My role as an Assistant Team Manager, Leaving Care

Hi, my name is Anne-Maria Brown, and I’ve worked for Buckinghamshire Council for two years and two months. In my role as Assistant Team Manager in the Leaving Care team, I support and supervise staff, build good networks with other professionals and agencies, and develop the team to be the best it can be.

I have had an interesting career journey in social care, and I am an experienced Operational Manager, with experience of working with young people, children and families in various settings, residential, private, and in the voluntary sector. My field of expertise is working with adolescents and care experiences adults, but my special interests currently are working with young people in custody. It is important to me to support the most disadvantaged and marginalised in society.

I am part of a supportive management team who ensure the smooth operation of the service. Our key priorities are ensuring all young people are seen and have good relationships with their Personal Advisors (PAs), that they have an up-to-date pathway plan, understand their entitlements, and are supported to reach their full potential. This is achieved with a drive and passion to promote their goals and aspirations.

In my job I am responsible for providing reflective, analytic supervision to Personal Advisors. I work with PAs and build positive links with other professionals. I also support my supervisees with clear personal developments plans and look at their professional development. My team is fantastic, everyone is open and friendly, and they all want to do well for the young people we are working with. No task is ever too much, and all of our PAs give 110%.

The most positive part of my role is seeing positive outcomes. When young people have had a challenging journey through their early childhood experience, it is good to see them as they transition over to the Leaving Care service and are supported to flourish and develop as adults. Whether that is looking at education, training, or employment opportunities, seeing them settled in their own homes and communities or establishing positive contact with their friends and family — good outcomes are always rewarding.

It is a great time to join us now as we are an established and successful team. We are creative and ambitious, with lots of ideas about how we want to progress further and develop our service. There is a clear ethos and direction in the whole team, and everyone is passionate about providing a quality Leaving Care service.

To anyone thinking of applying to join us as an Assistant Team Manager, Leaving Care, I say go for it! Buckinghamshire Council is an open and honest authority to work for. There are lots of opportunities for learning and development, and any ideas you have for personal and team progression are taken on and embraced. There is a very supportive management structure, plus a nice canteen and free car parking, local shops, and other amenities. There are also opportunities to progress within the organisation.

Find roles with us in social care: https://bit.ly/3KlWqxR