At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support a team in delivering high-quality social work for mental health.
- Company: North Tyneside Council, committed to strengths-based, person-centred practice.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, reflective supervision, and access to meaningful development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive team culture that values your contribution and prioritises wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while growing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experienced Social Worker ready for Assistant Team Manager role with strong decision-making skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
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.
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.
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.
Responsibilities
- 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)
In this busy, fast‑paced part of the service, practitioners 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, and make decisions that can help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions or delays. Shared decision‑making and support are built in daily.
Long‑Term Work
Where relationships and continuity of support are central, the team focuses on 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, and 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:
- The Care Act 2014
- The Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Section 117 aftercare responsibilities under the Mental Health Act
You will use this expertise to:
- 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:
- 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.
Practice
Your work will be rooted in strong social work values and informed by:
- 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:
- 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:
- 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.
Legal and EEO Statements
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.
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.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Team Manager
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at North East Ambition.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from North East Ambition!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like North East Ambition, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at North East Ambition or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Team Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to North East Ambition:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to North East Ambition! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at North East Ambition
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
