Gateshead Council
Lead Practitioner/AMHP
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Lead Practitioner and Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) - £46,142 - £49,282 + 10% Recruitment & Retention Allowance
Supporting practitioners. Strengthening services. Delivering better outcomes.
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.
Be the expert voice that guides complex practice and improves lives.
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.
Lead practice. Influence change. Make a difference.
As a Lead Practitioner and Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) for Gateshead Council, you will provide professional leadership, expert practice support and statutory mental health expertise within our Adult Mental Health Service. Working alongside managers and practitioners, you will champion high-quality, person-centred practice, support complex decision-making, and promote excellent outcomes for adults experiencing mental health challenges. You will play a key role in developing staff, driving practice improvement, managing risk, and ensuring services are delivered in line with legislation, policy and best practice. This is an exciting opportunity to influence practice, support professional development and make a meaningful difference to individuals, families and communities.
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. You’ll be supported by working arrangements that prioritise wellbeing, alongside colleagues who understand the realities of the role.
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Join Gateshead Council and play a vital role in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, while being supported, respected and encouraged to thrive throughout your career.
What You'll Get To Do
- Provide professional leadership, practice guidance and expert support to social workers and practitioners across the Adult Mental Health Service. Lead on complex, high-risk and multi-agency cases, offering specialist advice to ensure safe, person-centred and legally compliant practice.
- Supervise, mentor and develop staff, including newly qualified social workers completing their ASYE, promoting professional growth and practice excellence.
- Champion high-quality social work practice, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, safeguarding responsibilities, council policies and professional standards.
- Support service improvement initiatives, quality assurance activity and performance monitoring to drive positive outcomes for people accessing mental health services.
- Undertake Approved Mental Health Professional duties and contribute specialist expertise to mental health assessments, risk management and decision-making.
- Deputise for the Team Manager as required, contributing to operational leadership, workforce development and partnership working across the service.
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.
- AMHP qualification.
- A full UK driving licence with access to a car 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 leading on complex cases, risk management, mental capacity assessments and multi-agency decision-making.
- The ability to provide professional guidance, mentoring and practice leadership to colleagues, supporting high-quality social work practice.
- Proven experience of building effective partnerships with health, statutory and voluntary sector organisations to achieve positive outcomes.
- Excellent communication, organisational and analytical skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, produce high-quality reports and influence practice across teams.
If successful, this role requires a DBS and you will have to apply for an enhanced Disclosure.
Interviews are planned to take place week commencing 3rd August 2026.
What’s In It For You
- Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
- 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: https://twpf.info
- 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.
- Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
- Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work-life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
- Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
- Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
- Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
- 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).
- Exclusive Discounts & 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 (after 6 months service).
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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
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.
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