Team Leader - Autism Team

Sunderland Care and Support Ltd; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

DBS check paid

Pension scheme

26 days annual leave (31 after 5 years

Cycle to Work scheme

Job summary

Sunderland Care and Support Ltd in Sunderland is seeking a Team Leader for the Autism Team. You will lead a values-driven team delivering high-quality social care in customers’ homes and communities, ensuring care plans reflect choice and independence.

The role requires Level 3 QCF Health and Social Care or equivalent, strong leadership, and ability to partner with professionals to meet needs. DBS clearance is provided, with a supportive, development-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in social care settings and working with vulnerable groups.
• Ability to mentor or support colleagues or apprentices.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and supervise a team delivering care and support in line with standards and legislation.
• Oversee development and implementation of care plans to provide meaningful choice and support.
• Foster a culture of continuous workforce development through induction, probation, supervision and appraisal.

Skills

Effective communication

Mentoring / coaching

Team collaboration

Flexible working

Education

Level 3 QCF Health and Social Care or equivalent

Tools

Basic IT skills

Job description

Lead a values-led team. Support people to live independently. Shape a service you’re proud of.

Ready to lead in a way that truly makes it real? If you’re passionate about empowering people to live the life they choose, we’d love to hear from you.

Sunderland Care and Support is one of the largest providers of social care services within the North East delivering a range of service on behalf of Sunderland City Council. We provide person centred innovate services that improve the lives of the people we serve.

Our mission is to provide customers with the care and support they need to live happy, healthy and successful lives.

We value all our staff and believe investing in them through training and development forms the foundation to deliver excellence in care. A job with us not only makes a difference to our customers lives but can also be lifechanging for you.

Reporting to a Service Manager you will lead, manage and supervise a team delivering care and support in accordance with standards and legislation. In addition, you will oversee the development and implementation of care plans that are designed to provide meaningful choice and support to those in need of care so they can access services to help them lead the life they want.

We are looking Team Leaders who will instil a culture of continuous workforce development through induction, probation, supervision and appraisal, as well as working in partnership with other professionals to ensure customers receive support which is designed to meet their needs.

About the role

This role is about creating the conditions where people can thrive in their own homes and communities—supported by staff who listen, respect, and enable independence. You’ll also build a team culture where colleagues work in partnership and focus on strengths, not limitations.

As a Team Leader, you’ll help make these statements a reality every single day:

“I have choice and control over my life.”

“I live in a place I call home.”

“I am supported by people who know me, respect me and listen to me.”

“We support people to live the life they want.”

“We focus on strengths, not limitations.”

You should have experience of supporting customers within the social care sector, and either hold (or have the ability to achieve) Level 3 QCF Health and Social Care or equivalent.

What we offer you

A values-driven organisation committed to TLAP and REACH principles.

Ongoing training, development and leadership opportunities.

Supportive management and a strong wellbeing culture.

Opportunities to shape service development and quality improvement.

A role where you can genuinely change lives—and see the impact every day.

We pay for your DBS check

Designated rota patterns including days, evenings, weekends and bank holidays

26 days annual leave entitlement rising to 31 days with 5 years continuous service, excluding bank holidays

A positive, supportive and rewarding working environment

Occupational Health and wellbeing support

Access to car lease and Cycle to Work scheme and discounts on local theatre and sporting events and Blue Light Card and Company Shop supermarket.

Team Leader - Autism Team

Company: Sunderland Care and Support Ltd Salary: £32,046 to £34,811 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Sunderland Working pattern: On-site Job type: Permanent Posting date: 12 Nov 2026 Closing date: 29 Nov 2026

Summary

Lead a values-led team. Support people to live independently. Shape a service you’re proud of.

Ready to lead in a way that truly makes it real? If you’re passionate about empowering people to live the life they choose, we’d love to hear from you.

Sunderland Care and Support is one of the largest providers of social care services within the North East delivering a range of service on behalf of Sunderland City Council. We provide person centred innovate services that improve the lives of the people we serve.

Our mission is to provide customers with the care and support they need to live happy, healthy and successful lives.

We value all our staff and believe investing in them through training and development forms the foundation to deliver excellence in care. A job with us not only makes a difference to our customers lives but can also be lifechanging for you.

Reporting to a Service Manager you will lead, manage and supervise a team delivering care and support in accordance with standards and legislation. In addition, you will oversee the development and implementation of care plans that are designed to provide meaningful choice and support to those in need of care so they can access services to help them lead the life they want.

We are looking Team Leaders who will instil a culture of continuous workforce development through induction, probation, supervision and appraisal, as well as working in partnership with other professionals to ensure customers receive support which is designed to meet their needs.

About the role

This role is about creating the conditions where people can thrive in their own homes and communities—supported by staff who listen, respect, and enable independence. You’ll also build a team culture where colleagues work in partnership and focus on strengths, not limitations.

As a Team Leader, you’ll help make these statements a reality every single day:

“I have choice and control over my life.”

“I live in a place I call home.”

“I am supported by people who know me, respect me and listen to me.”

“We work in partnership.”

“We support people to live the life they want.”

“We focus on strengths, not limitations.”

You should have experience of supporting customers within the social care sector, and either hold (or have the ability to achieve) Level 3 QCF Health and Social Care or equivalent.

What we offer you

A values-driven organisation committed to TLAP and REACH principles.

Ongoing training, development and leadership opportunities.

Supportive management and a strong wellbeing culture.

Opportunities to shape service development and quality improvement.

A role where you can genuinely change lives—and see the impact every day.

We pay for your DBS check

Designated rota patterns including days, evenings, weekends and bank holidays

26 days annual leave entitlement rising to 31 days with 5 years continuous service, excluding bank holidays

Pension scheme

A positive, supportive and rewarding working environment

Occupational Health and wellbeing support

Access to car lease and Cycle to Work scheme and discounts on local theatre and sporting events and Blue Light Card and Company Shop supermarket.

Following our shortlisting process, we will contact candidates to arrange an appropriate time to carry out a face to face interview.

If you are successful following the interview process appointments will be made subject to two satisfactory references and DBS check.

Please note applicants must already have the right to work in the UK, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

For more information on Sunderland Care and Support, please visit our website;

https://sunderlandcareandsupport.co.uk

Essential requirements

Qualifications and Experience:Level 3 QCF Health and Social Care or equivalentEnglish and Math Functional Skills at level 1/or equivalent.Experience of working in a direct support capacity with Vulnerable Adults.Experience of providing high standards of customer care.Experience of working as part of a team or of working on their own.Skills/Knowledge and AbilityAble to form and maintain effective working relationships with individuals being supported, their families' colleagues and partner organisations.Ability to liaise with people at all levels including senior management and multi-disciplinary team professionals.The ability to mentor or support colleagues or apprenticesEffective written and verbal communication.Ability to work flexibly and use own initiative.Basic IT skills.Knowledge and understanding of health and safety at work and the ability to carry our appropriate health and safety checks i.e., legionella testing, fire alarm tests.Understanding of the importance of choice, control, rights, and empowerment of customers.Understands and is able to implement requirements of Safeguarding policy.The ability to assess, coordinate and provide personal or practical interventions to a range to a range of customers.The ability to develop and work within an agreed care and support plan to support customers.Ability to provide personal care and support to meet a range of social and health needs including challenging behaviour.Able to form and maintain effective working relationships with individuals being supported, their families' colleagues and partner organisations.Ability to liaise with people at all levels including senior management and multi-disciplinary team professionals.The ability to mentor or support colleagues or apprenticesEffective written and verbal communication.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme