Operational Manager – Early Intervention and Prevention Services

Title: Operational Manager – Early Intervention and Prevention Services

Hours: 36 hours per week

Reporting: Service Lead Families and Communities

Contract: 12 months Maternity Cover

Job Reference: PS/OMEIP/05

Make a real difference in people’s lives

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Operational Manager to lead a diverse portfolio of early intervention and prevention services, with a strong focus on supporting adults experiencing a range of challenges.

As Operational Manager, you will take overall responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and delivery of a range of services. You will lead a team of skilled practitioners, ensuring services are safe, effective and responsive to need.

Working closely with partners, you will drive a collaborative and integrated approach, supporting adults to overcome barriers, build resilience and achieve positive, lasting change.

About you

You will be an experienced manager with a passion for improving outcomes for vulnerable adults and communities.

You will bring

• Proven experience managing services within early help, prevention, or adult/community support settings
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate, inspire and develop teams
• Experience working in partnership across agencies and sectors
• A sound understanding of safeguarding, trauma-informed practice and strength-based approaches
• Experience managing performance, quality and operational delivery
• Confidence in analysing data and using insights to drive improvement
• Budget management experience and an understanding of service sustainability
• You will be joining a purpose-driven organisation committed to making a positive difference in people’s lives.
• The opportunity to lead impactful services that support adults and communities
• A collaborative and supportive working environment
• Flexible, hybrid working arrangements
• The chance to contribute to service development and organisational growth

Job Purpose

• Responsible for operational management of the All-Age Early Intervention and Prevention Service and related services
• Be a member of the Operational Group and represent the organisation as required

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage the operational team to ensure we are meeting contract requirements and achieving the required results to improve outcomes for children, families and adults
• Manage operational compliance in relation to all relevant legislation, quality standards and best practice to safeguard the service
• Manage the operational team in safeguarding children and adults to ensure community and organisational safety
• Manage relationships across relevant operational partnerships to improve and enhance the offer and outcomes for children, adults and communities
• Manage the appropriate deployment of human and physical resources within the operational team to ensure effective delivery
• Manage the consistent application of all relevant policies and procedures including safeguarding, health & safety and equality & diversity to ensure a compliant service
• Assist in the completion of bids for funding to achieve sustainable growth
• Monitor specific project budgets to support the services’ financial sustainability
• Deputise for the Director of Family and Community services where relevant to Early Intervention and Prevention and related services
• Manage qualitative and quantitative data to provide evidence to inform service delivery and ongoing improvement
• Collaborate to promote the overarching integrated service offer within Positive Steps, to grow the organisation
• Apply co-production principles to ensure that the user’s voice is represented in service delivery
• Undertake any other duties to meet service and organisational objectives following consultation with your manager

Qualifications and Specific Training

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject area

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of working at a supervisory or management level in the field of early help, family work or a related prevention service
• Demonstrable experience of supervising or managing teams and individuals in line with HR policies and procedures
• Significant experience of planning, monitoring and evaluating your own work
• Demonstrable experience of managing performance and quality management
• Significant experience of partnership working at operational levels
• Significant experience of communicating at an operational level through verbal and written reports and presentations
• Demonstrable experience of budget and financial management
• Demonstrable experience of maintaining service level agreements, partnership agreements and/or contracts for delivery of provision
• Significant experience in promoting diversity
• Demonstrable experience of supporting bid writing and attracting funding to help grow the organisation

Knowledge

• Awareness of project management principles
• Awareness of political, economic and social landscape at local, regional and national level in relation to early intervention and prevention services
• Understanding of strength-based and trauma-informed approaches
• Awareness of commissioning arrangements, including Service Level Agreements and bid writing
• Understanding of safeguarding legislation and guidance relating to Vulnerable Adults and Children and the boundaries of professional relationships
• Understanding of Health & Safety legal requirements and best practice

Skills

• Developed communication, report writing and presentational skills, with the ability to communicate ideas, issues, systems and procedures successfully at all levels to a variety of audiences
• Developed ability to share information accurately and concisely
• Developed ability to record information with a high degree of accuracy
• Developed negotiation and influencing skills
• Developed skills in creativity and original thinking with the ability to develop practical solutions to problems
• Developed inter-personal and team working skills, and a proven ability to form partnerships, and motivate and inspire individuals
• Primary contract management skills
• Developed skills in Microsoft Office and database systems
• Developed ability to engage individuals, organisations and partnerships

Personal Attributes

• Sound judgement and awareness of organisational and political sensitivities
• Ability to manage the team through the phases/challenges of its development
• Resilient and able to work independently as required
• Sound professional and tactical judgement and the ability to establish priorities and principles
• Commitment to Positive Steps vision and values

Additional Requirements

• Prepared to work flexibly to meet the needs of customers and the organisation
• Ability to travel throughout the region and at times the country
• Occasional evening and weekend working required
• Enhanced DBS required

Closing Date: Monday 15th June 2026, Midday

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