Service Manager

Ad Warrior Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity organization is seeking a Service Manager for a 9-month maternity cover to lead services across Southwest London probation and prisons. You will have strategic responsibility for the Dependency & Recovery service, ensuring high-quality service delivery. Ideal candidates will have experience in criminal justice settings and a passion for partnership working. The role requires in-person engagement with teams and stakeholders across various locations.

Benefits

Flexible working

Training and development opportunities

Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)

Cycle to work scheme

Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays

Contributory Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Prior experience of managing prison and community pathways.
• Strong understanding of the importance of continuity of care.
• Experience in producing performance reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead services across Southwest London probation and prison settings.
• Manage two team leaders effectively.
• Contribute to improvement plans and performance reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Management experience

Understanding of continuity of care

Partnership engagement

Job description

Service Manager - London Prisons and Southwest London

Location: London

Salary: £37,433

Vacancy Type: Maternity, 9 month FTC

Advertising End Date: 9 th February 2026

We are recruiting for a Service Manager to join us on a 9-month fixed term maternity cover in the Dependency & Recovery Service in London.

You will lead services across Southwest London probation, London Prisons and our peer mentor pathway.

The Dependency & Recovery service is designed to improve retention of clients into treatment and bridge the gap between probation/prison and community treatment services. We are looking for an innovative manager, with prior experience of managing prison and community pathways, and a strong understanding of the importance of continuity of care.

The role

You will hold strategic and operational responsibility for the D&R service across Southwest London boroughs, London prisons and the peer mentor pathway. You will provide visible, people-focused leadership across prison and community settings, ensuring there is high-quality service delivery and performance targets are met.

Your duties

• You will be line managing two team leaders, both in prison and the community, ensuring the effective running of the through the gate pathway.
• You are the point of contact for all partnership engagement, enhancing referral pathways and developing joint working agreements to improve outcomes for our clients.
• You will work in conjunction with senior management to contribute to improvement plans, produce performance reports for commissioners and ensure accurate data.
• You will provide visible leadership across the locations stipulated and should expect to spend at least three days per week in service, meeting staff, attending key meetings and prisons/probation offices.
• Ensure services are audit-compliant, outcomes-focused and data-led
• Contribute to wider CRS and Forward Trust objectives, projects and service development

This is a predominantly in-person role, working across SW London probation delivery units, prisons and community locations. You'll spend at least three days per week on site with teams and partners to ensure safe, high-quality delivery.

If you're an experienced manager with a passion for criminal justice, recovery and partnership working, and you're looking for a 9-month maternity cover role where you can make an immediate impact, we'd love to hear from you.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits:

• Flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme - Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years' service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Diversity at Forward Trust

The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with 'Lived Experience' of addiction, offending, or homelessness.

When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work

Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview.

If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the 'Eligibility to Work in the UK' requirements.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Forward Trust, please proceed through the following link to be redirected to our website to complete your application.

https://careers.forwardtrust.org.uk/vacancies/505/service-manager--london-prisons-and-southwest-london-maternity-9-month-ftc.html