Operations manager counselling and prevention services jobs

We are looking for an experienced leader with key skills in line management, bid-writing and safeguarding, preferably with a qualification in social work. Our ideal candidate will be emotionally resilient, compassionate and empathetic with a proven background in managing people and overseeing service delivery.  You will be responsible for service quality, operational strategies and policies, providing high-level support to a small, dedicated team of staff and volunteers and bid writing to secure long term funding for the charity to continue its vital work. 

The charity provides support to vulnerable parents with pre-school aged children living in the borough of Gravesham, supporting up to 85 families at any given time.  Waterside offers 1:1 support, peer group sessions, structured family sessions, access to local agency clinics, counselling services, and courses, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year.

Reporting to the Chair of Trustees, you will work with the team, trustees and external providers to ensure the delivery of impactful services and cultivation of strong partnerships in order to respond to the local needs of our families. 

The Centre Manager role will be expected to work from the centre the majority of the time as it is important to have a presence with the families and staff. On occasion, when it is required to meet key deadlines, working from home is supported but this is on an ad-hoc basis and not part of a regular working pattern. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage and co-ordinate the work of Waterside Parents’ Centre to ensure smooth running of the service. 

• Designated Safeguarding Lead.

• Manage day-to-day operations, ensuring high-quality service delivery and adherence to best practices.

• Lead and support a dedicated team, providing supervision, training, and professional development opportunities.

• Ensure you are visible and approachable to the families we engage with specifically in family sessions. 

• Effective bid writing to secure crucial funding for the charity

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, funders, and commissioners.

• Develop and implement strategic plans that align with the organisation’s goals and values.

• Manage all policies and procedures ensuring that they align with appropriate legislation and regulatory requirements.

• Work with the Finance Officer to ensure accuracy of financial recording and reporting.

Skills and Experience:

Desirable

• Experience in a social work environment.

Required

• Experience of leading services in the charity or social care sector.

• Non judgmental approach ensuring focus is on acceptance and understanding.

• Proven ability to manage diverse funding contracts and reporting requirements.

• Strong team leadership, with a focus on collaboration and staff development.

• Excellent communication and partnership-building skills.

• A commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

What we are offering you:

Waterside is a family-centric employer and we provide our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. 

As well as ongoing development and training, we offer a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working and hybrid working on occasion.  We offer a contributory pension scheme and free on-site parking.

Waterside is committed to safer recruitment and equality of opportunity and diversity.  This role is subject to DBS checks

Deputy Manager (Mental Health) - Recovery House

Location: Alum Rock, Birmingham

Salary: £28,982 per annum

Hours: 37.5 Hours per week

Recovery House is a new and innovative service we are launching that meets an important need for people experiencing poor mental health. The service will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing vital support to people in need of short-term crisis accommodation, of up to 7 nights. The service is a partnership with the NHS, who will have a staff presence at all times, and builds on the range of strong collaborations we have with the public sector.

We provide individualised, person-centred services that help people lead fulfilling lives and reach their full potential. Known for our high-quality support, we play a key role in Birmingham's mental health system and collaborate with local organisations to challenge the stigma surrounding mental distress.

About the role

Directly managing two Team Leaders, the Deputy Manager will work as part of a team in our regulated services and is an important role in the delivery of recovery based and prevention services within Birmingham. This post is central to the smooth running of the 24/7 Recovery House.

The Recovery House is commissioned by the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust and is part of their Urgent Care pathway. Working closely with Operations at Birmingham Mind, the role contributes to effective communication between operational staff and management.

You will support the Service Manager in providing continuous and safe delivery of support at the Recovery House and always ensuring high quality person-centred care. You will ensure that compliance and adherence to CQC standards is upheld by the Recovery Support Workers and Team Leaders and provide updates and reports both internally and externally.

You will provide direction, shared management, and support to the delivery team of 13, which includes 24/7 staffing and support; ensuring we deliver on the aims of crisis intervention and prevention.

The role requires a clear vision of how crisis alternatives can be achieved through highly effective services, and the ability to turn that vision into a reality. You will support the work of the NHS clinical team and liaise with them and ensure that the service can be accessed by service users when they need it and that the house is prepared and ready for new residents.

About you

You will need to be skilful in developing strong relationships with a range of people and be able to hold on to a vision for the future rooted firmly in values and the principles of recovery, whilst accepting that different professions have different skills and contributions to be made.

We are looking for someone who is experienced in delivering services in a CQC regulated residential or supported living environment and has previously managed a team with line management. You will have excellent working knowledge of relevant mental health and other legislation and have had dealings with Safeguarding and Health and Safety.

The successful candidate will have knowledge of and a commitment to the “Recovery” model of mental health support and experienced in delivery services within values and framework. You will be able to manage and lead a team of people to perform to their best, with the ability to work closely with the Service Manager to ensure a high quality of service.

This role will involve working on a rota, including some evenings and weekends.

Staff benefits include an attractive defined contribution pension scheme, PayCare, which offers employees affordable cover for a range of healthcare treatments, an Employee Assistance Programme that includes free counselling, a cycle to work scheme, and a comprehensive training programme.

Birmingham Mind is extremely proud to have a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities that we work with. We strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges as their perspectives enrich our teams. We are also committed to changing the ethnic diversity of our management team and particularly encourage applicants from minority communities to apply for this role.

Our people are key to the success of the organisation, and we are recognised as both a Mindful Employer as well as achieving Gold standard success in Investors in People. We welcome applications from people who have experienced mental health difficulties.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 21st May 2025

Following a successful 12-year tenure by the current Chief Executive Officer, South Yorkshire Eating Disorders Association (SYEDA) is seeking a new leader to guide the organisation into its next exciting chapter.

Rooted in lived experience and developed over three decades, SYEDA is a leading regional charity offering support to individuals affected by eating disorders, along with their carers and the professionals who support them. The organisation has recently secured a major five-year contract, along with additional grant funding, to expand both its clinical services and early intervention work, including innovative programmes in schools and community settings.

This opportunity calls for a forward-thinking, emotionally intelligent, and strategic leader with the vision and capability to build on a strong foundation—enhancing reach, influence, and impact across the region.

As CEO, you will:

• Lead SYEDA’s strategy and vision, working closely with a committed Board and team
• Oversee the delivery of clinical and preventative services, ensuring high standards of care, access and innovation
• Support and develop the staff team (~20 people), embedding a culture of inclusion, learning, and wellbeing
• Drive income generation and ensure financial sustainability
• Represent SYEDA regionally and nationally.

About you:

You’re an experienced senior leader with proven experience in people management, strategy, and operational delivery. You understand the importance of good governance and inclusive leadership. Ideally, you’ve worked in or alongside the NHS or charity sector, and you bring passion for health/social care, EDI, and recovery.

Why join SYEDA?

· To become part of a specialist charity with a growing national profile, a financially stable, and with ambitious plans for future growth.

· To join and promote a warm, collaborative culture with a strong commitment strong commitment to incorporating lived experience at all levels of the organisation.

· For an opportunity to shape support for some of the most underrepresented individuals in the mental health field today.