Partnership Manager

Second Step is a leading mental health charity in the Southwest offering housing, support and hope to people with mental health and other support needs.  Our vision is that we believe in a world where everyone affected by their mental health can create a positive future.  We promote mental health and wellbeing by supporting people and communities to build brighter futures.

We are looking to recruit an experienced Partnership Manager to lead our recovery navigation teams across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG), working alongside AWP, Local Authority and other partners in the Mental health and wellbeing Integrated Network Teams (MINTs) to deliver support to clients with moderate to high enduring mental health difficulties to build their resilience personally and within their community to improve their wellbeing.

About the role
We are committed to working with a recovery-based approach and supporting people to meet their individual needs. Why not join our team who support clients on their recovery journey:

• Building and maintaining collaborative working relationships with partners in the MINT teams including Hub Managers, social workers; psychologists, other VCSE organisations and AWP colleagues
• Responsible for direct line management of Senior Recovery Navigation staff
• Working with Hub Managers to provide a matrix management style of support and line management to a team of recovery navigators and administrators
• Working collaboratively with partners to ensure that a person-centred approach is fostered with clients to aid their recovery and enable them to stay well
• Provide input and feedback into the ongoing development of the MINT hubs
• Regular attendance at Hub locations across the BNSSG footprint to provide support to Second Step staff and ensure a visible VCSE presence
• Attend regular system meetings to feed into the strategic development of this space
• Navigating the ‘wider system’ which includes providing support to access appropriate support within local communities via voluntary sector organisations, community groups, charities or referrals to statutory services like drug and alcohol support.

You will work as part of a multi-professional team with representatives from PCLS, Adult Social Care, AWP and other VCSE providers, who complete support conversations and interventions with clients referred into the MINT hub.

Full details of this exciting opportunity can be found in the role profile. 

About you

You will:

• be passionate about improving the lived experience and health of people using mental health services.
• have proven experience of working with people with mental health needs, or people with complex needs.
• be able to build, manage and maintain excellent working relationships with colleagues in a multi-disciplinary setting.
• have proven experience of line management, in particular managing dispersed teams
• be an excellent communicator, with experience of working as part of a busy and dynamic team, liaising with partners, and contributing to the delivery of this valuable service.
• lead a team who have experience of working with people with long term mental health and complex needs; you will need to take a holistic view, with a recovery and psychologically informed approach.
• be IT literate and have experience of collecting and interpreting data to produce reports for internal and external use
• be able to travel to and work at various locations across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
• be operationally line managed by the Second Step Service Manager

What we offer

• an in-depth induction to Second Step and all the relevant training and support you need to do your job well
• regular one-to-one sessions with your line manager
• 26 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays (pro rata for part-time working). An additional day’s holiday is granted to all staff after 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 full years’ service, subject to a maximum of 5 working days.
• Second Step will contribute 6% of gross basic salary into the scheme if you contribute at least 3% of gross basic salary.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme who can provide you with confidential support and advice around a number of topics including finances, personal issues.

If you are interested in this role and would like an informal chat please contact Dawn Rivers, Service Manager on

We are taking positive action to increase diversity throughout our organisation, and to nurture a culture of inclusion for all our people and the clients that we support. 

We are not able to accept CV’s. 

To ensure fairness and consistency, all applications are anonymised until an interview has been confirmed so that shortlisting is based solely upon the suitability of the candidates’ skills and qualities.

Closing date:  midnight on Monday 18th May 2026 

Interview date:  Tuesday 26th May 2026 (unfortunately due to annual leave, this is the only date we are able to consider for interviews)