Programmes Manager – Kinship Navigator

Kinship is undertaking a major feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of Kinship Connected. This is aligned with recommendations set out in the Kinship Care Practice Guide published by Foundations (2024) and builds on evidence from the Kinship Navigator intervention of support for kinship carers in the USA.

This role leads and supports the staff team delivering one-to-one navigator-style support to kinship carers as part of the Kinship Connected feasibility randomised controlled trial. You will ensure the team provides consistent, high quality, relational support that reflects Kinship’s values and trauma-informed practice.

You will work closely with the Mobilisation and Delivery Project Manager and will share responsibility for ensuring high quality performance across the feasibility trial. You will both work closely with the core project team and partners.

The Programmes Manager leads practice quality, staff development, safeguarding and relational delivery. The Mobilisation and Delivery Project Manager leads operational quality, systems, processes, data and compliance. Together you make sure the trial is delivered ethically, consistently and to a very high standard.

• Lead the day-to-day practice and relational delivery of the Kinship Connected (Navigator) support model.
• Support Kinship Family Workers to deliver high quality, trauma-informed and strengths-based support to kinship carers.
• Ensure clear case management, boundaries, risk management and reflective practice.
• Embed the delivery approach set out in the Intervention Protocol and Kinship Navigator Service Manual.
• Ensure equity, accessibility and inclusion in all aspects of delivery, with particular focus on minoritised ethnic kinship families.
• Maintain delivery tracking and operational dashboards.
• Provide high quality line management, reflective supervision and pastoral support to Kinship Family Workers.

• Strong experience leading frontline delivery teams providing emotional, relational or social care support.
• Proven track record ensuring high quality casework, assessments, boundaries and risk management.
• Experience delivering strengths-based, trauma-informed and evidence-informed approaches.
• Substantial experience in line managing practitioners, delivering reflective supervision and supporting wellbeing.
• Experience leading high performing dispersed teams with confidence, consistency and compassion.
• Experience managing change and supporting staff through shifting delivery requirements.
• Strong background in safeguarding decision making, case discussions and organisational safeguarding culture.

• personal experience of kinship care
• experience in research, evaluation or feasibility studies
• experience using Salesforce (our CRM and case management system), Asana (our project management system), Notion (our manualisation platform) and general AI tools
• understanding of children’s social care