At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop mental health services for children and families, ensuring impactful delivery.
- Company: Bradford District and Craven Mind, a thriving mental health charity.
- Benefits: Generous leave, health plans, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Join a passionate team committed to equity, diversity, and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while promoting mental wellbeing.
- Qualifications: Management experience in relevant fields and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 32885 - 40662 £ per year.
Salary scale: £32,885 - £40,662 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37 hours per week
Base: Kenburgh House, 28 Manor Row, Bradford, BD1 4QU
Probationary Period: Six months
Closing Date: Wednesday 19th August 2026
Interview Date: Monday 24th August 2026
About Us
Bradford District and Craven Mind is a thriving, independent mental health charity with a clear purpose to promote positive mental wellbeing and empower and help people experiencing issues with their mental health to manage and work towards recovery and fulfilment.
We do this through:
- Building community and individual resilience for better mental wellbeing
- Providing early intervention advice and support
- Supporting people in crisis
- Empowering and helping people to recover and sustain improved wellbeing
Join us and you’ll receive:
- 25 days annual leave per year, rising to 28 days with length of service plus bank holidays
- Up to two additional leave days to use each year to support your wellbeing.
- Simply Health Cash Plan to claim back on personal health costs including dental, optical, prescriptions, physiotherapy and more.
- Employee Assistance Service including 24/7 confidential mental health support and access to structured therapy sessions.
- Generous pension scheme and employer contribution to help you plan for a secure future.
- Discount schemes including Company Shop and Blue Light Card.
- Excellent personal development opportunities including access to Clinical Supervision.
- Enhanced sick pay after your six-month probation.
- Accredited employer with Mindful Employer, Disability Confident and Real Living Wage.
- Generous death in service/life assurance benefit.
Role Background
We are seeking an experienced, compassionate and motivated Service Manager to lead the delivery, development and impact of Youth in Mind: Connect (YiM: Connect) and KidsTime, two key services that support the emotional wellbeing of children, young people and families across Bradford District and Craven.
KidsTime is an inclusive, family-focused workshop programme that supports children, parents and carers where a parent or carer is experiencing mental health challenges. Through creative activities, shared learning and peer support, KidsTime helps families build stronger relationships, improve understanding of mental health and develop resilience together.
YiM: Connect is an innovative early intervention service designed to make emotional wellbeing support for children, young people and families more accessible, inclusive and rooted within local communities. The service provides support through engaging group activities, targeted one-to-one interventions and strong community connections, working alongside grassroots organisations and wider system partners to ensure children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time.
As Service Manager, you will provide leadership across both services, ensuring high-quality, safe and effective delivery while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement. You will manage and support a network of staff and delivery partners, build strong relationships with key stakeholders and champion co-production, ensuring the voices of children, young people and families remain at the heart of service development.
Working closely with the Head of Service, you will contribute to the strategic development of both programmes, helping to shape priorities, enhance delivery models and maximise impact. Using performance data, feedback and insight, you will drive service improvement and ensure both services remain responsive to local need, achieve agreed outcomes and provide meaningful support to the communities they serve.
This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about children and young people's emotional wellbeing, early intervention, trauma-informed practice and partnership working, and who is motivated by the opportunity to lead services that make a lasting difference to the lives of children, young people and families.
Role Purpose
As a Service Manager, you’ll lead the delivery and development of our mental health services, ensuring they run effectively and make a real difference. You’ll manage a dedicated team, providing guidance and support to ensure high-quality care for the people we support. With a focus on service performance, engagement, and innovation, you’ll oversee operations, build strong relationships with partners, and ensure services meet all required standards. Your leadership will help create a positive, supportive environment where both staff and service members can thrive.
Role Outcomes
- Lead your team to deliver safe, high-quality services, ensuring they meet regulatory standards, performance targets, and deliver real impact, in line with the quality assurance framework, operational plan and organisation mission.
- Harness meaningful relationships with service members, partners, commissioners, and stakeholders, strengthening collaboration and ensuring your services meet local needs.
- Ensure robust operational and financial controls are in place, including service risk assessment and safeguarding responsibilities, which are closely monitored and meet auditing requirements.
- Drive data collection and analysis, producing high quality reports to lead service developments.
- Supporting senior and executive leadership to identify new business development opportunities.
- Lead the successful delivery of new and evolving projects, ensuring they align with BDC Mind goals.
- Lead your team to be high performing by fostering clear communication and taking a proactive problem-solving approach, in alignment with our mission, objectives, policies and core values: Caring Always, Working Together, Supporting Everyone, Enabling All and Continually Improving.
- Promoting inclusion, diversity and equity in creation, development and delivery of services.
- Actively supporting and promoting all aspects of the service and enhance the public image of BDC Mind.
- Support the on-call rota to ensure all staff have access to support and guidance out of hours.
- Actively engage in supervision, team meetings and company events to contribute to a well connected, informed and supportive team environment.
- Successfully complete all mandatory and role-specific training to ensure best practices in safeguarding, data protection, health and safety and mental health awareness.
- Adapt to evolving service needs by taking on additional responsibilities as required, ensuring a cohesive and effective team approach.
Person Specification
BDC Mind is committed to promoting mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and improving the quality of life for people with mental health challenges. We value diversity, inclusion and lived experiences when recruiting our staff and volunteers.
Experience
- Essential:
- At least 1 year’s management experience in a relevant field.
- Leading change in services and driving service developments.
- Supporting a team or mentoring/coaching others.
- Building and maintaining relationships with external partners.
- Working in a health, social care or other relevant setting.
- Desirable:
- Experience managing a complex team.
- Experience of managing CYP and/or All-Age Services.
Skills and Abilities
- Essential:
- Excellent written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
- Excellent IT skills including the use of Microsoft Office packages and online systems.
- Data analysis and report writing skills.
- Able to manage a diverse range of competing priorities and meet deadlines.
- Able to work autonomously and as part of a team.
Knowledge
- Essential:
- Understanding of key current issues within mental health.
- Up to date knowledge of best practice approach to safeguarding adults and children.
Attitude and Personal Attributes
- Essential:
- Passionate and enthusiastic.
- A solution-focussed approach and can-do attitude.
- Commitment to personal and professional development.
- Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Dedicated to collaborative working.
- Willingness to work flexibly.
- Commitment to and alignment with BDC Mind core values: Supporting everyone, Caring Always, Continually Improving, Enabling all and Working Together.
How to Apply
Please click the 'Apply for this job' button and follow the steps to fill out the application form. Upload your CV and a cover letter showing how your experience and skills match the Job Description and Person Specification.
We’re unable to provide feedback to applicants who are not shortlisted. We are committed to safeguarding vulnerable children and adults. All successful candidates will need to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and a right to work in the UK check.
Service Manager – Youth in Mind: Connect and KidsTime in Bradford employer: Mind in Bradford
Bradford District and Craven Mind is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. With generous benefits such as enhanced annual leave, a comprehensive health cash plan, and access to personal development opportunities, employees are empowered to thrive in their roles while making a meaningful impact in the community. Located in Bradford, this independent mental health charity not only champions mental health awareness but also offers a culture of continuous learning and collaboration, making it an ideal place for those passionate about supporting others.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager – Youth in Mind: Connect and KidsTime in Bradford
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Mind in Bradford.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Mind in Bradford!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Mind in Bradford, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Mind in Bradford or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager – Youth in Mind: Connect and KidsTime in Bradford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Mind in Bradford:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Mind in Bradford! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mind in Bradford
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
