Crisis Service Manager in Ipswich

Role Details

• Salary: £21,371.96 to £24,181.42 (plus allowance for unsociable hours) – £35,145 to £39,765 full time equivalent – Solent Mind Band E
• Hours: 22.5 hours per week. Primarily 5.00pm to 11.00pm, including some weekend/bank holiday working as required by the service, also need to attend daytime meetings where needed
• Location: Eastleigh Safe Haven and Southampton Lighthouse sites
• Interview Date: To be confirmed
• Closing Date: Monday 13 July 2026 (11.59pm)

About the role

You will provide operational leadership across Solent Mind’s crisis services, with responsibility for the day-to-day delivery, quality, safety and ongoing development of the Safe Haven and Lighthouse offers.

You will lead service delivery across both sites, ensuring services are safe, responsive and able to meet fluctuating demand. This includes maintaining oversight of risk, incidents, staffing and performance, and taking timely action where needed.

Working closely with NHS and system partners, you will support integrated service delivery, represent the service in partnership and performance meetings, and contribute to the wider local crisis pathway.

You will line manage Crisis Team Leaders, providing clear supervision, support and development, while fostering a compassionate, inclusive and high-performing team culture. You will also ensure robust safeguarding, risk management and high-quality service delivery.

About you

You will have experience managing or leading a frontline mental health, wellbeing or crisis service, with responsibility for both people and operational delivery.

You will bring:

• Experience of line managing staff and supporting performance, wellbeing and development
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, risk assessment and crisis response
• Experience of monitoring service activity and using data to improve performance
• The ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment

You will have a good understanding of mental health crisis, suicide prevention, de-escalation and the needs of people in acute distress, alongside knowledge of safeguarding, professional boundaries and safe information sharing.

You will be a confident communicator, able to build credible relationships with internal and external partners, including NHS colleagues.

You will also have an understanding of the impact of vicarious trauma and the importance of supporting staff wellbeing within crisis services.

About us

Solent Mind is the largest mental health charity in Hampshire. It is part of a network of 125 local Minds in England and Wales, which are independent charities affiliated to Mind. Solent Mind has its own board of trustees and raises its own funds to deliver its services, support and training tailored to the needs of people living in Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth, and the Isle of Wight. Solent Mind has a gold award for Workplace Wellbeing Index 2022/2023 and has signed up to be a Mindful Employer.

Contact

• Wendy Lee, Head of Southampton and Portsmouth Services,
• Solent Mind Talent Acquisition team careers@solentmind.org.uk or 023 8201 1718

Person Specification

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: You will be asked about gaps in your employment at interview and you will need to provide proof of your right to work in the UK before you start your employment. Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor this role as we do not hold a sponsorship licence. Any offer for this role will be subject to a relevant Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and receiving your references.

We welcome people from all the communities we work in to apply for a role within Solent Mind, especially those with experience of mental health problems. Offers are made based on merit.

Please submit your application as early as possible, as we may close this advert before the advertised closing date.