Team Manager – Emergency Duty (Social Work)
Make a real difference in one of England’s most beautiful counties and help shape brighter futures for those who need it most in Northumberland.
At Northumberland County Council, we’re committed to delivering a high‑quality service to vulnerable adults and their loved ones across the County, and we’re looking for professionals who share our vision.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced social worker or an existing team manager. We are looking for someone with post‑qualification experience, and experience of supervising/mentoring other staff.
This is your chance to join a forward‑thinking organisation that values collaboration and is committed to delivering high‑quality support and better outcomes for the people we work with.
What makes the role unique?
As a Team Manager, you will lead a small, high‑performing team of qualified Social Workers and Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs). This role demands a confident, experienced practitioner who is both a qualified Social Worker and a practicing AMHP, with a proven track record of working across Children’s and Adult Services.
You will bring a strong, working knowledge of key legislation, including the Children Act, Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, and Mental Health Act, alongside the ability to apply this knowledge decisively in complex, high‑pressure situations. We are seeking a resilient and innovative leader, someone who is dynamic, solutions‑focused, and prepared to challenge conventional thinking where necessary.
The post requires you to drive performance, maintain oversight of workloads and operational flow, and ensure the delivery of safe, timely, and legally robust interventions. You will provide effective supervision and appraisal, holding staff to high professional standards while supporting their development. The role also carries responsibility for critical safeguarding functions, including both adult safeguarding and child protection.
Flexibility is essential. You will be expected to respond to gaps in the rota at short notice when required. The Team Manager is an integral part of the EDT rota, currently operating on a four‑week rolling pattern. You will receive monthly supervision from a senior manager with specialist experience in EDT and AMHP services and, at times, will deputise in their absence. This may include attending meetings during standard office hours (9:00-17:00).
We offer a competitive salary of £56,233 – £60,010 with additional payments for unsocial hours. The service operates 365 days a year, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays, and you will be expected to work across the rota to ensure consistent service delivery. The role supports agile working, combining office‑based and remote working arrangements. From midnight onwards, a standby service is in place.
The team covers the full geography of Northumberland, from the Berwick borders in the north to the Cumbria borders in the west, requiring a workforce that is adaptable, responsive and committed. We maintain strong, collaborative relationships with daytime services and partner agencies, ensuring continuity and quality of care.
Northumberland is committed to investing in its workforce. We offer a comprehensive training programme and actively support continued professional development. There are clear opportunities for career progression. AMHP training is delivered through an external, high‑quality provider, ensuring your practice remains current, confident and compliant with evolving legislation and best practice standards.
What we are looking for:
- Experience of supervising and mentoring staff
- Ability to work autonomously and within a crisis model to support adults, children and families
- Leadership skills and the ability to work flexibly across the County
- Strong focus on quality assurance and promoting a learning culture
- Strategic skills to link the work of the team manager role to improve quality assurance standards
For this position you must have the following:
- Degree in Social Work & registered with Social Work England
- Approved Mental Health Professional
- Experience of supervising or mentoring staff
- Post‑qualifying experience (e.g. PG Certificate modules)
- Valid UK driving licence and ability to use a car for work purposes
Benefits
- 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of local authority continuous service (pro‑rata for part‑time employees)
- Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Free parking in majority of NCC base sites
- Free electric car charging at County Hall
- Equipment provided including mobile phone and laptop
- Local government discount schemes available to all employees with offers at local businesses and national brands
- Commitment to work/life balance, offering flexibility through schemes including job sharing and flexible working arrangements
- Salary sacrifice schemes are available
- Staff networks run by staff, for staff, providing opportunities for peer networking, mutual support, staff development (e.g. Armed Forces, ASD, Enable (disability), LGBT+, Menopause, Mental Wellbeing and Racial Equality)
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.
Alternative application format:
- British Sign Language: northumberlandcc-cs.signvideo.net
- For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss: Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930
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