At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team supporting individuals facing financial hardship and help them reintegrate into the community.
- Company: The Wise Group, partnering with the Ministry of Justice to make a real difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and excellent benefits.
- Other info: Opportunity for personal growth and to shape high-quality, person-centred services.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading teams within social or criminal justice services is essential.
The predicted salary is between 29077 - 31500 £ per year.
Location: Flexible working - home based, with regular travel across Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria in community and custodial settings.
Salary: £29,077 – £31,500 + excellent benefits.
Hours: 35 hours per week (flexible working).
Status: Fixed term until 28th February 2027.
Closing date: 1 July 2026.
The Wise Group, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and third‑sector organisations, delivers the Finance, Benefit and Debt service across the North West of England. This role is about more than advice. It’s about helping people stabilise their finances, reduce crisis and create the conditions for long‑term change.
Working across prison and community settings, you will lead a team supporting men facing financial hardship, debt and benefit‑related challenges that can impact stability, wellbeing and successful reintegration into the community. Using our Relational Mentoring approach, your team will build trusted relationships that go beyond transactional support - helping individuals make meaningful and sustained progress. No two journeys are the same. Many of the people we support are navigating multiple and interconnected challenges including unstable housing, poor mental health, addiction, family breakdown and long‑standing barriers to progression. Effective support requires consistency, collaboration and the ability to work confidently with complexity.
As Team Lead, you will play a key role in shaping how this support is delivered - developing people, strengthening partnerships and ensuring we deliver high‑quality, person‑centred services that make a genuine difference. We are looking for a confident, people‑focused leader who can combine empathy with accountability, support teams to perform at their best, and help create the conditions for long‑term change.
What you’ll lead:
- People and performance: Recruit, onboard and support mentoring staff delivering frontline interventions. Provide regular supervision, support wellbeing and performance, manage caseload allocation and create a culture focused on accountability, rehabilitation and outcomes.
- Service delivery: Ensure consistent, high‑quality delivery across custodial and community settings. Support your team to address finance, benefits and debt barriers that impact stability, wellbeing and resettlement.
- Partnerships and stakeholder engagement: Build strong working relationships with prisons, probation, Ministry of Justice partners and third‑sector organisations. Strengthen referral pathways, support collaborative delivery and help ensure people can access the right support at the right time.
- Safeguarding, risk and compliance: Ensure safe working practices are embedded, including risk assessment and safeguarding. Manage and elevate concerns appropriately and ensure compliance with all requirements.
- Data, quality and performance: Oversee CRM systems, case recording and performance reporting. Use data and insight to track progress, meet contractual requirements and drive continuous improvement.
- Continuous improvement and change: Identify opportunities to improve delivery, gather feedback from staff, participants and partners, and support the ongoing development of justice services across the region.
What you’ll bring:
- Experience leading or coordinating frontline teams within criminal justice, social justice, employability or related services.
- Strong people management and coaching skills, with the ability to build trust, resilience and accountability.
- Understanding of the multiple and interconnected challenges faced by people entering or leaving custody, particularly around financial wellbeing, debt, housing, wellbeing and reintegration.
- Ability to lead and support teams working in complex and emotionally demanding environments.
- Strong organisational and digital skills, including experience with CRM systems and performance reporting.
- Confidence building productive relationships with statutory and third‑sector partners.
- A practical, solutions‑focused approach and the ability to implement change.
Essential requirements:
- Full driving licence and access to a car for daily use.
- Willingness to travel regularly across Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria.
- Successful completion of enhanced Level 1 prison vetting.
- Home broadband to support flexible working.
Experience of working within a custodial setting is advantageous.
Team Lead (Justice Services) in England employer: The Wise Group
The Wise Group is an exceptional employer, offering a flexible working environment that allows you to make a real impact across Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire, and Cumbria. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, professional development, and a collaborative work culture, we empower our team to support individuals facing financial hardships and complex challenges. Join us in delivering meaningful change while enjoying excellent benefits and the opportunity to grow within a supportive and dynamic organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Lead (Justice Services) in England
✨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 The Wise Group.
✨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 The Wise Group!
✨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 The Wise Group, 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 The Wise Group 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 Team Lead (Justice Services) in England
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 The Wise Group:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to The Wise Group! 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 The Wise Group
✨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.
