Programme Lead

Job Introduction

Get Set for Impact That Matters.

At Get Set UK, we ignite opportunity, build resilience, and create pathways to success for individuals and communities. Through specialist employability and mental health–informed services, we support people to move forward with confidence, purpose and dignity.

We are now recruiting a Programme Lead for our Essex Work Ready service – a senior, values-led leader who will oversee the delivery of a high-impact contract supporting young adults aged 16–26 with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) across Greater Essex, including Southend and Thurrock.

This is a role for someone who can combine strong operational leadership, partnership influence and performance accountability with compassion, trauma-informed practice and belief in young people’s potential.

Your Impact 

As Programme Lead, you will have full operational responsibility for the Essex Work Ready contract, ensuring delivery is high quality, recovery-focused and outcomes-driven.

You will lead a small, skilled team delivering personalised and intensive support to young adults who may be disengaged from education, employment and services – including those transitioning from CAMHS, known to Early Intervention Psychosis teams, ARMS services or recently discharged from inpatient mental health care.

Your Role

You will provide strategic and hands-on leadership across the contract, including:

Leadership & People Management

• Line-manage 3–4 staff, which may include Employment Specialists, Support Workers, Engagement Advisors or similar roles

• Ensure caseloads are appropriate, risk-managed and focused on high-quality participant outcomes

• Build a culture of trust, accountability, safeguarding awareness and continuous improvement

• Model recovery-focused, person-centred practice and lead by example

Service Delivery & Contract Model

• Ensure delivery of short-term, intensive, vocationally focused support for young adults

• Ensure every participant has a personalised, goal-focused plan reflecting strengths, interests and aspirations

• Embed IPS-aligned principles, including voluntary participation, preference-based support, rapid job search and employer engagement

• Ensure delivery is flexible and takes place in the most appropriate settings, including community venues, youth settings and partner locations

Referral Growth & Partnership Development (Key Requirement)

• Build and maintain strong referral pathways with CAMHS, Secondary Mental Health Teams, Early Intervention Psychosis services, ARMS, youth services and community partners

• Ensure referral processes operate smoothly and responsively across the county

• Work collaboratively with clinicians and partner services to deliver coordinated, wraparound support

• Ensure referral volumes support annual engagement targets (minimum 120 young adults per year)

Commissioner & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary operational point of contact for Essex County Council commissioners

• Attend contract management meetings, reviews and performance discussions

Performance Management & KPI Delivery

• Take operational ownership for achieving contractual KPIs, including engagement, progression and sustained EET outcomes

• Ensure accurate, timely data entry and reporting to commissioner standards

• Use MI and performance data to identify trends, risks and improvement actions

Co-Production & Youth Voice

• Ensure the service is genuinely co-produced with young adults

• Implement structured feedback, involvement and participation mechanisms

• Empower young people to influence service delivery and continuous improvement

Who we seek 

• Experience managing or leading services within employability, youth, education or mental health

• Strong ability to work to performance targets and KPIs

• Experience of multi-agency partnership working

• Understanding or experience of IPS or vocational rehabilitation approaches

• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop staff in a high-compliance environment

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including commissioner reporting

You Share Our Values

• Be Ambitious - You’re determined, forward-thinking and always seeking improvement
• Be Inspiring - You support others to take ownership and raise standards
• Be Proud - You celebrate high-quality work and positive outcomes
• Be Considerate - You collaborate inclusively with colleagues, partners and stakeholders
• Own It - You take accountability, lead with integrity, and follow through on what matters

Why Join Get Set UK?

Because you’ll be part of a mission-driven organisation that invests in your growth and celebrates your impact.

You’ll get:

• Wellbeing support including GP, counselling and Headspace
• Discounts, pension and salary sacrifice options
• Enhanced benefits with service
• A culture built on ambition, pride, ownership and support
• Real opportunities for progression

We are also a proud Disability Confident Employer. Adjustments are available at every stage.

Ready to Apply?

If you’re ready to use your quality leadership to make a meaningful difference – for learners, staff, and communities – we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and join a team where Every Word Matters, Every Action Counts, and Every Person Matters.

See the Get Set story here:

Learn more about working at Get Set here:

We reserve the right to close applications early. Please apply early to avoid disappointment. 

We are a Disability Confident Employer and welcome all applications. Get Set UK is an Equal Opportunity Employer, offering employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, physical and mental disability, age, citizenship, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, and any other protected status. Our aim is to support and maintain the physical and mental health of all people at work.

If you do need any reasonable adjustments as part of your application and recruitment process, please let us know at the outset and we will work hard to provide the right solution for you. 

This organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of learners/clients and expects all staff to share this commitment. Successful appointment to this role will require satisfactory completion of recruitment checks.

Get Set UK does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the Recruitment Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Get Set UK will consider these CVs as gifts and will not be responsible for any fees related to CVs received in this unsolicited manner.