Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead services in prisons and communities, ensuring high-quality delivery and performance.
- Company: The Forward Trust, a social enterprise dedicated to breaking cycles of crime and addiction.
- Benefits: Flexible working, training opportunities, wellbeing days, and generous annual leave.
- Why this job: Make an immediate impact in criminal justice and recovery while leading innovative services.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing prison and community pathways with a focus on continuity of care.
- Other info: Join a passionate team committed to empowering individuals for lasting change.
The predicted salary is between 31000 - 42000 £ per year.
We are recruiting for a Service Manager to join us on a 9-month fixed term maternity cover in the Dependency & Recovery Service in London.
You will lead services across Southwest London probation, London Prisons and our peer mentor pathway. The Dependency & Recovery service is designed to improve retention of clients into treatment and bridge the gap between probation/prison and community treatment services. We are looking for an innovative manager, with prior experience of managing prison and community pathways, and a strong understanding of the importance of continuity of care.
The role
- You will hold strategic and operational responsibility for the D&R service across Southwest London boroughs, London prisons and the peer mentor pathway.
- You will provide visible, people-focused leadership across prison and community settings, ensuring there is high-quality service delivery and performance targets are met.
- You will be line managing two team leaders, both in prison and the community, ensuring the effective running of the through the gate pathway.
- You are the point of contact for all partnership engagement, enhancing referral pathways and developing joint working agreements to improve outcomes for our clients.
- You will work in conjunction with senior management to contribute to improvement plans, produce performance reports for commissioners and ensure accurate data.
- You will provide visible leadership across the locations stipulated and should expect to spend at least three days per week in service, meeting staff, attending key meetings and prisons/probation offices.
- Ensure services are audit-compliant, outcomes-focused and data-led.
- Contribute to wider CRS and Forward Trust objectives, projects and service development.
This is a predominantly in-person role, working across SW London probation delivery units, prisons and community locations. You’ll spend at least three days per week on site with teams and partners to ensure safe, high-quality delivery.
If you’re an experienced manager with a passion for criminal justice, recovery and partnership working, and you’re looking for a 9-month maternity cover role where you can make an immediate impact, we’d love to hear from you.
About Us: We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community. We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important.
Joining us as an employee, we will offer you the following benefits:
- Flexible working
- Training and development opportunities
- Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
- Season Ticket Loan Scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Crisis Loan Scheme
- Electric Car Scheme
- 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
- Access to Blue Light Card
- 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave
Service Manager - London Prisons and Southwest London (Maternity 9 month FTC) - London employer: The Forward Trust
Contact Detail:
The Forward Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - London Prisons and Southwest London (Maternity 9 month FTC) - London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the criminal justice and recovery sectors. Attend relevant events or workshops to meet potential employers and showcase your passion for the field.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission, especially in improving client outcomes and service delivery.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams and improved services in previous roles. This will demonstrate your capability to lead effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our mission at The Forward Trust.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager - London Prisons and Southwest London (Maternity 9 month FTC) - London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Service Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing prison and community pathways, and show us how you understand the importance of continuity of care. This will help us see why you're the perfect fit!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to know about your people-focused leadership style! Share examples of how you've led teams in similar settings, especially in high-pressure environments like prisons or community services. Let us see your innovative side!
Be Data-Driven: Since this role involves ensuring services are audit-compliant and data-led, include any relevant experience you have with performance reporting and data management. Show us how you’ve used data to improve service delivery in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows us you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Forward Trust
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the Dependency & Recovery Service and its importance in bridging the gap between probation, prison, and community treatment. Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges faced in these environments and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Service Manager, you'll need to demonstrate visible, people-focused leadership. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in similar settings, highlighting your ability to motivate staff and ensure high-quality service delivery.
✨Engagement is Key
Since this role involves partnership engagement, think about how you've built relationships in previous roles. Be ready to share specific strategies you've used to enhance referral pathways and develop joint working agreements that improved outcomes for clients.
✨Data-Driven Decisions
The job requires an understanding of audit compliance and data-led outcomes. Brush up on how you've used data to inform decision-making in past roles, and be prepared to discuss how you would apply this in the context of the D&R service.
