Project Lead

About the role

The successful candidate will manage and oversee Ridley Villas, supporting staff to deliver excellent standards of trauma informed care.

Ridley Villas provides psychologically informed accommodation for women who are on a Medication Assisted Recovery pathway and those in recovery from addiction, together with their children. Families accessing the service have current involvement with Children’s Social Care, often where there are concerns regarding the safety and welfare of children, including situations where there is a risk of children going into care or where there is a reunification plan to support a child’s safe return to their mother’s care.

The Service works in close partnership with Children’s Social Care and other relevant agencies to deliver coordinated, trauma-informed support. Through structured programmes of intervention, the project supports women to strengthen their recovery, enhance parenting capacity, reduce risk, and improve outcomes for their children, with the aim of enabling children to remain safely in, or return to, their mother’s care.

The focus of this service is to support women who are in recovery from addiction, working with women holistically, recognising that addiction is a very common response to experiences of trauma and abuse. Ridley Villas offers five self-contained units, known as the ‘hub’, and two dispersed units, which are flats in the Newcastle area for families who can manage more independently. Families in the dispersed units access the programme of support at the ‘hub’ and all families have an allocated caseworker who offers tailored support.

Based in Newcastle Ridley Villas supports families from Newcastle and Gateshead and is jointly funded by both Local Authorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee Ridley Villas, supporting staff to deliver excellent standards of trauma informed care.
• Work closely with Children’s Social Care and other relevant agencies to deliver coordinated, trauma-informed support.
• Support women to strengthen their recovery, enhance parenting capacity, reduce risk, and improve outcomes for their children.
• Offer tailored support to families in the dispersed units, ensuring they access the programme of support at the ‘hub’.
• Ensure compliance with local authority funding requirements and service delivery standards.

Requirements

• Proven experience in managing and overseeing projects, preferably in a similar setting.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including women and children, families, and professionals from various disciplines.
• Experience in trauma-informed care and understanding of the impact of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and childhood trauma.
• Knowledge of addiction recovery processes and the ability to support women in recovery from addiction.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Valid driving license and access to a vehicle, as some travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant field such as social work, psychology, or a related discipline.
• Chartered status or equivalent professional qualification (e.g., HCPC registration).
• Experience in managing and delivering services for women and children affected by domestic abuse.
• Experience in providing trauma-informed care and understanding of the impact of trauma on individuals and families.
• Experience in managing and delivering services for women in recovery from addiction.

Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Knowledge of addiction recovery processes and the ability to support women in recovery from addiction.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care and its application in service delivery.

Benefits

• Flexible working hours to accommodate the needs of the role and the service.
• Competitive salary of £34,625 per annum.
• Access to a supportive and diverse team of colleagues.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth within the charity.
• Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.

Pay

£34,625 per annum.

Schedule

Full time.