Job Description
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
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