Team Leader - Mental Health Team
| Posting date: | 01 June 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £31,022 to £33,699 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 21 June 2026 |
| Location: | Sunderland, Tyne & Wear |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Sunderland Care and Support Ltd |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 297163 |
Summary
Lead a values-led team. Support people to live independently. Shape a service you’re proud of.
We’re looking for a Team Leader to help deliver high-quality, person-centred supported living. You’ll lead and develop a staff team, champion people’s rights and choices, and make sure support is delivered with people, not for them. Our approach is grounded in the TLAP Making It Real principles and the REACH Standards for Supported Living—so you’ll be part of a service that focuses on strengths, independence and everyday life outcomes.
About the role
This role is about creating the conditions where people can thrive in their own homes and communities—supported by staff who listen, respect, and enable independence.
“I have choice and control over my life.”
“I live in a place I call home.”
“I am supported by people who know me, respect me and listen to me.”
You’ll also build a team culture where colleagues work in partnership and focus on strengths, not limitations.
“We work in partnership.”
“We support people to live the life they want.”
“We focus on strengths, not limitations.”
As a Team Leader, you’ll help make these statements a reality every single day.
Key Responsibilities
Champion person-centred, rights-based support so people have real choice and control over routines, relationships and goals.
Promote ‘home’ and belonging, supporting independence, tenancy rights and connection to local communities.
Lead, coach and develop staff to deliver respectful, empowering support tailored to each person.
Embed active support, enabling people to do as much as possible for themselves.
Use co-production in everyday practice, ensuring people are involved in decisions about their support, their home and their future.
Maintain high-quality plans and risk assessments that reflect people’s voices, strengths and aspirations.
Work in partnership with families, advocates, health professionals and community networks.
Balance safety and independence using positive risk-taking and least restrictive approaches.
Enable meaningful lives—supporting relationships, skills and community participation in line with REACH.
Create a positive team culture where staff feel valued, supported and confident.
About you
Experience in social care (ideally Supported Living or community-based services).
A strong grounding in person-centred practice, rights-based support and co-production.
Proven ability to lead by example and support others to develop.
Confidence supporting people with complex needs, communication differences and/or behaviours of concern.
A commitment to the Making It Real principles and the REACH Standards.
Strong communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.
A compassionate, respectful approach and the resilience to manage competing priorities.
What we offer you
A values-driven organisation committed to TLAP and REACH principles.
Ongoing training, development and leadership opportunities.
Supportive management and a strong wellbeing culture.
Opportunities to shape service development and quality improvement.
A role where you can genuinely change lives—and see the impact every day.
Designated rota patterns including days, evenings, weekends and bank holidays
26 days annual leave entitlement rising to 31 days with 5 years continuous service, excluding bank holidays
Pension scheme
A positive, supportive and rewarding working environment
Occupational Health and wellbeing support
Access to car lease and Cycle to Work scheme and discounts on local theatre and sporting events and Blue Light Card and Company Shop supermarket.
How to apply
When completing your application, please use the Job Description and Person Specification to show how you meet the essential criteria. This information will be used to shortlist candidates for interview.
Following our shortlisting process, we will contact candidates to arrange an appropriate time to carry out a face to face interview.
If you are successful following the interview process appointments will be made subject to two satisfactory references and DBS check.
Please note applicants must already have the right to work in the UK, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
Ready to lead in a way that truly makes it real? If you’re passionate about empowering people to live the life they choose, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and help us deliver support that reflects what really matters.
For more information on Sunderland Care and Support, please visit our website;
https://sunderlandcareandsupport.co.uk
We’re looking for a Team Leader to help deliver high-quality, person-centred supported living. You’ll lead and develop a staff team, champion people’s rights and choices, and make sure support is delivered with people, not for them. Our approach is grounded in the TLAP Making It Real principles and the REACH Standards for Supported Living—so you’ll be part of a service that focuses on strengths, independence and everyday life outcomes.
About the role
This role is about creating the conditions where people can thrive in their own homes and communities—supported by staff who listen, respect, and enable independence.
“I have choice and control over my life.”
“I live in a place I call home.”
“I am supported by people who know me, respect me and listen to me.”
You’ll also build a team culture where colleagues work in partnership and focus on strengths, not limitations.
“We work in partnership.”
“We support people to live the life they want.”
“We focus on strengths, not limitations.”
As a Team Leader, you’ll help make these statements a reality every single day.
Key Responsibilities
Champion person-centred, rights-based support so people have real choice and control over routines, relationships and goals.
Promote ‘home’ and belonging, supporting independence, tenancy rights and connection to local communities.
Lead, coach and develop staff to deliver respectful, empowering support tailored to each person.
Embed active support, enabling people to do as much as possible for themselves.
Use co-production in everyday practice, ensuring people are involved in decisions about their support, their home and their future.
Maintain high-quality plans and risk assessments that reflect people’s voices, strengths and aspirations.
Work in partnership with families, advocates, health professionals and community networks.
Balance safety and independence using positive risk-taking and least restrictive approaches.
Enable meaningful lives—supporting relationships, skills and community participation in line with REACH.
Create a positive team culture where staff feel valued, supported and confident.
About you
Experience in social care (ideally Supported Living or community-based services).
A strong grounding in person-centred practice, rights-based support and co-production.
Proven ability to lead by example and support others to develop.
Confidence supporting people with complex needs, communication differences and/or behaviours of concern.
A commitment to the Making It Real principles and the REACH Standards.
Strong communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.
A compassionate, respectful approach and the resilience to manage competing priorities.
What we offer you
A values-driven organisation committed to TLAP and REACH principles.
Ongoing training, development and leadership opportunities.
Supportive management and a strong wellbeing culture.
Opportunities to shape service development and quality improvement.
A role where you can genuinely change lives—and see the impact every day.
Designated rota patterns including days, evenings, weekends and bank holidays
26 days annual leave entitlement rising to 31 days with 5 years continuous service, excluding bank holidays
Pension scheme
A positive, supportive and rewarding working environment
Occupational Health and wellbeing support
Access to car lease and Cycle to Work scheme and discounts on local theatre and sporting events and Blue Light Card and Company Shop supermarket.
How to apply
When completing your application, please use the Job Description and Person Specification to show how you meet the essential criteria. This information will be used to shortlist candidates for interview.
Following our shortlisting process, we will contact candidates to arrange an appropriate time to carry out a face to face interview.
If you are successful following the interview process appointments will be made subject to two satisfactory references and DBS check.
Please note applicants must already have the right to work in the UK, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
Ready to lead in a way that truly makes it real? If you’re passionate about empowering people to live the life they choose, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and help us deliver support that reflects what really matters.
For more information on Sunderland Care and Support, please visit our website;
https://sunderlandcareandsupport.co.uk
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.