Assessment practitioner jobs in Edinburgh

The Breaking Barriers Project is a service which works with Children, Young People (CYP) and Families who have been affected by the imprisonment of a parent or close family member. Our service offers one-to-one support to Children and Young People to maintain a connection with the imprisoned parent/loved one (where appropriate), support their emotional wellbeing and build resilience to enable them to reach their full potential. The work we do plays a critical role in helping to reduce reoffending rates and improve outcomes for children and young people.

The role of the post holder is to provide outcome-based support designed to address the needs of children and young people with a parent/carer or close family member in prison who may feel isolated or excluded in their home and community, ensuring that these programmes meet individual needs and further the aims of Ormiston Families.

To carry out initial assessments with parents/carers and partner agencies following referrals to the service and identify and agree individual outcomes for children and young people.

To work one-to-one in the home, schools, online, and other community settings, coordinating packages of support with CYP, with other agencies where appropriate, that meet the complex needs of children and young people, reduce risks, improve safety and work towards emotional well-being and development.

We are looking for an experienced practitioner confident in supporting children, young people and families to join our dynamic, ambitious team. You will need to be organised and self-motivated and have a passion for improving the outcomes for children/young people.

Full-time, permanent position; 35 hours per week

Salary is £25,880 per annum
Based in Essex

You will need to be prepared to travel within the County of Essex to enable you to carry out the direct work with Children, Young People and Families.

You will need to have a UK driving licence and access to a vehicle as travel across the county is required.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Tuesday 30th June 2026

Safeguarding and DBS requirements for your role:

Ormiston Families is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

We are an equal opportunities employer; we value diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

The overall purpose of the role is to provide timely psychosocial assessment, psychoeducation and proactive pre- and post-bereavement support to children, young people and adults, using a range of supportive methods, approaches and techniques consistent with level 2 of the NICE (2004) psychological framework.

The post holder will form part of the On Demand Team and will be responsible for the effective day-to-day operation and delivery of the service (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm) across a range of On Demand digital platforms. The post holder will also complete comprehensive risk assessments with children, young people and adults, and will liaise with relevant external agencies—such as social care, the police and general practitioners—in accordance with organisational safeguarding policies and procedures.

In addition, the role involves conducting regular weekly referral callbacks, using clinical judgement to ensure that each person is supported to access the most appropriate service for their needs at that time. Working alongside the wider bereavement services team, the post holder may also co-facilitate therapeutic group sessions and deliver one-off psychosocial education groups or workshops, extending the reach of bereavement support beyond individual contacts.

Main Responsibilities

 Communication and Relationships

· Build compassionate, trusting and professional relationships with bereaved children, young people and adults, ensuring all contact is person-centered, trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate and sensitive to individual needs and circumstances

· Communicate complex and sometimes distressing information clearly and to supportively, maintaining professional boundaries at all times

· Adapt communication style and approach to suit the needs, preferences, and emotional states of children, young people and adults, including those with neurodiverse profiles or communication difficulties

· Work collaboratively with colleagues across bereavement services, ensuring continuity and consistency of support

· Engage effectively with parents, carers and professionals involved in a child or young person’s care to coordinate holistic support

· Liaise with external agencies – including social care, education, healthcare professionals, police and voluntary sector- to share information appropriately under safeguarding guidance

· Participate in regular clinical supervision to support safe, effective delivery of care

· Contribute to team meetings and service development discussions, offering insight from frontline practice

· Model the values and culture of the organisation in interactions and relationships at work

· Ensure accurate and timely documentation of communications and decisions in line with organisational policies and data protection regulations

Knowledge, training and experience

· Ability to conduct full psychosocial assessments and to lead support interventions with children, young people and/or adults in accordance with best practice

· Ability to complete comprehensive risk assessments and determine appropriate level of response/intervention

· Deliver targeted pre/post bereavement support and interventions utilising a range of supportive therapeutic and psychosocial techniques, working within level 2 of the NICE (2004) psychological framework

· Demonstrate a robust understanding of grief, loss, trauma, child development, and the psychological and social impact of bereavement on children, young people, families and adults

· Apply sound clinical judgment and maintain professional accountability for practice in line with national standards, organisational policies, and personal relevant professional Code of Conduct

· Maintain knowledge about current, evidence-based practice

· To maintain a personal profile of professional development in accordance with professional requirements/governing bodies

· Demonstrate knowledge of all relevant policies and procedures

· Adhere to legislation and statutory guidance related to Safeguarding Children and Young People, Safeguarding Adults, and the Mental Capacity Act, providing advice and guidance to colleagues and partner agencies where appropriate

