Advanced Practitioner Initial Response Hub (IRH) Long-Term Work Desirable What Our Colleagues Say

North Tyneside Council; New York; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Market supplement (£2,000)

Regular reflective supervision

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

North Tyneside Council is seeking an experienced Advanced Practitioner to lead practice across the service, supporting Mental Health Social Workers and Mental Health Reablement Workers with expert guidance, mentoring and reflective supervision. You will oversee complex decisions to ensure person-centred, trauma-informed, and legally compliant care.

You will deputise for the Team Manager and provide cross-cover for the Assistant Team Manager while modelling best practice and supporting staff

Qualifications

• Registration with Social Work England required and AMHP/BIA qualifications preferred.
• Significant experience in adult social care or specialist community mental health services.
• Experience mentoring, coaching, supervising or developing others.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced practice oversight and reflective supervision to Social Workers and Mental Health Reablement Workers.
• Lead complex case management including safeguarding, risk and mental capacity issues.
• Chair complex safeguarding meetings and support decision-making.
• Support quality assurance through audits and practice evaluation.
• Deputise for the Team Manager and contribute to service development and improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Reflective supervision

Complex casework

Education

Registration with Social Work England

Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP)

Best Interests Assessor (BIA)

Practice Educator qualification

Job description

As an Advanced Practitioner, you will be a key member of the leadership team, working alongside the Team Manager and Assistant Team Manager to provide expert practice leadership across the service. You will act as the professional lead for complex casework, offering specialist guidance, mentoring and reflective supervision to Mental Health Social Workers and Mental Health Reablement Workers. You will support practitioners to navigate complex legal, ethical and practice issues, ensuring interventions remain person-centred, strengths-based, trauma-informed and legally compliant. You will play a critical role in promoting high standards of practice, quality assurance and continuous service improvement, whilst supporting staff to develop confidence, autonomy and professional curiosity. The role includes a small caseload, co-working alongside practitioners to model best practice, provide coaching and support professional development. The Advanced Practitioner will also deputise for the Team Manager and provide cross-cover for the Assistant Team Manager, helping to ensure effective service delivery and strong operational leadership.

How Our Team Works

Our service is built around two connected areas of practice, providing opportunities to influence practice across the whole service. Each area is supported by a Team Manager, Assistant Team Manager and Advanced Practitioner, ensuring visible leadership and strong professional support.

Initial Response Hub (IRH)

• Initial assessments and screening
• Safeguarding concerns and risk management
• Early intervention and crisis prevention
• Providing information, advice and guidance
• Supporting timely decision-making

As an Advanced Practitioner, you will provide oversight and support for complex decisions, ensuring that responses are proportionate, timely and centred on the individual’s strengths and desired outcomes.

Long‑Term Work

• Strengths-based assessments and reviews
• Complex care planning and risk management
• Court of Protection work and court reports
• Tribunal hearings
• Section 117 aftercare planning and reviews
• Long-term interventions promoting recovery and independence

You will provide advanced support and oversight for complex casework, helping practitioners navigate statutory responsibilities, legal frameworks and safeguarding concerns while promoting best practice and positive outcomes.

What You'll Be Doing

• Provide advanced practice oversight and reflective supervision to Social Workers and Mental Health Reablement Workers.
• Lead on complex case management involving high-risk situations, safeguarding concerns, mental capacity issues, hospital discharges and Mental Health Act responsibilities.
• Act as a point of escalation for practitioners managing complex or contentious situations.
• Lead safeguarding enquiries and support robust safeguarding decision‑making.
• Chair complex safeguarding meetings where appropriate.
• Support quality assurance through audits, case reviews and practice evaluation.
• Champion strengths-based, recovery-focused and trauma‑informed practice.
• Support workforce development through coaching, mentoring and professional development activities.
• Promote consistency and high standards of practice across the service.
• Contribute to service development, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Support effective partnership working across health, housing, voluntary and community sectors.
• Deputise for the Team Manager and represent the service at strategic and multi‑agency forums when required.

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled practitioner who is passionate about developing others, championing excellent social work practice and supporting the delivery of high‑quality services for residents of North Tyneside., We are looking for an experienced and confident practitioner who can inspire confidence, support professional development and provide expert guidance in complex situations., A recognised Social Work qualification or Mental Health Nursing qualification.

Qualifications

• Registration with Social Work England, NMC or equivalent professional body.
• An accredited post‑qualifying award.
• Significant experience within adult social care or specialist community mental health services.
• Experience managing complex and high‑risk casework.
• Experience of mentoring, coaching, supervising or developing others.
• Extensive knowledge of: Care Act 2014 + Mental Capacity Act 2005 + Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards + Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007) + Safeguarding Adults procedures + Human Rights legislation
• Strong leadership, communication and conflict resolution skills.
• A commitment to reflective practice, professional development and continuous improvement.
• Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) qualification
• Best Interests Assessor (BIA) qualification
• Practice Educator qualification
• Experience of quality assurance, audit or service improvement activity
• Experience of multidisciplinary working across health and social care settings
• An interest in supporting people whose lives are impacted by addictions

Our People First strategy is our promise to make North Tyneside Council an exceptional place to work, where everyone can thrive and flourish. A place where people want to work, where joining our team is an exciting prospect, staying with us feels like a great decision, and building your career at North Tyneside Council is a natural progression.

As part of our People First strategy, we are committed to creating a workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our success and the well‑being of our employees and residents. Our goal is to foster an environment where everyone feels welcome, safe and valued. Together, we're crafting a workplace that's built on our values and a shared commitment to making a difference. If you are passionate and committed about making a difference and want to work somewhere where you can make positive change, we will provide the right environment for you to excel. Alongside our People First strategy, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and adults at risk of harm. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment and to familiarise themselves with all relevant policies, procedures and guidance. Within North Tyneside, safeguarding is everybody's business. 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.

In 2019, North Tyneside Council declared a climate emergency. This declaration set a target to reduce the carbon footprint of the council's operations, and the borough, by 50% by 2023 and to align to the Government's net zero target of 2050. We recognise the significant role we can play in the borough in helping to limit climate change, but we can't do this alone; we need help from all our residents, businesses, voluntary and community sectors and of course all those who apply and work for us. Together we can make North Tyneside a sustainable place to live and work for everyone in the borough.

Benefits & Remuneration

• Grade 10: £45,529 - £49,817 per annum plus £2,000 Market Supplement
• Regular reflective supervision and group supervision
• A leadership team that knows you and values your contribution
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Protected "Stop the Clock" days
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• A culture that prioritises wellbeing, psychological safety and continuous learning
• Opportunities to influence practice development and shape the future of the service
• We are proud to have been recognised as one of the Top 5 Social Work Employers in the country through the Standards for Employers of Social Workers Health Check and are committed to investing in our workforce.