Job Description
Assistant Team Manager – Staying Close Team
Salary: Grade 15 £55,323-£57,402
Fixed Term or Secondment (12m) - 36 hours per week
Hybrid (3 office days, 2 from home)
Job Purpose
We are seeking a motivated Assistant Team Manager to join our Staying Close Team within the 16 Plus Service. This role plays a vital part in supporting care ‑ experienced young people (CEYP) aged 16–25 as they transition into adulthood and independence.
Harder to reach care experienced young people include, but are not limited to, care experienced young people: Placed out of borough, Living in residential care, In custody at distance, In supported housing.
Staying Close is a DfE funded initiative that seeks to achieve improved outcomes for young people leaving residential care, who frequently reach a 'cliff edge' when at the age of 18. Although most young people who have been in care can access ongoing support from a Personal Adviser from the age of 18 right up until they are 25 years old. Staying Close looks to support young people to live independently post 18 to ensure we promote good outcomes.
Working closely with the Team Manager, you will help lead a multi ‑ disciplinary team delivering high ‑ quality, trauma ‑ informed support across housing, health, benefits, and independent living. You will ensure assessments are robust, reflective of young people's needs, and aligned to their pathway plans, while driving best practice and continuous service improvement.
If you are passionate about relationship ‑ based practice, empowering care ‑ experienced young people, and leading practitioners to deliver excellent outcomes, we would love to hear from you.
About You
You will bring professional expertise, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to improving outcomes for care ‑ experienced young people.
You Will Have
A recognised qualification in social work, education, housing, youth development, or a related field (with registration where applicable).
Strong knowledge of national policy, legislation, and guidance relating to children's social care and leaving care services.
Understanding of trauma, adolescent development, transitions to independence, and evidence ‑ based practice models.
Experience supervising staff or students, with the ability to embed reflective, strengths ‑ based practice.
Experience managing complex cases involving safeguarding, multi ‑ agency work, and risk assessment.
Experience leading projects or supporting service development.
Excellent analytical, report ‑ writing, decision ‑ making, and communication skills.
Ability to use performance data and quality assurance processes to improve practice.
Confidence working with partners across health, housing, education, and voluntary sectors.
Additional Information
You may need to work occasionally outside standard hours.
An enhanced DBS check is required.
You may be required to travel within and outside the borough.
To view the Assistant Team Manager role profile, please click here.
About Us
Croydon Council's priorities
The Council balances its books, listens to residents, and delivers good sustainable services
Get a grip on the finances and make the council financially sustainable
Become a council which listens to, respects and works in partnership with Croydon's diverse communities and businesses
Strengthen collaboration and joint working with partner organisations and the voluntary, community and faith sectors
Ensure good governance is embedded and adopt best practice
Develop our workforce to deliver in a manner that respects the diversity of our communities
Key Business Plan Outcomes
Croydon is a place of opportunity for business, earning and learning
Children and young people in Croydon have the chance to thrive, learn and fulfil their potential
Croydon is a cleaner, safer and healthier place, a borough we're proud to call home
People can lead healthier and independent lives for longer
Croydon Council's new ways of working
Equal Opportunities Statement
Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby staff attend the workplace for part of their working week and work from home, or elsewhere, remotely for the rest of the time.
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.
Croydon council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.
The Successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check, if the role requires one.