Service Manager

East Kent IPS Employment Service Manager Location: East Kent (Thanet, Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh, Canterbury, Dover, Deal, Ashford)Hours: 21 hours per week (0.6 FTE)Contract: PermanentWork type: Field‑basedReporting to: Head of AreaDBS: Enhanced Disclosure with Adults Barred List Who we are At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone severely affected by mental illness should have a good quality of life. We listen, we work together, and we challenge inequality — always putting people at the heart of what we do. Our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Service helps people with mental health challenges find and sustain paid employment that matters to them. We’re now looking for a passionate and experienced IPS Employment Service Manager to lead and develop our East Kent service. About the role As Employment Service Manager, you’ll lead a small, dedicated team of Employment Specialists delivering high‑quality, recovery‑focused employment support across East Kent. You’ll ensure the service meets contractual requirements, achieves positive outcomes for people we support, and reflects Rethink’s values in everything it does. Working closely with the Head of Area, you’ll provide day‑to‑day leadership, oversight of performance and quality, and strong external partnership working — all while championing innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement. You’ll manage four part‑time Employment Specialists and play a key role in shaping how the IPS service responds to local need. What you’ll be doing Leading, supporting and developing a dispersed staff team to deliver safe, effective and person‑centred services Ensuring strong performance against contract targets, quality standards and reporting requirements Embedding safeguarding, data protection, equality and health & safety into everyday practice Providing regular supervision, coaching, appraisals and performance support Building effective relationships with commissioners, referrers, mental health services and community partners Managing recruitment, staff resourcing, budgets and operational processes Promoting service user involvement and ensuring voices of lived experience shape the service Identifying opportunities for service improvement, innovation and local engagement Who we’re looking for You’ll be a confident, values‑driven leader with experience of managing services in health, social care or a related setting. You’ll bring a collaborative approach, a commitment to recovery‑focused practice, and a genuine passion for supporting people affected by mental illness into employment. You’ll need: Experience of managing and supporting staff teams, including supervision and performance management Knowledge of mental health, recovery approaches and best practice Experience of safeguarding, incident reporting and regulatory compliance Strong organisational, communication and partnership‑working skills Ability to plan, monitor and evidence outcomes and service impact NVQ Level 3 / QCF Diploma (or equivalent) in a health or social care related subject Good IT skills, including confidence using Microsoft Office We’d love it if you also have: Lived experience of mental ill health or using mental health services Why join us? Be part of a values‑led organisation making a real difference Work flexibly and autonomously with strong leadership support Access learning, development and career progression opportunities Join a caring, inclusive workplace where equity, respect and openness matter Interested?If you’re ready to lead a service that changes lives through meaningful employment, we’d love to hear from you. Rethink Mental Illness is committed to creating a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental illness.