Operational Manager Safer Detention Team

This role is integral to the effective delivery of services at this unique facility. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will help set the tone for a safe, respectful, and supportive environment. You will be entrusted with ensuring that every individual in our care is treated with dignity, compassion, and fairness, while consistently upholding the highest standards of security, professionalism, and operational excellence.

Your leadership will play a central role in building and maintaining a healthy, inclusive staff culture, promoting wellbeing and professional conduct, and ensuring compliance with contractual and Home Office standards. This role will focus on driving operational performance and maintaining a safe, inclusive, and high-performing environment across the centre, while championing best practice in your respective area of responsibility.

• Lead, motivate, and support staff to maximise performance, professionalism, and contribution across the centre.
• Ensure visible leadership presence across all residential areas, modelling positive behaviour and professional conduct.
• Manage resourcing to ensure operational requirements are consistently met in line with contractual, financial, and company standards.
• Support resilience within the operational management layer through active participation in the Duty Director and Duty Manager rota, ensuring consistent senior presence and oversight of serious incidents.

• Develop and maintain a culture of dignity, respect, inclusion, psychological safety, and resident-centred care.
• Champion restorative practices and community-building initiatives across the centre.
• Provide coaching and support to staff in managing vulnerable individuals, including post-incident care
• Support staff training in trauma-informed care, safeguarding, conflict resolution, and professional development.
• Promote and embed health, safety, and wellbeing throughout the operation, ensuring all legal, regulatory, and policy requirements are fully met.

• Manage effective communication channels, ensuring accurate and timely information flows internally and externally.
• Work collaboratively with Home Office representatives, internal departments (Healthcare, Security, Education), external agencies (Probation, Social Services, Advocacy Groups, and Third Sector partners), and other stakeholders to maintain high standards of service delivery.
• Ensure regular, transparent communication between staff and management to maintain engagement, trust, and accountability.
• Support staff consultation processes, ensuring two-way communication and active participation in the shaping of centre culture.

• Drive continuous improvement through data analysis, audits, performance reporting, and feedback to identify trends and deliver innovative solutions.
• Contribute to strategic planning, policy development, and achievement of contractual Key Performance Indicators.
• Support development and delivery of action plans arising from diagnostic tools related to staff culture and professional conduct.
• Identify and implement opportunities to enhance staff wellbeing, engagement, and the overall quality of care for residents.
• Support delivery of social value commitments, ensuring the centre contributes positively to the environment, staff wellbeing, and the wider community.

You will bring significant experience at managerial level within a custodial, detention, justice, or other complex operational environment, coupled with a strong track record in performance and compliance. The ability to analyse data and use…