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Job Information
Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us click here.
Preparing for Adulthood Team Manager
Join a service rated Outstanding by Ofsted, where your leadership will help shape positive outcomes for young people with SEND.
As a Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) Team Manager, you’ll lead a team of coordinators, oversee complex EHCP casework and support young people in their transition to independence. Working collaboratively with partners and a second Team Manager, you’ll ensure high-quality practice and the effective delivery of statutory services. This is a great opportunity to combine leadership with meaningful, impact-driven work in a supportive and forward-thinking team.
About the role
The 14–25 Preparing for Adulthood Team is looking for an experienced Team Manager to join us, working alongside a second Team Manager to drive key projects, support complex casework and provide strong leadership across the wider SEND service.
In this role, you will work closely with mainstream, independent, specialist and further education providers to ensure young people are supported on their journey to independence, in line with the Preparing for Adulthood agenda. You’ll also play a key role in monitoring performance, overseeing statutory processes such as annual reviews, and using data to drive service improvements and ensure compliance.
This is a hybrid role, with flexibility required around office presence in line with service needs. Please note, applicants must have prior management experience to be considered. To learn more about this opportunity, feel free to reach out to Corinne Richards at corinne.richards@achievingforchildren.org.uk
About you
The Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) Team is seeking a second Team Manager to lead a sub-team of PfA Coordinators and a Senior Coordinator, providing strong leadership, oversight and support across the service.
In this role, you will:
- Line manage, supervise and support staff, including appraisals, inductions and training
- Lead team and sub-team meetings, promoting a positive and high-performing culture
- Act as a professional role model, driving excellent customer experience with a ‘can do’ approach
- Oversee EHCP Coordinators, supporting complex casework and ensuring statutory duties are met
- Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of annual reviews, phase transfers and placement processes in line with the SEND Code of Practice
- Build strong relationships with schools and providers, including leading events, visits and mediations
- Work with young people in Alternative Provision, EOTAS and Elective Home Education settings
This is a key leadership role, ensuring high standards of practice while supporting positive outcomes for children and young people.
About our benefits
We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
- 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
- Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
- Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
- Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- A range of staff benefits and discounts
- An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway
To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children click here. For our social work offer click here. For our Recruitment Journey, click here.
Important Information
Start dates: Achieving for Children have set start dates meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.
Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance.
Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
