* Inspire
* Address: Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 9QX
* Salary: £30,398 - £42,724 per annum
* Hours: 37.5 hours per week
* Contract: Maternity / Paternity Cover (12 month fixed‑term contract). Required from Mid‑August 2026
* Reference: 0751
Inspire is seeking a Head of Services / Designated Safeguarding Lead.
This is a key leadership role within Inspire, responsible for providing both strategic and operational oversight of all youth‑facing services.
You’ll lead 5 Service Leads across our core areas of:
* youth and community work
* wellbeing
* personal development
* skills
* employer partnerships
Working closely with the CEO and wider SLT, you’ll ensure our services are high‑quality, impactful, and centred around the needs of young people.
You’ll also act as our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), playing a vital role in maintaining a strong safeguarding culture across the organisation.
Responsibilities
* Line management responsibility of our team of service leads, creating a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement
* Strategic oversight of service delivery, ensuring alignment with Inspire’s vision and strategic priorities
* Budget responsibility
* Acting as Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring best practice and compliance across all services
* Using insight, data, and youth voice to demonstrate quality and impact of services
* Building strong relationships with funders, partners, and stakeholders
* Contributing to organisational strategy and planning as a member of the Senior Leadership Team
Qualifications
* Have experience leading youth‑focused services and driving impactful delivery
* Have management experience
* Have strong safeguarding knowledge and experience
* Be able to manage budgets, contracts, and funding relationships effectively
* Be insight‑driven, using data and feedback to improve services
* Be able to build strong partnerships and work collaboratively
* Have a genuine passion for supporting young people to reach their potential
About us
At Inspire, we support thousands of young people each year to build confidence, develop skills, and move forward positively in their lives. Everything we do is shaped by our commitment to being led by youth, driven by insight, and growing with purpose.
Benefits
* Career development: We invest in your future with access to training and opportunities for career advancement within the organisation
* Your birthday off! After a successful probation period you will be awarded an additional day’s leave to celebrate your birthday
* Gifted leave: We give additional annual leave over the Christmas period to staff, allowing you to fully enjoy the festive break
* Annual leave and Pension contributions accrual: The longer you stay, the more annual leave and pension contributions you accrue because loyalty deserves to be celebrated
* Childcare support: We offer your children free places (aged 5‑11) at our holiday clubs, making it easier to balance work and family life
* Uniform: We provide a professional, high‑quality uniform at no cost to you
* Free parking: Enjoy the convenience of free car parking at all of our sites
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