Service Manager in London

We are Hestia. We make a difference. At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Service Manager to play a pivotal role in our Mental Health Service in Waltham Forest.

The main purpose of this role is to provide strong operational leadership to ensure the safe, effective and values‑driven delivery of a non‑clinical mental health crisis alternative service. You will oversee day‑to‑day service operations, staff support, risk management processes and partnership working, ensuring that the environment remains compassionate, recovery‑focused and co‑produced. You will be responsible for maintaining high standards of practice, safeguarding, and service performance so that people in crisis receive timely, person‑centred support that promotes hope, autonomy and emotional safety.

What do I need to bring with me?

You’ll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don’t have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you’re willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

We are looking for a confident, compassionate leader with experience managing teams or services in mental health, social care or crisis support. You should have a strong understanding of trauma‑informed practice, recovery principles, safeguarding and risk management, as well as experience working with statutory and voluntary partners. We need someone who can motivate staff, foster a positive and reflective team culture, and drive quality, performance and service improvement. Strong organisational, analytical and communication skills are essential, along with the ability to stay calm and solution‑focused during complex situations. A commitment to person‑centred, recovery‑focused practice, emotional resilience, respect for diverse perspectives, flexibility in working patterns and solid IT skills will be key to succeeding in this role.

Interview Steps

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don’t be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it’s all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed. We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.