Team Manager - Mental Health Hospital, Forensic and Addiction Services
London Borough of Hillingdon
About the role
At London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to putting our residents first. We are proud to deliver high-quality, person-centred services that support people to live safe, independent and fulfilling lives. Our Adult Social Care and Health services are driven by strong professional values, innovation and partnership working, ensuring that residents receive the right support at the right time. Based in one of London's largest and most diverse boroughs, we offer a supportive working environment where talented professionals can thrive and make a real difference.
About the Service
Our Mental Health Service is responsible for supporting adults across a range of specialist pathways, including mental health inpatient settings, forensic mental health services and addiction services. Working closely with NHS Trusts, secure hospitals, probation services, housing providers, police and voluntary sector partners, we help residents achieve positive outcomes whilst ensuring statutory responsibilities are met. The service promotes strengths-based, recovery-focused and trauma-informed practice, with a strong emphasis on safeguarding, partnership working and improving the lives of some of our most vulnerable residents.
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Team Manager to lead our Mental Health Hospital, Forensic and Addiction Services Team.
This is a pivotal leadership role where you will provide operational, professional and strategic management to a team of Social Workers and Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs). You will oversee complex and high-risk work, ensure compliance with key legislation including the Mental Health Act, Care Act and Mental Capacity Act, and drive excellence in service delivery across hospital discharge, forensic and addiction pathways.
As a practising and warranted AMHP, you will provide professional leadership for Mental Health Act practice, supporting and developing staff while promoting high standards of social work practice. You will lead on safeguarding, quality assurance, service improvement and performance management, while building strong relationships with a wide range of partners to improve outcomes for residents.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading and developing a specialist team of Social Workers and AMHPs.
- Providing oversight of complex, high-risk and safeguarding cases.
- Ensuring effective hospital discharge planning and transitions into the community.
- Chairing complex case discussions and multi-agency meetings.
- Driving service improvement, quality assurance and performance management.
- Managing budgets, resources and workforce planning.
- Supporting the development of professional practice and workforce capability across the service.
About You
We are looking for an exceptional social work leader who is passionate about mental health, committed to excellence and able to inspire high-performing teams.
You will be:
- A qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
- A warranted and practising Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP).
- An experienced manager with substantial post-qualification experience in mental health social work and AMHP practice.
- Skilled in leading teams undertaking complex statutory work and safeguarding responsibilities.
- Highly knowledgeable in the Mental Health Act, Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding legislation.
- Confident in managing risk, making defensible decisions and providing professional guidance in complex situations.
- Experienced in multi-agency partnership working, including with health services, police, probation and other statutory partners.
- An effective communicator with strong leadership, coaching and relationship-building skills.
- Committed to equality, diversity, anti-discriminatory practice and strengths-based approaches.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking service and play a leading role in shaping and delivering high-quality specialist mental health services for Hillingdon residents.
Join us and help make a lasting difference in the lives of residents while leading a dedicated and highly skilled professional team.
About us
- We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.Here’s a comprehensive overview of the fantastic benefits we provide:
- Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
- 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.
- Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).
- Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
- Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
- Cycle to Work – Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
- Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
- Vivup Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Vivup Benefits.
- Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
- Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.
- Trade Union Membership – The Council recognises UNISON, Unite, AEP and GMB and supports employees’ freedom of choice in relation to trade union membership.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.
The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.
Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.
Recruitment Information
Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a ‘per application’ basis.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject to the following pre-employment screening:- Enhanced DBS Check
- Qualifications Check
- Professional Registration Check
- 5 years of Referencing
Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.
It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.