Service Manager

NFP People Limited; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

NFP People is seeking an experienced Service Manager to lead homelessness outreach and day centre services, helping people rebuild their lives. You will oversee two essential services, manage teams, and drive continuous improvement while building strong partnerships with local authorities and healthcare providers.

We expect a proactive leader with safeguarding expertise, trauma-informed practice, and a commitment to client involvement. Role may include evenings or weekends to meet service needs.

Qualifications

• Experience in homelessness, rough sleeping or multiple disadvantage services.
• Proven experience managing frontline outreach or community-based teams.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and handling complex cases.
• Understanding of trauma-informed and psychologically informed practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational delivery and continuous improvement of outreach and day centre services.
• Support Deputy Managers and frontline teams, promoting staff development and wellbeing.
• Ensure safeguarding, risk management and responses to complex cases.
• Oversee street outreach to help people access housing, healthcare and specialist support.
• Ensure Day Centre is safe, welcoming and provides practical assistance and meaningful engagement.
• Build partnerships with local authorities, housing providers and community partners.
• Monitor service performance, budgets, contractual targets and quality standards.
• Embed trauma-informed and person-centred approaches across services.
• Champion service user involvement and incorporate lived experiences into improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Safeguarding

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Team leadership

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Service Manager to lead vital homelessness outreach and day centre services, helping people rebuild their lives.

Hours: 37 hours per week, including some evenings, weekends, bank holidays and on-call duties as required

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 25th November

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to lead two essential services supporting people experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping and multiple disadvantage.

As Service Manager, you will oversee the delivery of high-quality outreach and day centre services, ensuring individuals receive the practical support, guidance and opportunities they need to move towards stability and independence.

You will lead and develop dedicated teams, build strong partnerships and ensure services remain safe, welcoming and responsive to the needs of those accessing them.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the operational delivery and continuous improvement of outreach and day centre services.
• Managing and supporting Deputy Managers and frontline teams, promoting staff development and wellbeing.
• Ensuring effective safeguarding, risk management and responses to complex cases.
• Overseeing proactive street outreach, helping individuals access housing, healthcare and specialist support.
• Ensuring the Day Centre provides a safe, welcoming environment offering practical assistance and meaningful engagement.
• Building strong relationships with local authorities, housing providers, healthcare services and community partners.
• Monitoring service performance, budgets, contractual targets and quality standards.
• Embedding trauma-informed, psychologically informed and person-centred approaches across services.
• Championing service user involvement and ensuring lived experiences help shape service improvements.

About You

We are looking for a confident, approachable leader who understands the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness and is passionate about making a difference.

You will bring:

• Experience working within homelessness, rough sleeping or multiple disadvantage services.
• Proven experience managing frontline outreach or community-based support teams.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and experience handling complex cases and crisis situations.
• An understanding of trauma-informed and psychologically informed practice.
• Experience working with statutory agencies, charities and community partners.
• The ability to manage service performance, budgets and operational priorities.
• Excellent communication, decision-making and leadership skills.
• A supportive, resilient and practical approach to managing people and services.

Experience managing a day centre, knowledge of local homelessness pathways and a full clean driving licence would be advantageous.

About the Organisation

You will be joining an established charity committed to tackling homelessness and supporting people facing some of life's most difficult challenges.

Through outreach, practical assistance and specialist support, the organisation helps individuals access essential services, secure accommodation and work towards a more positive future.

This is an opportunity to lead services that make a genuine difference to people's lives while supporting a dedicated and passionate team.

Other roles you may have experience of could include Homelessness Service Manager, Outreach Manager, Day Centre Manager, Rough Sleeping Services Manager, Community Services Manager, Supported Housing Manager, Housing Support Manager, Homelessness Operations Manager.