Assistant Team Manager

Job Overview

• Employer: North Tyneside Council
• Job Title: Assistant Team Manager
• Location: North Tyneside
• Job Type: Full-time
• Contracted Hours: 37 hours per week
• Salary: Grade 10, £44,075 – £48,226 per year
• Additional Pay: Market Supplement appropriate to Grade
• Job Category: Social Work – Adult Service
• Job Reference: REQ000663
• Date Posted: 2 July 2026

About the Role

• Join North Tyneside Council’s Adult Mental Health Social Work Team as an Assistant Team Manager.
• Lead and support a team delivering strengths-based, person-centred social work.
• Provide leadership while maintaining a strong focus on improving outcomes for people experiencing mental health difficulties and substance use challenges.
• Ensure safe, effective and high-quality social work practice across the team.
• Work alongside an experienced Team Manager and leadership team within a supportive environment.
• This role does not carry a personal caseload, allowing full focus on leadership, supervision and quality assurance.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide regular supervision to Social Workers.
• Offer guidance and oversight on complex casework.
• Support decision-making around:
  • Risk management.
  • Safeguarding.
  • Statutory responsibilities.
• Authorise:
  • Care and support plans.
  • Funding decisions.
• Monitor:
  • Staff performance.
  • Workloads.
  • Caseload allocation.
• Carry out audits and quality assurance activities.
• Support the Team Manager and provide cover during absences.
• Promote accountability, reflective practice and continuous improvement across the team.

About the Service

Initial Response Hub (IRH)

• Respond to all new referrals.
• Undertake initial assessments.
• Provide timely advice, information and support.
• Promote wellbeing and early intervention.
• Respond promptly to safeguarding concerns.
• Help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions through effective decision-making.

Long-Term Work

• Complete strengths-based assessments, reassessments and reviews.
• Support people with enduring and complex mental health needs.
• Undertake:
  • Court of Protection work.
  • Tribunal hearings.
  • Court reports.
• Manage Section 117 aftercare planning and reviews.
• Support long-term positive outcomes through relationship-based practice.
• Caseloads are monitored using a Caseload Management Tool to maintain manageable workloads.

Leadership and Professional Practice

• Provide leadership and oversight across complex statutory work.
• Ensure legislation is applied confidently and proportionately.
• Support staff to make legally sound and defensible decisions.
• Maintain high standards of professional practice.
• Influence service development and continuous improvement.
• Promote strengths-based and person-centred approaches throughout the team.

Essential Legislative Knowledge

Applicants should have extensive knowledge and practical experience of:

• Care Act 2014.
• Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended 2007).
• Human Rights Act 1998.
• Section 117 aftercare responsibilities.

Partnership Working

Work collaboratively with a range of organisations including:

• Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).
• North Tyneside Recovery Partnership.
• Housing services.
• Voluntary and community organisations.

Working Environment

• Collaborative leadership structure.
• Shared decision-making.
• Reflective practice encouraged.
• Strong emphasis on relationship-based social work.
• Focus on prevention, early intervention and community support.

Staff Support and Benefits

North Tyneside Council offers:

• Regular reflective supervision.
• Supportive and experienced leadership team.
• Hybrid working opportunities.
• “Stop the Clock” protected administration days.
• Ongoing learning and professional development.
• Strong commitment to staff wellbeing.
• Reflective practice culture.
• Opportunity to work for one of the UK’s Top 5 Social Work Employers (2024).

Employee Feedback

Current team members highlight:

• Feeling trusted and supported.
• Strong team culture.
• Caring leadership.
• Opportunities for professional growth.
• Challenging but rewarding work.

Person Specification

Applicants should:

• Be an experienced Social Worker.
• Be working at, or ready to progress into, an Assistant Team Manager role.
• Be confident supervising staff and overseeing complex practice.
• Have excellent knowledge of adult social care legislation.
• Be committed to strengths-based, person-centred practice.
• Support colleagues to deliver safe and high-quality services.
• Be organised, reflective and confident in decision-making.

Safeguarding and Compliance

• Enhanced DBS Disclosure, including Barred List Check, is required.
• The role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
• All employees are expected to support safeguarding responsibilities for children, young people and adults at risk.

Equality and Inclusion

North Tyneside Council is committed to:

• Equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Creating a workplace where everyone feels welcomed and valued.
• Supporting reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.
• Delivering its People First strategy.
• Achieving Carbon Net-Zero 2030 goals.

Contact Information

For an informal discussion, contact:

• Anne-Marie Roche
• Team Manager – Mental Health Social Work and Mental Health Reablement
• Telephone: 0191 643 7352

Interview Information

• Interviews are expected to take place within two weeks of the closing date.

To apply:

To apply, click here