advanced Family practitioner in Epsom

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.