Team Lead (Justice Services)

The Wise Group, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and third-sector organisations, delivers Women’s Services across Durham in the North East of England.

This role is about more than managing a service. It's about leading a team that empowers women to improve their wellbeing, strengthen relationships, reduce social isolation, stabilise housing and build the foundations for lasting positive change.

Working across prison and community settings, you will lead a team delivering trauma-informed, strengths-based one-to-one mentoring for women facing multiple and complex challenges. You will support women to build greater stability and independence in the community. Working closely with probation services, prison teams and local partners, you will help ensure women can access the right support, at the right time, to achieve positive and sustainable outcomes.

Using our Relational Mentoring approach, your team will build trusted relationships that go beyond transactional support - helping individuals make meaningful, sustained progress.

As Team Lead, you will play a key role in how this support is delivered - shaping team performance and culture, strengthening partnerships and ensuring we deliver high-quality, person-centred services that make a real difference. This role is a Fixed Term contract until 31 March 2027, with planned extension subject to funding confirmation.

Essential requirements

• Full driving licence and access to a car for daily use
• Willingness to travel across the North East, including custodial and community locations
• Successful completion of enhanced Level 1 prison vetting
• Home broadband to support flexible working

What you’ll lead

People and performance
Recruit, onboard and support mentoring staff delivering frontline interventions. Provide regular supervision, support wellbeing and performance, manage caseload allocation and create a culture focused on accountability, learning and positive outcomes.

Service delivery
Ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across custodial and community settings. Support your team to respond to the interconnected challenges affecting women's wellbeing, stability and successful resettlement.

Partnerships and stakeholder engagement
Build strong working relationships with prisons, probation, Ministry of Justice partners and third-sector organisations. Strengthen referral pathways and support collaborative delivery.

Safeguarding, risk and compliance
Ensure safe working practices are embedded, including risk assessment and safeguarding. Manage and escalate concerns appropriately and ensure compliance with all requirements.

Data, quality and performance
Oversee CRM systems, case recording and performance reporting. Use data and insight to track progress, meet contractual requirements and drive service improvement.

Continuous improvement and change
Identify opportunities to improve delivery, gather feedback and support the ongoing development of justice services across the North East.

What you’ll bring

• Experience leading or coordinating frontline teams within criminal justice, social justice, employability or related services
• Strong people management and coaching skills, with the ability to build trust and accountability
• An understanding of trauma-informed practice and the challenges experienced by women involved in the justice system
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, partnership environment
• Strong organisational and digital skills, including experience with CRM systems and performance reporting
• Confidence building relationships with statutory and third-sector partners
• A practical, solutions-focused approach and the ability to implement change

Experience of working in a custodial setting is advantageous.