Job Description: Services Manager (VESS Alliance)

Reporting to: Head of Services – Youth Justice

ROLE OVERVIEW

New Horizon Youth Centre (NHYC) is commissioned by London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) as part of an Alliance with Safer London, St Giles Trust and the VRU to deliver on their Violence and Exploitation Support Services (VESS). The commission has been running since June 2024.

The Services Manager is the key NHYC operational lead for the Alliance, sitting as part of our wider Youth Justice team. They are responsible ensuring successful delivery of the commission and fulfilment of the objectives agreed with Alliance partners.

JOB OBJECTIVES

The key objectives of the post are:

• To lead on the operational delivery of our new VESS Alliance contract.

• To work with the Head of Services to ensure delivery of housing focused casework to young people impacted by violence and exploitation who are referred via the Alliance front door.

• To support the management and development of a team of housing caseworkers

• To ensure the successful working of the VESS Alliance partnership, with Safer London, St Giles Trust and the VRU, and other subcontracted partners.

Key details

• Contract type and hours: Full-Time, Permanent

• Salary: £37,024 - £41,600

• Location: New Horizon Youth Centre, 68 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JR

• Application deadline: 9am, 21st April 2026

• How to apply: complete our application form below, submit your CV and write a 2 page cover letter/supporting statement. Please don't include your name or address in your CV or cover letter.

Main tasks and responsibilities

Staff Management

To work with the Head of Services to lead, supervise and develop team members, ensuring they make a full and positive contribution to the achievement of NHYC’s mission. This will include:

1. Participating in recruitment, selection and induction of new staff, locums, students and volunteers.
   

2. Leading, managing and motivating team members including volunteers, students and locum workers by means of:

   · Drawing up and carrying out planned programmes of induction and training.

   · Setting and monitoring individual performance objectives and targets.

   · Holding regular, recorded supervisions, annual appraisals and team meetings
   

3. Managing the workload of the team to ensure that adequate cover is provided at all times.
   

4. Dealing with problems concerning staff conduct, performance and attendance in line with policies and procedures.
   

5. Providing expert coaching and guidance to staff and monitoring and evaluating their work with young people, including chairing case review meetings.
   

Young People's Services

Providing expert coaching and guidance to staff and monitoring and evaluating their work with young people, including chairing case review meetings.

1. Supporting the Head of Services in all aspects of the development and delivery of the service, ensuring young people receive a high-quality service from the point of referral via the Alliance front door to the achievement of an appropriate housing outcome.
   

2. Supporting the Head of Services in all aspects of the development and delivery of the service, ensuring young people receive a high-quality service from the point of referral via the Alliance front door to the achievement of an appropriate housing outcome.
   

3. Holding a small caseload of young people when required.
   

4. Continued use of feedback and showing a commitment to a service that is sensitive and responsive to young people’s needs.
   

5. Taking a hands-on approach to dealing with complex or difficult cases.

Sharing best practice

To proactively share best practice with internal and external stakeholders in order to maximise the impact of the work of NHYC. This will include:

1. Acting to maximise the profile of NHYC and the wider VESS Alliance by developing and maintaining effective working relationships with partners who might offer resources, funding, or individual services relevant to young people’s needs. Formulating Service Level Agreements where appropriate.
   

2. Working with the Head of Services to research and pilot new systems that will benefit the service and assist in best practice sharing throughout the whole organisation.
   

3. Promoting and representing NHYC and the Alliance at relevant external forums, meetings and events.

Information management

To produce and maintain accurate and useful information in a range of formats in order to promote effective service delivery and evaluation. This will include:

1. Recording all contact with clients appropriately and maintaining all relevant files and recording systems up to date.
   

2. Inputting and extracting information from the client database and other accounting systems. Utilising computer software for the production of correspondence and reports.
   

3. Producing project monitoring reports and evaluation in a variety of formats to meet the requirements of senior managers, funders and service providers.
   

4. Being fully and compliant with NHYC and Alliance GDPR policies.

Reviewing personal and professional development needs

To be proactive in reviewing and evaluating own performance and identifying and acting upon areas for improvement. This will include:

1. Continuously reviewing own working practices in line with client feedback and current best practice.

2. Reviewing and evaluating own performance to identify strengths and areas for development. Identifying own learning and development needs and opportunities.

