Job Introduction
3 Month Fixed Term Contract
Bradford Children and Families Trust was established in April 2023 to enhance the quality and delivery of Children’s Services across our district. Our purpose is clear, to ensure that our promise to improve the lives of children and young people in Bradford becomes a reality. The Trust is accountable for determining how outcomes of these services are achieved and for the day-to-day running of commissioned children’s services. It requires dedication, determination, and resilience – but under a new Chief Executive, Senior Leadership team and an unswerving drive to deliver the best outcomes, we are confident that we’ll achieve our ambition.
This is an important opportunity to refocus our approach to delivering the support that Bradford’s children, young people, families and victims need, by renewing services and creating sustainable progress. As a new organisation, Bradford Children and Families Trust has established our own purpose, vision, and outcomes for what we aim to achieve.
Our vision: For all children and young people in Bradford to be safe and are able to realise their full potential.
Our purpose: To provide high-quality services with partners that help safeguard, support and promote the welfare of children, young adults, their families and victims across the Bradford District.
We will achieve this through continuous improvements in our services and positive collaboration with our staff, our partner organisations.
About The Role
This role will support the Management Team across Bradford Youth Justice Service and within Bradford Children and families Trust in delivering a high-quality Youth Justice Service to children, their families and victims. To assist in the support and development of the staff team and the wider service, which includes partner agencies.
There will be a particular emphasis on quality assurance, mentoring and supporting new workers, including support and supervision responsibilities of current workers within a performance framework, to support their learning, seek out opportunities for their development and coaching as required.
Contribute to practice development, including undertaking activity that links to the Childrens Services performance framework and the Youth Justice Service Plans.
To operate within departmental policy, practice and procedures.
You will provide visible, restorative and dynamic extended leadership within the service, to support the continued improvement of social work and child centred practice, and live the Trust’s values to INSPIRE, (Integrity, Nurture, Safety, Pride, Inclusive, Respectful, Excellence).
Key Responsibilities
- Develop high quality practice across the service
- Coach staff and offer reflection and learning opportunities
- Quality assurance
- Develop and deliver training
- Hold lead responsibilities
About You - You will need to demonstrate that you have the following skills, experience and knowledge:
- Experience of working in a Youth Justice Setting
- A clear understanding and working knowledge of the purpose and function of a Youth Justice Service and significant experience of managing complex case work.
- Experience of improving quality and performance and can communicate the importance of this process.
- Experience of supervision or coaching of staff / peers / colleagues or can evidence the transferable skills required to undertake this.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and approaches, Working Together, Childrens Act, Criminal Justice & Immigration Act, LASPO, Restorative Practice and Child First.
- Experience of modelling effective assessment and management of risk; safeguarding and wellbeing in complex situations, across a range of situations, and including positive risk-taking approaches.
- Ability to apply critical thinking, use and interpret data and provide evidence-based rationales for professional decision making
- Social Work Degree Qualification or equivalent Youth / Criminal Justice Relevant Qualification - (At least 1 PDL candidate must be registered with the Social Work England (SWE) and ensure responsibility for maintaining registration with SWE)
List of Benefits
- Generous Employer Contributions in a Local Government Pension Scheme
- Competitive salary and pay progression structure.
- Real living wage as the minimum rate of pay
- Supportive carer and parental policies
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Access to Occupational Health and confidential counselling services
- Supportive staff networks
- Access to Blue Light Card Discounts
- Professional development/support
- Career Progression
- Enhanced annual leave entitlement
- Flexible Working/Hybrid options subject to service need
Next Steps
If you would like to discuss the role further, then please contact Rachel Davis (Team Manager YJS) on 07973 671548
APPLICATION – MUST READ - In your application ensure you:
Demonstrate the ‘About You’ bullet points above and the following
In the personal statement please answer the following 3 questions, no more than 750 words per question:
- Why you, why now?
- Please describe your experience in chairing complex meetings, including the skills and knowledge you have applied to achieve the best possible outcomes for children.
- Within the PDL role how would you prioritise developing the work within the service to understand children as victims?
Closing date: Sunday 28th September
Interview date: Week of 29th September 2025
Interview Location: Sir Henry Mitchell House, 4 Manchester Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD5 0QL
Recruiter Contact Details: Rachel Davis - Rachel.Davis@bradfordcft.org.uk
Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment .
If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history prior to interview.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check including a check against the Children’s barred list, will be carried out on preferred candidates .