At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support social workers in mental health and autism services.
- Company: Join Stockport Council, awarded MJ Local Authority of the Year 2025.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic team culture focused on collaboration and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in social work, leadership skills, and knowledge of mental health legislation.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Experienced Assistant Team Lead and Senior Social Worker roles within Mental health and Autism; MB4 (£45,091 - £51,356). This role is eligible for an Essential Car User allowance of up to £963 per annum. 37 Hours, Full Time (Flexible working requests can be submitted for part time or condensed hours). Permanent Hybrid – Baker Street office and homeworking (office based three days per week).
Your Role
We’re looking for experienced assistant team lead and senior social worker within a busy Mental Health and Autism to join us at Stockport Council. You’ll support experienced and newly qualified social workers across the team and offer dedicated supervisions to enable sound and autonomous decision making in a supportive environment and team. You will provide leadership at an appropriate level and ideally have experience at a management level. You will hold a complex caseload and maintain strengths based culture within the team aiming to drive the team forwards to succeed in supporting the people of Stockport to live a gloriously ordinary life and embed this model in the work we do. You will strive to contribute to changes within the team and service and developing and leading with projects to support the residents of Stockport to live safe, fulfilling, and independent lives, using your professional judgement and expertise every day.
Your work will include:
- Supporting newly qualified social worker within the ASYE programme, and demonstrating best practice to less experienced team members.
- Completing Care Act assessments, strengths based support planning, and proportionate risk assessments.
- Undertaking Mental Capacity Act assessments and providing clear, well reasoned best interest assessments.
- Working closely with the Community Mental Health Team and wider multi disciplinary colleagues.
- Chairing and contributing to safeguarding enquiries, ensuring people are protected and empowered.
- Using your professional autonomy to make decisions rooted in the Care Act 2014, the Mental Health Act, and best practice social work.
- Balancing independent working with being part of a supportive, well established, friendly and knowledgeable team.
- Participating in the duty manager role in being available to offer support and guidance to all social workers and social care officers.
- To have or aim to gain additional post qualifying skills such as AMHP, BIA or Practice educator.
About You
You’ll be motivated to make a real difference to adults with mental health needs and autism across the team. You’ll be committed to a strengths-based and person-centred practice as well as knowledgeable and passionate about mental health social work, with a solid understanding of the Mental Health Act and the Autism Strategy. These would be essential. You’ll be confident in working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, with skills to help people maintain independence and promote community and asset-based approaches. You will be able to lead the team and make evidenced based decisions in the absence of Team Lead as required. You will have ambition, creativity to develop the service, problem solving and ability to understand budgets and the impact this has on the service. Experience if managing this will be advantageous. Experience of managing sickness and performance will also be advantageous but is not essential to the role. You will be comfortable working with high levels of risk within an area of service assessing and supporting people with complex needs, severe and enduring mental health and neurodiversity. If you’re someone who enjoys complex work, meaningful relationships with service users, and seeing the impact of your interventions, you’ll thrive here. If you want to join an established, friendly and bubbly team that work hard and support colleagues to reach their potential and develop the team and service further, then come and join us.
About Us
You will join a service that values your professional development and wellbeing. We offer regular supervisions to support reflective practice and strong peer support from a well-established leadership team. There are opportunities for career progression, with a wide access to training and Continuing Professional Development. We have a workplace culture rooted in collaboration, compassion and learning. This is a team where your skills will be recognised, your ideas welcomed, and your development encouraged. Development opportunities include Practice Educator, Approved Mental Health Professional, Best interest assessor.
Stockport Council holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not currently qualify. Please note that we have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers and ex-military personnel. As part of the Guaranteed Assessment Scheme you will therefore be guaranteed to be shortlisted for Assessment if you meet both the criteria for the scheme and the essential job role criteria.
If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application. Please also email recruitment@stockport.gov.uk. Staff recruitment and selection is the distinct responsibility of Stockport Council. The successful applicant’s appointment will be subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances including a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Stockport Council is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce culture – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities to join our workforce.
Experienced Assistant Team Lead/ Senior Social Worker in Cheadle employer: Stockport Council
At Stockport Council, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises professional development and employee wellbeing. As part of our dedicated team in the Mental Health and Autism sector, you will have access to ongoing training opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and a strong leadership team that values your contributions and ideas. Join us in making a meaningful impact in the lives of residents while enjoying a fulfilling career in a friendly and dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Experienced Assistant Team Lead/ Senior Social Worker in Cheadle
✨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 Stockport Council.
✨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 Stockport Council!
✨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 Stockport Council, 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 Stockport Council 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 Experienced Assistant Team Lead/ Senior Social Worker in Cheadle
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 Stockport Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Stockport Council! 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 Stockport Council
✨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.
