Recovery Lounge Manager (Mental Health)

Mind BLMK works across our communities to support positive mental health and wellbeing. Working closely with a range of partners, we offer a number of activities from our wellbeing centres and local venues to make a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, and our aim is to make sure that no-one has to face a mental health problem alone.

Recovery Lounge Manager
Post no: 656
Area Covered: Leighton Buzzard, Luton, Bedford & Biggleswade
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: 35.25 hours per week
Work Pattern: Flexible across Monday to Sunday, up to 5 Shifts on site per week, 1 Day at HQ in Flitwick each week
Salary: £27,152.03 per annum (£28, hrs p/wk FTE)

Could you coordinate and ensure the effective and safe delivery of interventions, working with & leading a team of staff and volunteers to support people in Bedfordshire and Luton during a times of mental health distress?

About our Recovery Lounge Service

Our Recovery Lounges (formally known as Crisis Cafés) offer a safe, welcoming and non-judgmental environment between the hours of 5pm and 11pm. Service Users can attend without an appointment to help prevent them from entering periods of crisis or distress or if they are experiencing mental distress or crisis.

About the Role

Our Recovery Lounge Manager role in Bedfordshire involves coordinating a team of 8, across each site and ensuring the effective and safe delivery of the service working in conjunction with the NHS.

This will involve working with service users in a preventative way, deescalating crisis and leading a team of Mental Health Support Workers & volunteers. The role is part of a team within Mind BLMK and the Crisis Alternative Services.

Service Delivery

• Operate the Recovery Lounge service and ensure outcomes which supports individuals to deescalate crisis and develop strategies for recovery and increased wellbeing, in line with Mind BLMKs vision and values as well as contract requirements.
• Assessing need and suitability for the service in line with the access to services process, and undertaking 1:1s where needed.
• To manage a relationship with the mental health trust which ensures effectiveness of the crisis pathways for those who need further support.
• Work with the Recovery Lounge management to ensure regular involvement of service users, volunteers and staff on local service delivery, organisational matters and wider mental health and crisis care strategies
• Maintain an effective workforce for the service in line with Mind BLMK s HR policies, procedures and guidance (recruitment, line management, workload planning, support and development of crisis workers, peer support workers and volunteers).
• Hold responsibility for health and safety, data collection and cash handling in line with Mind BLMK s policies, procedures and guidance.
• Ensure cover at site is adequate at all times, this will require a hybrid nature of the role to assist with gaps.

Entitlements/benefits:

• 25 days (pro rata) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Auto-enrolment NEST pension scheme (employer contributes 3%, employee contributes 5%)
• Health Plan with a wide variety of benefits
• Discounts available through Blue Light Card & Tickets for Good
• In-house and external Learning and Development as appropriate for the role.
• Flexible Working On request (in line with Mind BLMK policy on Right to Request Flexible Working)

If you have a passion for working in mental health and possess the required skills, we would love to hear from you.

Closedown: 5pm, Tuesday 18th November 2025
Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if enough suitable applicants apply
Start date: ASAP

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Mind BLMK has been committed to the Mindful Employer charter and the Disability Confident Employer Scheme since 2008.

Please note: Mind BLMK follows Safer Recruitment practices and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Therefore all our roles are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

No agencies please.