At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop mental health services, ensuring high-quality support for those in need.
- Company: Porchlight, a charity dedicated to helping vulnerable individuals achieve stability.
- Benefits: Generous leave, pension scheme, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a values-led organisation committed to inclusion and safeguarding.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while shaping impactful mental health services.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing mental health services and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Porchlight is looking for an experienced and compassionate Area Manager to lead the delivery and development of our internal Live Well Kent and Medway (LWKM) services and related support services, including domestic abuse support and work focused on the alleviation of poverty. This is a key leadership role within our mental health provision. You will provide strong operational oversight across a range of community-based services, ensuring they are safe, person-centred, trauma-informed and delivered to a consistently high standard.
Working closely with service managers, internal teams, commissioners, voluntary sector partners and statutory agencies, you will help ensure that people experiencing mental health challenges, domestic abuse, financial hardship or multiple disadvantage receive coordinated and effective support. You will be responsible for supporting service performance, quality assurance, safeguarding practice, contract compliance and continuous improvement. You will also play an important role in developing staff, strengthening partnerships and identifying opportunities to improve outcomes for people using our services.
We are looking for someone with proven experience of managing mental health or related support services, including leading teams through complexity and change. You will understand the impact of trauma, poverty, domestic abuse and social exclusion, and you will be confident using data, insight and partnership working to improve service delivery. Excellent communication, judgement and organisational skills are essential, alongside a clear commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and recovery-focused practice.
In return, you will join a values-led organisation committed to making a lasting difference in people’s lives. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled and motivated manager to shape high-quality services, support dedicated teams and contribute to Porchlight’s mission to help people live safely, independently and with hope for the future.
This role requires:
- Leadership experience
- Strong influencing, relationship management and communication skills
- Experience of performance and risk management of complex services and contracts
- Strong strategic skills, with the ability to align and develop services to support the charity’s ambitions and plans
- A commitment to the values that underpin all of Porchlight’s work
Experience of the housing and social care landscape will be helpful but we’re looking for the right person and will invest in your professional development with ongoing training and learning opportunities.
Porchlight is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
Working pattern: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday with some flexibility required.
Location type: On-site
Contract type: Permanent
Interview date: 13th August 2026
Our application form and interview process have been designed to assess your transferable skills rather than direct experience. This helps remove barriers for people who may have the right values, abilities, and potential but may not have formal experience in the role they’re applying for. We actively encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.
Please have a look at the application guidance and job description at the bottom of the page to give you the best chance of being shortlisted. For further information about the role, or to have an informal chat with the recruiting manager, please contact Pam Burniston on 07921 605849 or email pamburniston@porchlight.org.uk. For any further information regarding the application process please contact hr@porchlight.org.uk.
The charity Porchlight is a charity supporting people who are homeless, vulnerable, and isolated. At Porchlight, we are passionate about helping vulnerable people to reach their full potential. We strive for a fairer society where vulnerable people find stability, the most excluded are included, and where homelessness and poverty are things of the past.
Porchlight is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Porchlight is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
The benefits include:
- Generous annual leave entitlements
- Generous pension scheme
- Occupational sick pay
- Occupational maternity and support pay
- Employee assistance programme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Access to mental health first aiders
- Sponsorship for professional qualifications
- Staff loans
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Life assurance
Area Manager - Mental Health Service in Canterbury employer: Porchlight
Porchlight is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for its employees. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, the organisation offers generous benefits such as annual leave, a robust pension scheme, and access to mental health first aiders, ensuring that staff feel valued and cared for. Located in Kent & Medway, the Mental Health Together Navigator role provides a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community while benefiting from professional growth and development within a collaborative team of passionate individuals.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Area Manager - Mental Health Service in Canterbury
✨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 Porchlight.
✨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 Porchlight!
✨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 Porchlight, 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 Porchlight 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 Area Manager - Mental Health Service in Canterbury
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 Porchlight:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Porchlight! 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 Porchlight
✨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.
