Service Manager

Recovery Focus; Bradford; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Pension scheme with employer contrib.

Life assurance (3× salary)

Enhanced sick pay

Birthday leave

Professional fee reimbursement

24/7 online GP access

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Waythrough is seeking a Service Manager to lead a single service in Bradford, overseeing an operational team and ensuring high-quality support for individuals. The role emphasizes effective stakeholder engagement and meeting performance targets.

The post holder will drive service development, supervise staff, manage budgets, and report on performance with a focus on safeguarding and quality assurance.

Qualifications

• Essential: recognised management qualification (Level 5) or equivalent experience.
• Experience of overseeing delivery of high-quality support services and achieving KPIs.
• Strong budget management with linked finance oversight.
• Proficient with Microsoft Outlook and data systems for reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver a single service ensuring safe, effective provision for service users.
• Mentor, coach and develop staff and volunteers reporting to you.
• Manage budgets with the finance team and monitor financial targets.
• Provide regular performance reports and drive service improvements.

Skills

People management

Budget management

Data analysis

Stakeholder liaison

Leadership

Education

Level 5 Management / Leadership qualification

Degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Outlook

Management Information Systems

Job description

Service Manager Location: 11–12 Eldon Place, Bradford, BD1 3AZ Working Hours: 37 hours per week, 9am-5pm Monday-Friday Contract Type: Permanent Salary: £35,520 - £51,060 per annum 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

To manage and lead the delivery of a single service, ensuring safe, effective, and high-quality provision for individuals accessing support. The postholder will oversee and support the operational team within the service, ensuring performance targets and quality standards are consistently met. As part of the wider organisational structure, the role will contribute to the effective delivery of the service, maintaining strong working relationships with key stakeholders and partners. The postholder will be expected to work flexibly and represent Waythrough at meetings, partnership forums, and other engagements as required.

What You’ll Do

Lead and assist in the management of services delivered by the teams in your service. Ensure all service users receive appropriate and quality assessments, action plans (to support recovery, independent living or sustainable employment). Develop and implement a business plan for your services in conjunction with senior management. Identify and pursue opportunities to develop and expand Waythrough’s services in line with the Regional/Area Business Plans. Ensure high-quality support is provided through effective needs assessment, interventions, risk assessment and support planning and implement a structured programme of meaningful activities. Manage, mentor, coach and ensure the development of staff reporting to you, including volunteers. This includes involvement in delivering appropriate training, recruitment, induction, monitoring performance, managing absence and carrying out performance and development reviews. Manage the budgets attached to your services in conjunction with Waythrough’s Finance Team ensuring that financial targets are met. Support and ensure effective systems are in place for monitoring and recording all aspects of the service(s) directed by the contract. Analyse information and utilise analysis to continuously improve the service. Implement financial and administrative control systems and operate within agreed budgets. Ensure that services work within the required standards of the Quality Assessment Framework. Contribute to the development of and management of Waythrough through working as part of the regional management team and via membership of relevant management teams and working groups. Take responsibility for Health and Safety issues within the working environment and to take the lead on premises management and building maintenance where appropriate. Provide reports and statistical data on service performance as required and utilise effective performance management techniques to ensure that targets are being met.

To Succeed in This Role

Essential: Hold or working towards a recognised Management qualification e.g. Level 5 in Management / Leadership (or have relevant time served experience). Education Services: Degree and PGCE or equivalent (or have relevant time served experience). Knowledge and experience of supporting vulnerable clients. Experience of managing and delivering high quality and effective support services to achieve outcomes and key performance indicators. Experience of overseeing delivery of a wide range of interventions. Experience of liaising with Commissioners / stakeholders and representing the employing organisation and their services positively. Experience of working with models of service delivery and issues relating to recovery planning/ housing support/ employability. Strong budget management skills with experience of payment by results. Sound knowledge of local safeguarding frameworks. Proficient in Microsoft Outlook Office programmes. Ability to use Management Information Systems effective along with good data analysis skills.

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 email our recruitment team: [e-mail]

Closing Date: 2026-09-27

Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. In April 2026, Aquarius, our former subsidiary partner, merged with Waythrough. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support. We have 260 services around England – and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 130,000 people.