Location
London Borough of Lambeth (Hybrid Working)

Hours
Full Time - 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday 9am-5pm or as the service requires

Salary
PO5 Grade: £56,154 per annum rising in annual increments to £59,394 per annum including London Weighting

About the Role
Lambeth Council is seeking a Practitioner Manager to join the Mental Health of Older Adults Social Work team (MHOA) within Adult Social Care. This is a permanent, full-time position offering a challenging and rewarding opportunity to work in Mental Health Adult Social Care Services.

The MHOA team consists of 4 experienced social workers working closely with the Community Mental Health Team for Older Adults. The team specialises in supporting individuals with complex mental health and dementia needs, particularly those who struggle to engage. The focus is on sustaining quality of life, independence, and wellbeing for individuals and their carers/families using strengths-based and rights-based approaches.

The Practitioner Manager will share responsibility with the team manager for managing the daytime social care service, ensuring delivery of a quality, responsive, safe, and person-centred service that promotes the wellbeing of Lambeth residents. The role includes leading on specialist areas across services and jointly managing some service areas with other Practitioner Managers.

The Practitioner Manager will supervise up to 8 social care staff, ensuring statutory assessments are assigned and completed timely and to quality standards. This includes supporting social workers with case management, complex cases, court of protection, safeguarding procedures, and authorising assessments to produce high-quality, strength-based work.

Additionally, the Practitioner Manager will support staff professional development through regular 1:1 meetings and appraisals, and may lead on service development initiatives arising from service user requests and member enquiries.

Lambeth Council is committed to equity and inclusion and encourages applications from Black, Asian, and Multiethnic communities. The role is open to all applicants, with positive action provisions applied where candidates of equal merit are identified.

Experience
Qualified social worker with significant post-qualifying experience. Previous management experience and experience working within mental health services is preferred but not essential. Familiarity with the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, and Mental Health Act is required.

About you
Excellent organisational and communication skills. Ability to lead and support a team, manage complex cases, and work collaboratively with health colleagues. Commitment to delivering person-centred, strengths-based social care and promoting wellbeing in the community.

Qualifications
Registered social worker qualification with relevant post-qualifying experience. Knowledge of statutory social care frameworks and legislation relevant to adult mental health services.