Assistant Team Manager – Adult Mental Health Social Work Team
North Tyneside Council
We’re looking for an Assistant Team Manager who believes in people—and in the value of good social work.
Someone who can hold oversight of risk and complexity, while still keeping sight of the person—their strengths, hopes, and possibility. Someone who can support others to deliver confident, high-quality practice, while ensuring consistency, accountability, and well-reasoned decision-making across the team.
About Us
At North Tyneside, we are committed to strengths-based, person-centred practice. We work alongside people experiencing mental health difficulties and/or challenges with substance use, supporting them to live meaningful, independent lives within their communities.
We are continuing to evolve how we respond—focusing on early intervention, prevention, and relationship-based work—to improve outcomes for residents and their families or carers.
The Role
This is a role for an experienced practitioner working at, or ready to step into, Assistant Team Manager level, who is confident, organised, and reflective, and who values relationship-based social work.
The focus of this role is on leadership, oversight, and supporting the team to deliver safe, effective, and high-quality practice.
You will:
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Provide individual supervision to Social Workers
- Offer case oversight and guidance on complex work
- Support decision-making around risk, safeguarding, and statutory responsibilities
- Authorise funding and care and support plans
- Monitor and support performance, workload, and caseload allocation
- Undertake audits and quality assurance activity
- Work closely with and support the Team Manager, including covering in their absence
- Contribute to a culture of accountability, reflection, and continuous improvement
This is a challenging and rewarding role, involving managing competing demands and supporting complex decision-making, often within a fast-paced environment. You will be supported by an experienced Team Manager and leadership team to do this with confidence.
How Our Team Works
Our service is built around two connected areas of practice, giving you oversight across different types of intervention.
Support is provided by a Team Manager, Assistant Team Manager, and Advanced Practitioner in each area, with a strong emphasis on shared responsibility and collaborative decision-making.
Initial Response Hub (IRH)
A busy and fast-paced part of the service where clear decision making and proportionate responses are essential. In this part of the service, practitioners:
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Respond to all new requests and undertake initial assessments
- Offer timely advice, information, and support
- Promote wellbeing and help prevent escalation or crisis
- Respond to safeguarding concerns with professional curiosity in a timely manner
- Make decisions that can help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions or delays
This is about early help, proportionate responses, and doing what matters—quickly and well. Shared decision-making and support are built in daily.
Long-Term Work
Where relationships and continuity of support are central, the team focuses on:
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Strengths-based assessments, reassessments, and reviews
- Supporting people with enduring and complex mental health needs
- Court of Protection work, Tribunal Hearings, and Court Reports
- Section 117 aftercare planning and reviews
- Working alongside people over time to support sustainable change
Caseloads are reviewed using a Caseload Management Tool, supporting safe and manageable practice across the team.
Management, Oversight and Practice Standards
As an Assistant Team Manager, you will play a key role in ensuring the team delivers safe, consistent, and high-quality social work practice.
You will bring extensive knowledge of legislation and its application, particularly:
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The Care Act 2014
- The Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Section 117 aftercare responsibilities under the Mental Health Act
You will use this expertise to:
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Provide clear oversight and guidance on complex statutory work
- Support Social Workers to apply legislation confidently and proportionately
- Ensure legal frameworks underpin risk management, care planning, and decision-making
- Maintain high standards of defensible decision-making and quality practice
This role does not involve holding a personal caseload, allowing you to focus on leadership, oversight, and strengthening the quality and consistency of practice.
You will also play a key role in shaping practice standards and influencing how the team responds to complexity, ensuring that oversight remains grounded in strengths-based, person-centred approaches.
Working Together
You will be part of a wider system, working closely with:
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CNTW NHS Foundation Trust
- North Tyneside Recovery Partnership
- Housing
- Voluntary and Community Resources
Our approach is collaborative and holistic—we recognise that no single service holds all the answers.
Your Practice
Your work will be rooted in strong social work values and informed by:
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Care Act 2014
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended 2007)
- Human Rights Act 1998
But more importantly, it will be shaped by professional judgement, ethical thinking, and compassion.
We use a Ways to Wellbeing Conversation approach, supporting flexible, responsive, and evidence-informed interventions.
What You Can Expect From Us
We know that to lead and support others well, you need to feel supported yourself.
We offer:
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Regular, reflective supervision
- A leadership team that works closely together and values your contribution
- Hybrid working
- “Stop the Clock” days for protected admin time
- Access to meaningful learning and development opportunities
- A culture that prioritises staff wellbeing and reflective practice
We are proud to be in the Top 5 Social Work Employers (2024)—but more importantly, we are proud of the supportive, stable leadership culture we have built.
Views of Colleagues Within the Team
“I feel trusted to do my job and supported when things are difficult.”
“There’s a real sense that people care—about the work and about each other.”
“It’s challenging, but in a way that helps you grow.”
Who We’re Looking For
You will be:
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An experienced Social Worker ready for, or already working at, Assistant Team Manager level
- Confident in supervision, oversight, and complex decision-making
- Skilled in applying and overseeing statutory frameworks and legislative responsibilities
- Committed to strengths-based, person-centred practice
- Able to support others to develop and deliver safe, high-quality social work
Additional Information
This is an opportunity to take on a key leadership role within a supportive and developing service, where you can influence practice, support staff, and contribute to ongoing service improvement.
Contact:
For an informal conversation regarding the vacancy, please contact: Anne-Marie Roche, Team Manager - Mental Health Social Work and Mental Health Reablement 0191 643 7352
We anticipate interviews to take place within 2 weeks of the closing date
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 and an Enhanced DBS disclosure, including Barred List Check, will be required.
Why North Tyneside Council?
Our People First strategy is our promise to make North Tyneside Council an exceptional place to work, where everyone can thrive and flourish. A place where people want to work, where joining our team is an exciting prospect, staying with us feels like a great decision, and building your career at North Tyneside Council is a natural progression.
As part of our People First strategy, we are committed to creating a workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our success and the well-being of our employees and residents. Our goal is to foster an environment where everyone feels welcome, safe and valued.
Together, we're crafting a workplace that's built on our values and a shared commitment to making a difference.
If you are passionate and committed about making a difference and want to work somewhere where you can make positive change, we will provide the right environment for you to excel.
Alongside our People First strategy, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and adults at risk of harm. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment and to familiarise themselves with all relevant policies, procedures and guidance. Within North Tyneside, safeguarding is everybody’s business.
Require a reasonable adjustment? If you feel a reasonable adjustment will provide additional support in both the recruitment process and within the workplace, please indicate this to the hiring manager on your application. Declaring a reasonable adjustment will not subject you to any form of discrimination when determining which applicants are successful for interview and employment with us.
Our Carbon Net-Zero 2030 Action Plan
In 2019, North Tyneside Council declared a climate emergency. This declaration set a target to reduce the carbon footprint of the council’s operations, and the borough, by 50% by 2023 and to align to the Government’s net zero target of 2050.
We recognise the significant role we can play in the borough in helping to limit climate change, but we can’t do this alone; we need help from all our residents, businesses, voluntary and community sectors and of course all those who apply and work for us. Together we can make North Tyneside a sustainable place to live and work for everyone in the borough.
To learn more about Our Carbon Net-Zero 2030 Action Plan
Applying
To view more information about the role and view the Job Description please click "Apply" you will be taken to the North Tyneside Careers Portal.
Learn More
For further information about North Tyneside Council, the benefits of working for us, candidate support, and the many attractions of working and living in North Tyneside please see the council’s “work for us" page here Work for us | North Tyneside Council
