Family Assessment Practitioner in Epsom

The Assessment Practitioner (Core) plays a central and skilled role within the organization's therapeutic residential family centre. This post holder contributes directly to structured parenting and capacity-to-change assessments, ensuring that assessment activity is consistent, robust, and reflective of the organization's trauma-informed and evidence-based approach. This role requires confident professional judgement, the ability to work with a high degree of autonomy, and responsibility for the safe and effective running of shifts when required.

Assessment Practitioners are expected to understand how daily practice, observation, and recording directly inform formal assessment outcomes and decision-making for families. This role supports the organization's commitment to safeguarding babies, strengthening early attachment, and providing clear, balanced, and defensible assessment evidence to inform multi-agency decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute directly to structured parenting, interaction, and capacity-to-change assessments in line with the organization's assessment framework.
• Undertake in-depth observations of parenting behaviours, emotional attunement, and responses to guidance.
• Support parents therapeutically by balancing empathy, support, and appropriate challenge.
• Contribute to assessment activity that explores patterns of behaviour over time rather than isolated incidents.

Shift Leadership and Operational Responsibility

• Act as shift lead when required, ensuring safe staffing levels, consistent routines, and continuity of care.
• Coordinate daily activities, assessment tasks, and supervised contact arrangements.
• Provide guidance and direction to less experienced staff during shifts.
• Maintain oversight of the emotional and physical safety of the environment.

Safeguarding and Risk Management

• Maintain a high level of awareness of safeguarding responsibilities and thresholds.
• Respond promptly and appropriately to safeguarding concerns, incidents, or emerging risks.
• Ensure safeguarding actions are recorded, escalated, and followed through in line with the organization procedures.
• Support staff in managing risk while maintaining therapeutic engagement.

Recording, Evidence and Quality

• Produce high-quality, analytical written records that clearly evidence observations, analysis, and professional judgement.
• Ensure recording distinguishes fact, observation, and interpretation appropriately.
• Contribute to the quality and consistency of assessment evidence across the service.
• Support junior staff to develop good recording practice through guidance and modelling.

Multi-Disciplinary Working

• Work collaboratively with internal colleagues and external professionals involved in the family's assessment.
• Contribute to professional discussions, meetings, and information sharing under the guidance of senior staff.
• Support the consistent implementation of placement plans and assessment objectives.

Professional Practice and Development

• Engage fully in supervision, reflective practice, and ongoing training.
• Demonstrate accountability for own practice and decision-making.
• Act as a role model for trauma-informed, reflective, and ethical practice.
• Uphold the organization's values, therapeutic ethos, and professional standards at all times.

Policies, Procedures and Professional Conduct

• Adhere to all the organization policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain confidentiality and data protection standards, understanding lawful information sharing in safeguarding contexts.
• Represent the organization professionally and responsibly in all aspects of practice.

Essential Requirements

• Significant experience within residential, assessment-based, or child and family services.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to structured assessments.
• Confident professional judgement and decision-making skills.
• Strong analytical and observational recording ability.
• Sound understanding of trauma-informed practice and safeguarding.
• Emotional resilience and capacity to manage complex situations.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience contributing to court-related assessments or reports.
• Training in reflective, therapeutic, or assessment-based practice.
• Experience acting as shift lead or supporting junior staff.

Additional Information

• This role requires flexibility to work shifts, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.
• Appointments are subject to enhanced DBS clearance and safer recruitment checks.