Social Worker, Mental Health

Experienced Social Worker(s) North Tyneside Council – Adult Mental Health Social Work Team

We’re looking for two experienced Social Workers who believe in people.

Someone who can hold risk and complexity, while still seeing the person – their strengths, hopes, and possibility.

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 social worker who is confident, reflective, and values relationship-based social work.

• Work alongside individuals to understand what matters to them
• Apply strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches
• Navigate complexity with professionalism and curiosity
• Use legislation thoughtfully to uphold rights, safety, and autonomy
• Balance risk while promoting independence and positive risk-taking
• Contribute to a culture of reflective practice and shared learning

This is a challenging and deeply rewarding role, where your practice can make a real difference and help shape someone’s life.

Our service is built around two connected areas of practice, giving you the opportunity to work across different types of intervention:

Support is provided by a Team Manager, along with an Assistant Team Manager and Advanced Practitioner in each area.

A busy and fast-paced part of the service where clear decision making and proportionate responses are essential. In this role you will:

• 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.

Where relationships and continuity of support are central:

• Strengths-based assessments, reassessments, and reviews which are person-centred
• Supporting people with enduring and complex mental health needs to have a voice, and supporting access to the right services at the right time
• Court of Protection work, Tribunal Hearing, Court Reports
• Section 117 aftercare discharge planning and reviews
• Working alongside people over time to support sustainable change

This is about depth, trust, and supporting people to move forward at their own pace and enabling access to services and inclusion. Caseloads are reviewed using a Caseload Management Tool with opportunities to co‑work and learn from each other.

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.

Your work will be rooted in strong social work values and informed by:

• Care Act 2014
• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Mental Health Act 1983/2007
• 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.

We know that to practice well, you need to feel supported.

We offer:

• Regular, reflective supervision and group supervision
• A leadership team that knows you and values your voice and contributions
• Hybrid working
• “Stop the Clock” days for protected admin time and use of technology
• Access to meaningful learning and development opportunities
• A culture that prioritises staff wellbeing and ways to increase psychological safety