3. Undertaking development and training opportunities and being responsible for obtaining maximum benefit through review, reflection, and practice.

Other

To contribute positively and constructively to the development of the teams, service and NHYC. This will include:

1. Undertaking duties in relation to the smooth running of the day centre and life skills service, including covering for other members of the team where necessary.

2. Acting on behalf of the Head of Services on day to day matters in their absence and contributing to the overall management of the team as requested.

3. Following NHYC’s policies, procedures and performance expectations in all functions of the post.

4. Undertaking as required any other duties compatible with the level and nature of the post and/or reasonably required by the Head of Services, Director of Operations or CEO.

Person specification

We are looking for an individual who can demonstrate the following competencies to a high level and want to use these to the full in their work.

E: Essential

D: Desirable

Experience and Track Record

1. Experience of managing services for young people. (E)
   

2. Experience of assessing risk and implementing safety procedures when supporting children and young people involved in or at risk of violence or exploitation. (E)
   

3. Knowledge of housing and homelessness, and experience of achieving housing outcomes for young people, including those from the VESS client group. (E)
   

4. Experience of line managing staff and/or volunteers, including coordinating the work of a number of individuals to achieve effective outcomes, and the ability to motivate staff to deliver high-quality services. (D)
   

5. Experience of working with a range of external partners to co-deliver services. (E)
   

6. Confidence in managing competing priorities within a partnership, including the ability to provide and respond to sometimes challenging feedback. (E)
   

7. Experience of using IT systems (including databases) to support the achievement of service objectives and learning. (E)
   

8. The ability to multitask in a pressured environment. (E)

Specialist Knowledge and Role Requirements

1. Ability to maintain enthusiasm for a high level of contact with young people on a day-to-day basis (including young people impacted by violence and offending) and a genuine interest in helping young people to make changes in their lives and move towards independent living. (E)
   

2. Understanding of the kinds of behaviour that young people fleeing violence and exploitation might demonstrate and the ability to take a trauma-informed approach to managing such behaviour. (E)
   

3. Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of:

   a. Local and National Government policies and procedures in relation to the client group (D)

   b. Relevant organisations and their role/responsibilities in providing support to young people (D)

   c. Youth Justice legislation and guidance. (D)

   d. Housing options for young people in London. (D)
   

4. Knowledge of working to performance indicators, including monitoring and reporting on service outputs/outcomes, client tracking, analysing performance information, and identifying corrective action. (E)
   

5. An understanding of and a commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as it applies to a supportive service and in the workplace (E)
   

6. A high level of knowledge of health and safety issues in a working environment. (E)
   

7. Experience and knowledge around safeguarding policy and procedures for children and adults at risk, including knowledge relevant to violence and exploitation. (E)

Additional job requirements

1. Willingness and ability to work outside of normal hours on occasion (within New Horizon’s flexible working arrangements), including work over the Christmas period when required.

2. Willingness to work flexibly in response to changing organisational requirements.

3. Willingness to work from different sites including our day centre in Camden.

Timescales and how to apply

Dates

• Closing date for applications: 9am, 21st April 2026

• Shortlisted candidates will be informed: 22nd April 2026

• Interviews: 29th April 2026

Application process

1. Complete the application form below

2. Upload your CV setting out your career history, education or qualifications, and other key responsibilities or achievements. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME OR INITIALS IN THE DOCUMENT FILE NAME

3. Write a cover letter / supporting statement (no more than 1500 words) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the ESSENTIAL criteria listed on the Person Specification, and any additional relevant desirable points you wish to share. Do not include your name, address or any personal details. This is an important part of your application so must be completed. We recommend you work on this in another text file (such as Word) and copy and paste it into the box below when you are ready to submit.

We do not consider incomplete applications.

You will be notified if you have not been shortlisted. However, we are unfortunately unable to provide each individual application with feedback.

If you have any questions or would like to arrange a call to discuss the role, please feel free to email us at recruitment@nhyouthcentre.org.uk or call 0207 388 5560.

Click here to see the job pack in PDF format or the job pack in Word format.