At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop services supporting mental health and wellbeing in a prison environment.
- Company: Join Waythrough, one of England's largest mental health charities making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, pension contributions, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with opportunities for career growth and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while building relationships and supporting vulnerable individuals.
- Qualifications: Management experience and a passion for helping others are essential.
Location: HMP Deerbolt and HMP Kirklevington Grange
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday – Thursday 08:15 – 16:15, Friday 08:15 – 15:45
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £35,520 - £51,060
Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.
About Waythrough
Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.
Make a real difference in your community
Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.
About the Role
As Service Manager, you'll take responsibility for the effective delivery and development of our Reconnected to Health services across HMP Deerbolt and HMP Kirklevington Grange. You'll provide strong operational leadership, ensuring our services remain safe, effective and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for the people we support. You'll lead, manage and develop a dedicated team, ensuring staff have the support and direction they need to deliver high-quality interventions. You'll work closely with prison colleagues, commissioners, healthcare partners and other internal and external stakeholders, building strong relationships and representing Waythrough positively. You'll also monitor performance, use data and management information to drive continuous improvement, manage budgets and ensure the services meet the required quality and contractual standards.
This role provides an excellent opportunity for someone with existing management experience to bring their skills to an innovative prison-based service, while also offering an opportunity for an experienced practitioner who is ready to take the next step into management. You'll be joining a fully recruited team at HMP Deerbolt, an innovative prison that is open to piloting new approaches and developing new ways of working. You'll have the opportunity to contribute to the continued development of the service, work across two sites and play an important role in supporting continuity of care across the North East.
What You'll Be Doing
- Providing effective leadership and management across the services at HMP Deerbolt and HMP Kirklevington Grange.
- Supporting, managing, coaching and developing your team to deliver high-quality support.
- Ensuring effective assessment, risk management, support planning and interventions are in place.
- Monitoring service performance and using data and management information to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Ensuring the service meets contractual requirements and required quality standards.
- Managing the budgets attached to the services and ensuring financial targets are achieved.
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with commissioners, prison partners and other stakeholders.
- Contributing to the wider regional management team and supporting the continued development of Waythrough.
- Ensuring services operate in line with relevant legislation, policies, procedures and professional standards.
- Promoting our values of Kindness, Courage and Respect in everything you do.
About You
We’re looking for someone who can provide confident and effective leadership within a fast-paced environment. You'll need:
- Management experience, or relevant experience that demonstrates your ability to lead and develop others.
- Experience of working within criminal justice or a related environment.
- Experience of supporting vulnerable people.
- Experience of delivering high-quality services and achieving outcomes and key performance indicators.
- Experience of overseeing a range of interventions and approaches.
- Experience of working with internal and external stakeholders and building effective professional relationships.
- Strong communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.
- The ability to use management information and data effectively.
- A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, as the role will involve working across both sites.
- Experience of working within a prison environment would be desirable, although transferable experience will be considered.
What We Offer
We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:
- 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
- Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
- Life assurance (3× annual salary)
- Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
- Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
- Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
- 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
- Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals
- £500 Recommend a Friend bonus
- Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
- Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
- Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year
Inclusion and accessibility
Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation. If you need adjustments or support to apply, please contact our recruitment team.
Service Manager in Startforth employer: Waythrough
Waythrough is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and professional growth of its employees. With a strong commitment to impactful change, we offer a supportive work culture, generous annual leave, and various well-being initiatives, making it a fulfilling place to work for those passionate about guiding individuals towards recovery. Join us in a role where your contributions truly matter, and be part of a diverse team dedicated to making a difference in people's lives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager in Startforth
✨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 Waythrough.
✨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 Waythrough!
✨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 Waythrough, 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 Waythrough 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 in Startforth
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 Waythrough:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Waythrough! 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 Waythrough
✨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.
