This is a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity up to April 2027.
The Team
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Discharge to Assess team in South Essex. As Deputy Team Manager within the team, you'll play a pivotal role in a dynamic, fast-paced environment that operates seven days a week, 52 weeks a year to ensure timely and safe hospital discharges.
Our service runs from 8:00am-6:30pm (8:00am-5:30pm weekends and bank holidays), providing statutory Social Care and Social Work services for people aged 18+ who have been admitted to or discharged from acute or rehabilitative health settings. You will be required to work one weekend in six and a share of bank holidays for which you will receive a 6% flat rate allowance in addition to the basic annual salary.
You'll work at the heart of an established multi-disciplinary partnership, collaborating to manage patient flow and improve outcomes for people ready to leave hospital. This role is not just about discharge, it's about proactive, responsive intervention to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and support recovery in the community.
About the Role
As a Deputy Team Manager you will be supporting the development of practice, skills and knowledge with the Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Community Support Workers within the team.
You will be focussed on allocating cases to social workers and community support workers and will also be responsible for deputising for the Team manager, attending various meetings and sharing responsibility in managing the performance of the Team. You will also be expected to supervise some of the workers in the team and will need to be very robust with managing information and statistical information.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Providing leadership and support across a team of professionals to deliver a high-quality service with positive outcomes which enables people to live healthily and independently.
- Supporting the development of individuals with the team.
- Delivering expertise and professional knowledge to provide advice and guidance for complex cases in line with legislative and organisational standards.
- Providing an escalation point for complaints and other feedback from service users in accordance with policy, in a way that fosters positive relationships.
- Implementing effective approaches to integrated working with partners, communities and the voluntary sector to achieve successful outcomes for service users.
About You
- Qualified and experienced Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
- Strong leadership and behavioural skills with the ability to forge a highly performing and motivated team that delivers the best outcomes for those using our services.
- Proven experience of developing individuals to meet professional standards and operate confidently to deliver the best solutions for the citizens of Essex.
- Experience of leading change in a complex environment, and ensuring best practice is delivered within financial constraints.
- Ability to develop strong and collaborative relationships with partners, other agencies and the local community.
- The ability to make clear decisions, to highlight and limit potential risks associated with intervention.
- Significant experience within an adult social care setting, ideally with previous management experience.
- Practice Educator, AMHP or BIA qualified.
- Evidence of continuing professional development and capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards.
This role involves travelling around Essex and beyond. A driving licence and car - or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means - is essential.
Why Join Us?
In June 2025, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated our Adult Social Care services as "Good" with a score of 73%
"The local authority had a good structure and processes in place to enable people to be supported successfully, and support people to remain independent and live healthy lives. The workforce was passionate about supporting people to achieve these outcomes and the local authority had good knowledge of their area, the people living there and the demographics."
You can read the full report on the CQC website here .
Our teams are busy but warm, friendly and supportive. We take your career just as seriously as you do, and we have a continuing professional development offer that's second to none.
We welcome diversity because it makes us grow and we're determined to become a fully inclusive and an anti-racist organisation.
What We Offer
We'll support you to be your best and will offer:
- Ongoing opportunities for continuing professional development
- Flexible working options
- Employee wellbeing and counselling
- Lease Car scheme
- Life assurance of three times annual salary
- Local Government Pension Scheme. View Key Facts and FAQ's about the LGPS.
- Volunteering leave
- 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising with service
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - access to free and confidential information, support, and guidance from a team of highly qualified professionals.
- Employee Networks - communities to support you, connect you and help influence change at ECC
- Payment of your Social Work England registration fees!
Whatever you want to achieve in your social work career, you can do it here.
*T&Cs Apply.
Apply now.
For more information contact
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) ) on our careers site
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to .
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community
Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and LinkedIn . Further details can be found on our careers page .
Downloads
Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours
