advanced Family practitioner

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