Service Manager

About us

Changing Lives is a nationwide charity helping people facing the most challenging of circumstances to make positive change - for good. We believe that everyone deserves a safe home, a rewarding job and a life free from addiction or abuse. We know that given the right support, anyone can change their life for the better.

Our services across the country help thousands of people each year who are experiencing a wide range of complicated challenges, including homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment, involvement with the criminal justice system, sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. By focusing on their strengths, potential and opportunities, we support the people we work with to overcome their problems and live safe, successful, independent lives.

Our charity is powered by over 600 passionate colleagues who bring a diverse and inclusive environment for our colleagues to grow. We are proud to say that many have actual lived experience of the challenges faced by those we support. We are looking for committed and compassionate professionals to join our team, who share our enthusiasm for changing lives.

About the Service - Women and Children's Services

We run services and dedicated women's centres for those who are at risk or struggling with challenging circumstances, including women in the criminal justice system and those with experience of trauma, selling sex or sexual exploitation.

We understand that women and girls have experiences which are different to men and can experience vulnerabilities that are specific to their gender. Childhood abuse and domestic abuse are common features in the lives of the women we support which impact on their health and wellbeing. Underpinning all our services is an in-depth understanding of trauma and a focus on recovery, resilience and community integration.

About the Job

This role is an exciting opportunity for a Service Manager to support and manage our North Tyneside Integrated Domestic Abuse Service.

This Service is delivered by Changing Lives, providing a coordinated, trauma-informed, and recovery-focused response to all those affected by domestic abuse in North Tyneside. This includes adult victims and survivors, their children and young people, and individuals who use harmful behaviours

You'll have experience of working in the domestic abuse sector and a desire to end the cycle of abuse by tackling the root cause through early intervention. We are looking for a strong people manager who enjoys creating a positive environment in which people can thrive. You'll be a strong networker who is keen on positive collaboration with experience of building relationships with a wide range of partners. You will also have knowledge of safeguarding legislation and experience of managing safeguarding issues. Above all you will have a solution focused attitude to providing positive leadership in a changing environment.

The Integrated Domestic Abuse Service supports people experiencing domestic abuse in North Tyneside. It can be accessed by people, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity and provides the following services:

• A single point of contact through a 24-hour telephone service which provides information, advice and guidance, carries out an assessment of need and also admits people into the service.
• Refuge accommodation and resettlement for women and their children, which includes 14 self-contained apartments.
• A Dispersed Accommodation Model for both men, women, families offering community-based safe housing with floating support to promote independence and flexible support.
• Outreach Support (short-term and assertive outreach) for men and women.
• Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) to address the safety of all victims at high risk of harm. IDVAs are embedded within local safeguarding pathways to provide crisis intervention, risk management, and multi-agency coordination for high-risk victims.
• Sanctuary Scheme Coordination which provides enhanced security measures for survivors remaining in their own homes.
• Domestic Abuse Counselling for Adult Survivors - thisservice will provide trauma-informed, confidential counselling, supporting individuals to process and recover from the psychological and emotional impacts of domestic abuse.
• A Domestic Abuse Behaviour Change Programme- working alongside our partners Cranstoun, who will work with individuals who have used harmful or controlling behaviours in intimate or family relationships. This includes structured group work, one-to-one sessions, and risk-focused intervention planning, with Changing Lives providing integrated support for (ex-)partners and children affected by the abuse.

We are seeking a passionate, driven and motivated colleague to lead this service in a trauma informed and inclusive way.

The successful candidate will support and develop the capacity and motivation of the team to deliver innovative and high-quality support. They will attend key strategic network meetings both internal and external and will act as the main point of contact for the Integrated Domestic Abuse Service.

The successful applicant will have keen knowledge of the needs of women experiencing domestic abuse and will have strong leadership and team development skills. We are looking for someone who is driven to provide high quality, effective, and person-centred support, someone who thrives working in a team but can also work independently using their own initiative. You need to be confident in leading and motivating a team, being able to be proactive and adaptable and maintain a high morale within the service. We look for compassionate, supportive and empowering leaders who are comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

The Service Manager will be responsible for developing, managing and leading a team that keeps the safety of victims of domestic abuse central to all processes.