Social Worker / Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP)

Social Worker/Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) - £45,091 - £48,226 + 10% Recruitment & Retention Allowance

Put strengths-based practice at the heart of everything you do.

Who we are and what we stand for

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might just be the perfect match.

We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.

We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Maintain a healthy work-life balance while doing meaningful, impactful work.

Adult Social Care at Gateshead Council supports adults with care and support needs to live safe, independent and thriving lives. The service provides statutory assessments, safeguarding, prevention, and a wide range of community-based support in line with the Care Act 2014. Working in a strengths-based way, Adult Social Care focuses on wellbeing, independence and personalised outcomes, helping people to access the right support at the right time, whether through assessment and planning, enablement services, technology-enabled care, or wider community resources.

The Mental Health and Achieving Change Together (ACT) team works alongside adults to support recovery, independence and positive change. Through person-centred, strengths-based practice, the team supports people experiencing mental health challenges to achieve their goals, build resilience and live fulfilling lives within their communities. Working in close partnership with health services, families and local organisations, the team is committed to promoting wellbeing, choice and dignity at every stage of an individual’s journey.

Help shape the future of adult social work in Gateshead.

As a Social Worker/Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) with Gateshead Council, you'll join a highly valued, well-supported team committed to achieving positive outcomes for adults, carers and families across the borough. Working within a strong and sustainable AMHP service, you'll benefit from a collaborative rota, dedicated AMHP colleagues and a culture that promotes shared responsibility, professional resilience and peer support.

This is an opportunity to use your expertise to make a meaningful impact every day. You'll work with adults experiencing complex needs, delivering strengths-based, person-centred interventions that promote independence, wellbeing and choice. From undertaking assessments and managing risk to working closely with health partners, families and communities, you'll play a pivotal role in helping people live safer, more fulfilling lives.

We recognise the urgent and community-based nature of AMHP work, and while there may be occasions when work extends beyond core hours, this is balanced by a culture of flexibility, teamwork and understanding.

As a Social Worker/AMHP, you’ll benefit from a highly experienced and committed leadership structure, including a Team Manager, AMHP Development Officer and Senior Practitioner. This creates a strong environment for reflective practice, high-quality supervision and ongoing professional development, supporting you to grow in confidence, maintain best practice and deliver outstanding outcomes.

At Gateshead, we're passionate about creating the conditions for both our residents and our employees to thrive. If you're a compassionate and skilled Social Worker/AMHP looking for a role where your professional judgement is respected, your development is encouraged, and your work truly matters, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll get to do:

• Carry out strengths-based assessments with adults and carers, identifying needs and eligibility under the Care Act 2014 across a range of settings including community, hospital and residential environments.
• Complete statutory and specialist assessments, including mental capacity, best interest and risk assessments, in line with relevant legislation and best practice.
• Manage a caseload appropriate to your experience and role, ensuring timely, person-centred interventions that promote independence, wellbeing and choice.
• Review and monitor support plans to ensure services remain appropriate, effective and responsive to changing needs.
• Respond to duty work and urgent referrals, supporting adults at key points of risk or transition.
• Develop and coordinate care and support packages, including the use of Direct Payments and Self-Directed Support, ensuring best use of resources while achieving positive outcomes.
• Act as an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP), undertaking Mental Health Act assessments across community, hospital, police and Section 136 settings.
• Coordinate and lead Mental Health Act assessments, including screening referrals, consulting with individuals, relatives and professionals, and making independent, legally sound decisions.
• Plan and contribute to discharge, aftercare and community support, including CTOs, Guardianship and Section 117 aftercare where appropriate.
• Maintain professional competence and re-approval, staying up to date with legislation, best practice and reflective AMHP practice.
• Participate in the AMHP rota, including occasional work beyond core hours, responding flexibly to urgent and community-based assessments.
• Chair and contribute to professional meetings, including safeguarding, case conferences and reviews, and prepare high-quality reports for a range of statutory and legal settings.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, partner agencies and other professionals, while supporting the development of students and less experienced staff and maintaining professional standards set by Social Work England.

What you'll bring:

• A recognised professional qualification (Social Work, Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Chartered Psychology) with the required post-registration experience, and current Social Work England registration where applicable.
• Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) qualification.
• A full UK driving licence or access to mobility support.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Human Rights Act and associated Codes of Practice, with the ability to apply this confidently to practice.
• Experience of working with adults with mental health needs and their carers, including undertaking assessments and identifying appropriate support and interventions.
• Proven ability to assess risk, make balanced decisions and contribute to safeguarding processes in complex and pressured situations.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, reasoned reports and work collaboratively with individuals, families and professionals.
• Ability to manage a varied workload, prioritise effectively and work both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• A strong commitment to equality, partnership working and continuous professional development, with the flexibility to meet the demands of the role.

If successful, this role requires a DBS and you will have to apply for an enhanced Disclosure.

What’s in it for you

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience with a salary of £45,091 - £48,226 + 10% Recruitment and Retention allowance.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme : Get behind the wheel of a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions – a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
• Co-wheels: Access pool cars, including electric vehicles, with guaranteed parking, making it easy and cost-effective to travel to meetings and sites not easily accessible by public transport.
• Learning and Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health and Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme : We don’t just offer a great salary – we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides:
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
• Exclusive Discounts and Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services – plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases.

Our commitment to you

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation

How to apply

You can apply online using the apply now button below. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences and qualifications.

We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any of the above which are relevant to the role to which you are applying.

If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our recruitment team via View email address on northeastjobs.org.uk

Please note: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.

Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.