Advanced Family Practitioner Salary: £36,000 per annum Service: Residential Family Assessment Centre (Banstead) Reports to: Lead Practitioner / Deputy Manager Role Purpose The Advanced Practitioner is a senior, specialist role within the organisations therapeutic residential family centre, with a primary focus on maintaining the quality, consistency, and integrity of assessment and therapeutic practice across the service. The post holder provides expert practice leadership, leads specialist therapeutic or assessment-based sessions, and plays a key role in reviewing and strengthening assessment evidence. Advanced Practitioners support senior leaders by ensuring that practice is evidence-based, ethically sound, and aligned with the organisations therapeutic ethos and statutory requirements. This role requires a high level of professional judgement, advanced analytical skills, and the ability to influence practice across the team through modelling, coaching, and quality assurance. Key Responsibilities Specialist Practice and Therapeutic Leadership Lead specialist therapeutic and assessment-based sessions that support parenting capacity, emotional regulation, and capacity to change Provide expert guidance to staff on complex cases involving trauma, attachment difficulties, or entrenched patterns of behaviour Model advanced trauma-informed, reflective, and ethical practice in all interactions Support parents through emotionally complex assessment processes while maintaining professional boundaries Assessment Quality and Evidence Review Review, analyse, and quality-check assessment evidence, observations, and records produced by the team Ensure assessment documentation is balanced, robust, and defensible, clearly evidencing patterns over time Support consistency in assessment practice across shifts and staff teams Contribute to the refinement and development of the organisations assessment tools and frameworks Safeguarding and Risk Oversight Provide advanced safeguarding oversight and professional consultation on complex or high-risk cases Support senior decision-making during safeguarding incidents or escalation processes Ensure safeguarding practice remains child-focused, proportionate, and well-evidenced Coaching, Mentoring and Practice Development Provide coaching and mentoring to Senior Practitioners and Assessment Practitioners Support staff to develop analytical thinking, professional curiosity, and reflective practice Contribute to staff training and development activities Identify practice themes, learning needs, and development opportunities within the service Governance, Quality Assurance and Service Development Support senior leaders with audits, quality assurance activity, and service reviews Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying strengths, risks, and learning from practice Support the implementation of service improvements in line with regulatory expectations Assist with preparation for inspection and regulatory scrutiny Multi-Disciplinary and Professional Working Communicate effectively with external professionals as required, under the guidance of management Contribute to professional meetings and discussions relating to assessment and safeguarding outcomes Support effective information sharing in line with statutory guidance and the organisations policies Professional Standards and Conduct Adhere to all the organisations policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements Maintain high standards of professional conduct, confidentiality, and ethical practice Uphold and promote the organisations values, therapeutic ethos, and professional standards at all times Essential Requirements Extensive experience within residential, assessment-based, or child and family services Advanced analytical and evaluative skills High-level written communication skills, including assessment evidence review Strong professional judgement and decision-making capability Advanced understanding of trauma-informed practice, attachment, and safeguarding Ability to influence and improve practice across a team Desirable Requirements Experience contributing to court-related assessments or formal reports Experience supporting management or governance functions Advanced training in therapeutic or reflective practice Additional Information This role requires flexibility to work shifts, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS clearance and safer recruitment checks Ongoing professional development and advanced training are integral to this role