Assistant Team Manager - Attendance and Inclusion

Job Introduction We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all. This full-time, permanent role has a starting salary of £47,142 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week. We are excited to be recruiting an Assistant Team Manager to join our fantastic Surrey Attendance Service Team based at Victoria Gate in Woking. We operate a hybrid model of working; however, our Surrey Attendance Team spend a lot of time in schools and meeting with families. The Assistant Team Manager will be expected to attend the office regularly, 2-3 times per week, to provide support and oversight to the team. Our Offer to You 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave A generous local government salary related pension Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents. About the Role At Surrey Attendance Service, our mission is to improve outcomes for vulnerable learners by supporting regular school attendance, so every child can fulfil their potential. We work closely with families, schools and partner agencies to address barriers to attendance and uphold the statutory responsibilities that protect children’s welfare and education. As an Assistant Team Manager, you will play a key leadership role in delivering this mission. You’ll manage and support a team of Attendance Advice & Intervention Officers, ensuring a high‑quality, legally robust service that balances early support, challenge and enforcement where required. This is a demanding but deeply rewarding role, offering real influence and the chance to shape effective, inclusive practice within a statutory service. Your key responsibilities as an Assistant Team Manager will include: Leading and line managing a team of Attendance Advice & Intervention Officers, ensuring effective casework, professional development and delivery against performance targets Supporting the Attendance and Inclusion Manager in delivering strategic priorities, contributing to service planning, resource management and continuous improvement Fulfilling the Local Authority’s statutory duties relating to school attendance, safeguarding and child welfare, ensuring all work is compliant with relevant legislation and guidance Providing expert oversight and advice on complex cases, including Children Missing Education (CME), permanent exclusions and elective home education (EHE), working confidently with schools and partner agencies Undertaking attendance audits and working collaboratively with schools to develop practical, sustainable strategies and action plans, including delivering training where appropriate Balancing support and enforcement by providing guidance on safeguarding concerns and legal processes, chairing formal meetings and deputising for the Attendance and Inclusion Manager when required. This role will be primarily office‑based, with regular time spent in schools and community settings. You’ll need the confidence to challenge appropriately, communicate clearly with families and professionals, and apply sound judgement to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people. Your Application In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours : Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written as you will need to be comfortable and confident communicating with parents, children and other professionals Relevant experience in this area, including working with parents, children and families, and evidence of recent career development Good knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006, Education Act 1996 and Children Act 1989 & 2004, PACE 1984, Working together to improve Attendance To apply, we request that you submit a CV and answer the following four questions: Please describe a time when you worked collaboratively with professionals from different services (e.g. education, social care, health) to support a child or family. What was your role, and how did you ensure effective partnership working? Please tell us about a situation where you had to communicate a difficult message to a staff member. How did you approach the conversation, and what was the outcome? Please give an example of a complex issue affecting a child or young person that you helped to resolve. What steps did you take to understand the problem, and how did you work towards a solution? How have you used legislation or statutory guidance in your work to support children and families? Please give an example that shows your ability to interpret and apply this knowledge in practice. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 24/05/2026 with interviews planned to follow. Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey. Contact Us Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. Please contact Anika Raithatha by email at mailto:anika.raithatha@surreycc.gov.uk. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council. Our Commitment We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.