Arts & Learning Strategic Lead

Clinks; London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Clinks is seeking a strategic leader to support the Head of Safe Ground, focusing on arts-based interventions in criminal justice. This role involves innovative programme development, partnership building, and delivering high-quality training across diverse communities. Ideal candidates are passionate about social justice and possess extensive experience in arts development.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in arts development and strategic support.
• Extensive understanding of the criminal justice system.
• Experience in developing and delivering arts-based programmes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the development of new creative ideas and programmes.
• Lead on the development of creative ideas for Safe Ground's 30th anniversary.
• Provide high quality peer-mentoring to staff.

Skills

Creativity

Empowerment

Interpersonal Skills

Decision Making

Job description

This is a brand new role, supporting the Head of Safe Ground with the strategic oversight and delivery of our programmes.

Safe Ground has been at the forefront of designing and delivering innovative arts-based, therapeutically informed interventions within the criminal justice system and in communities across the UK.

As we approach our 30th anniversary this year, we remain dedicated to challenging systematic injustice through the programmes we run and the partnerships we build.

This role is a great opportunity to be part of our transformative goals, in being part of creating systematic change.

Using theatre arts, and culture, we design initiatives to support those impacted by the criminal justice system in gaining deeper insights into themselves, their relationships and their behaviours.

We do this by equipping our participants with practical tools and building a community who are open to doing things differently.

In this role, you will develop best practice around creative interventions, building powerful partnerships with commissioners, partners, and other key stakeholders, ensuring our programmes are being delivered to the highest standards.

You will lead on the development of new and existing arts-based work, identifying gaps and opportunities for growth within the sector.

• Oversee the development ofnew creative ideas and programmes as well asprogramme adaptations and redesigns. Ideas could be linked totheatre productions in and out of custodial settings, short films, live events, symposiums, but may also include new art forms and working with new artists
• Development of a local / national facilitator network
• Create and deliver engaging high-quality programmes which support rehabilitation and reintegration for participants
• Design and deliver innovation arts-based high quality training and quality assurance support to management and delivery teams across the SIG network - focusing specifically on relationships, culture and communication, conflict resolution, storytelling, power-sharing and co-production
• Lead on the development of creative ideas for Safe Grounds 30th anniversary, including; relationship building and partnership development, advocacy and networking, idea development - radio / stage / film etc
• Provide high quality peer-mentoring spaces, leadership, and line management to staff, offering guidance, support, and advice to the team to support them to perform to the best of their abilities. Facilitate the team in identifying solutions to challenges presented in relation to all elements of service delivery.
• Proactively embed a culture of learning, development, reflection, and evaluation in a psychologically informed environment.

Location: Based at our head office in Islington, London (10 minute walk from Highbury and Islington station) with cross working in various prisons across England, Community sites, and home working

Shift Pattern: 22.5 hours per week Monday to Friday between 09:00 - 17:00 with some flexibility. You may be required to work outside these hours as per service requirements.

About you

We are looking for someone who is ambitious and passionate about supporting people who have experienced multiple disadvantages and social exclusion.

You will have proven experience in arts development and strategic support, with an extensive understanding of the criminal justice system and the role in which arts-based interventions play.

You will be creative, empowering, and be a dedicated lead in supporting our strategic growth.

You will understand arts-based interventions and methodologies, and have experience in developing and delivering creative programmes and productions.

• Previous experience in working and engaging with people of complex backgrounds, ex-offenders, mental health, substance misuse, challenging behaviours
• Previous experience in developing, producing, and/or performing professional productions for example film, television, or theatre productions
• Proven experience in designing innovative arts-based programmes and extensive experience of facilitation of programmes and/or training for various groups
• A theoretical understanding of co-production models and practical application of building them and embedding them into best practice
• Previous experience and/or ability to people manage and develop a team
• Ability to create, develop, and deliver new programmes and/or creative content in various settings such as prisons, communities, and wider criminal justice settings
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both written and oral. Ability to form and build effective relationships and rapport with others
• Proactive in making decisions to deal with challenges and providing a solution focused approach using initiative
• Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis.

We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.