· Participate actively in clinical supervision to ensure safe, ethical, and effective service delivery

· Contribute to the development and sharing of knowledge within the team by supporting training, mentoring, and peer learning opportunities

Analytical and judgment skills

· Exercise sound professional judgment in assessing the emotional, psychological, and social needs of children, young people, and adults following bereavement and in the delivery of immediate on demand support

· Analyse complex information gathered through assessment, observation, and communication to identify individual needs, risks, and strengths

· Recognise and manage situations that involve ambiguity, uncertainty, or emotional intensity, drawing on supervision and established frameworks for professional support

· Apply a trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate lens to clinical decision-making, ensuring sensitivity to cultural, social, and contextual factors influencing grief

· Assess risk and vulnerability using structured and professional judgement, making timely, evidence-based decisions about appropriate interventions and onward referrals

· Identify when more intensive clinical or safeguarding intervention is needed, escalating concerns to line manager and/or On Demand Shift Manager

· Contribute actively to meetings, clinical supervision, peer supervision, case discussions, and service reviews to plan, coordinate, and evaluate strategies of care and support

· Ensure accurate, timely, and meaningful data recording and reporting to inform clinical practice, service evaluation, and organisational performance monitoring

Planning and organisational skills

· Plan and organise work autonomously while engaging collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers, and partner professionals to support coordinated care and seamless service delivery

· Provide cover and support for bereavement team members during periods of absence or high demand

· Contribute to the planning and delivery of workshops and groups run across bereavement services, as needed

· Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation in accordance with confidentiality, data protection, and statutory requirements

· Demonstrate self-awareness and reflective capacity, using supervision and peer support to sustain personal wellbeing and professional effectiveness

· Contribute to the development of efficient, evidence-based practices by supporting team planning, service evaluation, and continuous improvement initiatives

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

· Relevant health, education, social care or counselling qualification

· Specialist training in bereavement, grief and trauma informed practice

· Evidence of ongoing professional development and commitment to continuous learning

Desirable

· Training in working with children and young people

· Training in working in mental health

Experience

Essential

· At least three year’s recent experience (in the past six years) of working with bereaved children, young people, families or adults on an individual or group basis

· Experience and knowledge of working with and providing services to children, young people, families and adults in a health, social care, youth, community or educational settings

· Experience of providing support to children, young people, and/or adults through digital channels/platforms

· Further professional training in working with children and young people and an understanding of developmental issues

· Demonstrable experience of safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and an ability to practise in a way that promotes this

· Experience of working collaboratively with multi-agency professionals across health, education, and social care

Desirable

· Experience of working within a bereavement, palliative care of mental health setting

Skills and Abilities

Essential

· Demonstrate in-depth understanding of bereavement, grief, loss, trauma, and their psychological and developmental impact on children, young people and families

· Knowledge of current research, theories, national frameworks, and NICE guidance related to bereavement and mental health

· Knowledge of evidence-based approaches to bereavement and trauma support

· Strong assessment, analytical, and formulation skills with the ability to make informed clinical decisions

· Empathetic, compassionate, and youth driven approach

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage sensitively with children, families, and professionals while maintaining professional boundaries at all times

· Awareness of safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures

· Understanding of information governance, confidentiality, and data protection requirements

· Understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion within practice

· Emotional maturity, stability and resilience with a strong commitment to self-care and the ability to seek support and guidance when difficulties arise in the course of work

· Excellent organisational skills

Strong IT skills, including confidence in using multiple IT systems 

Benefits

· 28 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata if applicable) with increase for long service.

· TOIL for our hours work.

· Contributory pension scheme.

· Company sick pay.

· Employee Assistance Programme.

· Life assurance.

· Training loans.

· Enhanced family friendly policies.

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: 6th July 2026 at midnight

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.

Interviews

First Stage Screening Interviews

You may be asked to attend a 10-minute Screening Interview on MS Teams with the Hiring Managers for the vacancy, to assess your suitability for the role. During the interview, you will be asked two skills-based questions.

Second Stage Interviews

If you are progressed to a second stage interview, you will be invited to attend a 1-hour formal interview on MS Teams with the Hiring Managers for the role. It is our policy to share the role-specific interview questions with applicants ahead of the interview, to aid their preparation. You may also be asked to complete an interview task, which will also be shared with you in advance.

Youth Team Forum Discussion

For roles in our Bereavement Services Team, we will invite those applicants selected for interview along to a discussion forum with members of our Youth Team. This session is held remotely and lasts approximately 20 minutes. The discussion topic will be shared with you in advance of the session.