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