Advice Triage Programme and Service Manager

Advice Triage Programme and Service Manager

Salary: £55,544 - £61,000 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week (28 hours per week will be considered)
Contract: Fixed Term - Two years (to July 2026)
Location: Kennedy Leigh Family Centre, Hendon (Hybrid working available)

Interviews: 29th and 30th September, 2025

About the Role

We're recruiting a Service Manager to lead Norwood's new Advice Triage Service (Open Front Door), a flagship access point for families, professionals, and community partners. This is a key leadership role overseeing the service's launch, growth and delivery, with responsibility for operational performance, stakeholder engagement and service innovation.

You'll build and lead a committed triage team, align referral pathways across Norwood's services, and work closely with external partners across the Jewish community and statutory sectors. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape a model that puts clarity, accessibility, and cultural sensitivity at the centre of how families seek support.

About Norwood

Founded in 1795, Norwood is the UK's oldest Jewish charity supporting vulnerable children and their families, children with special educational needs, and adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities, including learning disabilities and autism.

We're building a culture grounded in our core values of Kindness, Respect, Belonging, and Empowerment and the Advice Triage Service is central to how we connect those values with the people and communities we support.

Your Day-to-Day

As Service Manager, you'll:
• Establish and embed the Advice Triage (OFD) model for public launch in March 2026
• Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team including triage workers, referrals staff, and reception
• Develop triage protocols, safeguarding and referral procedures, and escalation frameworks
• Oversee inbound query management across all contact channels
• Coordinate internal and external referral pathways across Norwood and key partners
• Manage the design and population of an online service directory
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with schools, synagogues, charities and LA/NHS services
• Work with communication and engagement teams to promote the service
• Oversee the development and rollout of a CRM system
• Lead service evaluation, report to SLT and funders, and embed co-production in service design

Qualifications, Training and Experience

• 3+ years' experience in social care, education, or advice services
• Proven ability to lead services, manage teams, and deliver change
• Strong knowledge of referral systems across the voluntary and statutory sectors
• Sound safeguarding knowledge
• Excellent stakeholder, communication and CRM skills
• Knowledge of the Jewish community and culturally specific services
• Experience setting up a helpline, triage service or call centre
• Familiarity with neurodivergent support needs and transitions

We offer a supportive, purpose-driven environment with:

• Hybrid and flexible working
• 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays + Jewish Holidays (pro rata if part-time)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Free eye tests and eyewear allowance
• Opportunities for development and leadership coaching

To apply: Please submit your CV along with a 500 word cover letter outlining how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification.

We are a kind and compassionate community. Empowerment and respect are at the heart of everything we do and believe in at Norwood.

If you are positive and resilient and a force for good, we are for you!

We strive for excellence and to make a real difference to the lives of the people we support. Our team is one of our biggest assets.

We nurture a supportive environment for our people, with tailored training and career development at all levels.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

We actively celebrate everyones different abilities, sexual orientation, ethnicity, faith, and gender.

Everyone is welcome and supported in their development at all stages in their journey with us.