Overview
Group Director – Youth Custody Service (YCS) Operations
HM Prison and Probation Service
The Youth Custody Service (YCS) is seeking an exceptional senior leader to take on a significant operational role within the young people’s secure estate. As Group Director for YCS Operations, you will play a pivotal role in shaping, directing and strengthening the provision of safe, child‑focused and high‑quality services across the YCS.
This is one of two Deputy Director roles within YCS, reporting to the Executive Director and contributing directly to the wider HMPPS operational delivery. Our ambition is clear: to build an outstanding YCS that places children first, delivers excellent outcomes and ensures that every young person in our care is safe, supported and given opportunities to progress.
We are looking for an inspirational, credible and resilient operational leader who brings grip, clarity of direction and high standards to a demanding environment. This is a unique opportunity to drive improvement, lead cultural change and make a tangible difference to the lives of children and young people in custody.
About the role
The Group Director for YCS Operations provides strategic leadership for YCS operations including operational oversight of all YCS public sector YOIs. You will ensure that establishments operate safely, effectively and in line with national policy, regulatory expectations and ministerial priorities.
The role requires a leader who can balance complex pressures, manage risk, and establish stability while driving continual improvement across the youth secure estate. You will be part of the Executive Director’s senior leadership team, working collegiately to set direction, manage system‑wide challenges and maintain confidence across HMPPS and ministers.
This is a dynamic, challenging and highly rewarding position where your leadership will directly influence the experience, outcomes and safeguarding of children and young people in custody.
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
* Accountability for performance and use of resources across the YCS operations, ensuring that their area of work is effectively delivering and driving improvement to meet the expected outcomes, and holding Senior Leaders to account.
* Providing strong and effective change leadership, ensuring in particular the effective implementation of programmes which support a child first agenda and lead to improved organisational performance.
* Ensuring that areas for which they are responsible are meeting delivery requirements, complying with national policy and progressing strategic priorities.
* Supporting and coaching senior leaders to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to run safe, decent, secure and rehabilitative YOIs and to manage their staff effectively; and improve staff engagement and demonstrate commitment to equality and inclusion through their leadership.
* Working effectively in collaboration with the wider YCS team, and as part of the wider HMPPS structures, to effectively deploy resources; share best practice to ensure stability across the system and improve progression; create a learning culture; and deliver the YCS objectives.
* Developing strategic relationships with key partners and stakeholders across MoJ, Government and other agencies and services, particularly relevant community partners, to ensure our business and strategic objectives are achieved.
* Maintaining a broad and thorough understanding of the HMPPS’s business, including Ministerial priorities, with particular focus on ensuring that policy and reform are effectively delivered at local levels.
* Ensuring effective financial management to operate within the allocated budget and with financial propriety. Seeking appropriate sources of funding to support joint interest work with our strategic partners.
* Promoting continuous professional development and professional skills across YCS, HMPPS, MOJ and the wider Civil Service.
* Champion engagement, equality and inclusion through leadership of YCS operations.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
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