Lead with purpose. Drive recovery. Transform lives.
We’re looking for a strategic and people-focused Service Manager to lead our Dependency & Recovery (D&R) services across Yorkshire & the Humber. This is a high-impact leadership role supporting adult males in the criminal justice system who are navigating substance misuse challenges.
You’ll oversee a team delivering timebound, motivational interventions that bridge the gap between probation and community treatment services—empowering individuals to engage in recovery and rebuild their lives.
- Do you have proven experience managing services in substance misuse, criminal justice, or related fields.
- Do you have strong leadership and people management skills, including remote team oversight.
- Do you have a strategic mindset with the ability to drive performance and innovation.
- Do you have excellent relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders.
- Are you committed to trauma-informed, person-centred care.
If you said yes to the above we would love to hear from you.
In return you will be part of a mission-led organisation making a real impact in communities and shaping the future of recovery services in the criminal justice system whilst enjoying a varied, autonomous role with opportunities for growth and development.
Key Responsibilities include
Strategic Leadership
- Act as an ambassador for The Forward Trust, building strong relationships with Probation Services, Local Authorities, NHS, and other partners.
- Contribute to the success of Forward Connect and the development of peer mentorship and recovery communities.
- Develop and implement stakeholder engagement strategies and borough-level directories of services.
- Support future service development and bidding activity in collaboration with senior leadership.
Service Delivery
- Ensure delivery of high-quality, mixed-modality interventions (1:1, group, peer-led, virtual) in line with HMPPS standards.
- Meet all contractual KPIs including timely assessments, interventions, and action plans.
- Lead on continuity of care from custody to community and develop throughcare pathways.
- Ensure services are audit-compliant and aligned with the Refer and Monitor system.
Performance & People Management
- Line manage Team Leaders and oversee recruitment, supervision, and development of staff.
- Monitor service performance against SLAs and contractual targets.
- Address underperformance and promote a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
- Develop training and succession plans to support staff growth and retention.
Operational Oversight
- Manage budgets, resources, and service delivery across multiple sites.
- Attend governance and quality assurance meetings, escalating risks and sharing best practice.
- Ensure accurate data collection and reporting for audits, commissioners, and internal stakeholders.
- Maintain compliance with all legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.