Overview
Fixed term contract for one year – maternity cover. Office based – Information Station, Newport (and travel for delivery in Newport).
The Space to Grow programme is an emotional health and wellbeing service in Newport for children aged 8-13 years old. We are seeking an experienced Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service Manager to join us on a fixed term maternity cover contract. You will provide service leadership and local management for the BBC Children in Need “A Million and Me” Space to Grow programme in Newport, ensuring delivery of a high quality and safe service.
We view diversity and inclusion as fundamental to achieving social change. Applications from diverse backgrounds and communities are encouraged and we have policies to support flexible, inclusive and accessible employment.
Responsibilities
- Provide service leadership and local management for the Space to Grow programme in Newport, ensuring delivery of a high quality and safe emotional health and wellbeing service for children aged 8–13.
- Supervise, empower and manage the performance of staff to support children with emotional wellbeing and to engage parents/carers effectively.
- Lead in collaboration with others in the sector and maintain knowledge of local services and organisations in Newport.
- Deliver Emotional Health and Wellbeing Resilience Sessions / Workshops in schools as required.
- Engage families who are not represented in EHWB and mental health settings and provide accessible support in community settings.
- Coordinate work, take initiative and supervise others as needed; maintain competence with IT tools and systems.
Work-based Knowledge and Skills
- Excellent understanding of common mental and emotional health issues facing children, informed by current research and evidence bases.
- Clinical insight into emotional health and mental health pathways; safeguarding knowledge in line with current legislation and policy.
- Awareness of issues facing young people not represented in early help and crisis support; ability to place children, parents and carers at the heart of the service.
- Working knowledge of current local mental health support agencies and ability to collaborate with external stakeholders to improve outcomes.
- Leadership experience within an emotional health service; track record of working with a range of partners (statutory and non-statutory).
- Ability to work on own initiative, supervise others and coordinate workload; lone working experience is desirable.
- Experience of community outreach and engaging families in diverse settings; strong IT skills.
Contract and Working Arrangements
Hours: 3 days or 4 days per week. Salary: £21,060 pro rata (for 3 days) / £28,080 pro rata (for 4 days). Office based – Information Station, Newport (with travel for delivery in Newport).
Emotional Health and Wellbeing services opening hours may include unsociable hours (evenings, weekends, and bank holidays) to support community needs.
Benefits
- 28 days holiday per year pro-rata (plus Bank holidays).
- Family-friendly policies, cycle to work scheme, pension with employee contributions up to 8%.
- Death in service benefit, discounted health scheme, and free confidential counselling service.
Application Details
The closing date for applications is midnight Friday 1st May 2026.
Provisional Interview date: w/c 11th May 2026.
The Children’s Society is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people we work with. All posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We require candidates applying for work in our Youth Impact Domain to complete an account of their full work history.
About Space to Grow
Space to Grow is a nationwide partnership between The Children’s Society in England and Wales, Children First in Scotland, and MACS in Northern Ireland. The programme is funded by a £2 million grant across two years, focusing on early support for children aged 8–13 across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, with a focus on those not represented in emotional health and wellbeing and mental health services. The programme offers one-to-one time-limited wellbeing interventions and uses solution-focused approaches, with digital support through the wellbeing app “Me Time”.
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