.

A supplement allowance of £9,679 per annum is linked to this role. This allowance is subject to National Insurance, Tax and Pension deductions and will be paid in accordance with standard payroll procedures.

The allowance is time-limited and will expire on 31/08/2028. All supplement allowances are reviewed 18 months from the original approval date and may be adjusted or withdrawn based on organisational need, role changes, or market conditions.

Please note:

• If the role is re-evaluated or the salary changes as a result of the Pay and Grading Review, the allowance may be reduced or cease entirely.
• If the salary changes due to the NJC Pay Award, the supplement allowance will be adjusted accordingly to maintain the intended pay differential.

For an informal discussion, please contact Sam Fahey, Head of Service – Prevention & Youth Justice. Samantha.fahey@somerset.gov.uk 07977 411298.

If you're ready to lead with purpose and passion, we want to hear from you.

Interviews will be held on 6th or 8th October 2025.

When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.

This post requires a criminal background check via the Disclosure procedure.