Throughout my career I have worked with children, adolescents and their families, multidisciplinary teams, directors of children’s services, senior local government managers and owners and directors of organisations providing registered services for looked after children.
The focus of my work has firmly remained on ensuring that children in public care are safe and protected. To ensure children receive high quality care and education quality assurance and benchmarking has been at the core of my practice.
My approach is solution focused to achieve positive outcomes. This is beneficial when managing conflict, poor performance and non-compliance. I have considerable experience of working with both teams and individuals.
Between 2002 - 2012 I worked as a social worker responsible for quality assurance on behalf of the Londonwide social care contracting project, London Care Services. In 2012 I commenced managing the project and became responsible for business management, which included the commissioning and purchasing of services for children, as well as managing and overseeing new systems and IT developments and changes.
In 2016 I made the decision to return to more direct working with children and young people and joined Ofsted as an inspector of children's homes and residential/boarding schools. I retired in May 2022 and commenced work as a consultant/coach. I continue to conduct Ofsted inspections as an OI (i.e. on an as and when basis).
My experience in these various sectors has equipped me with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of relevant regulation, legislation and best practice principles.
Qualifications & Registrations
NNEB - Kilburn Polytechnic 1985
Family therapy certificate - 1996
DiPSW/DipHE - Brunel University 2002
Certificate in Management - Middlesex University 2010
Safeguarding/child protection training (Annually past 6 years)
Enhanced DBS (on update service register)
Social Work England (2002 to present)
Equality network champion
I commenced working independently in May 2022 . I am self employed and am appropriately insured. My registration with Social Work England demonstrates my commitment to continual development and learning. I am now working with social care providers to improve their service offer.
I aim to ensure that Looked After Children, cared for by the services I am working with, receive the high quality care they deserve. I assist providers who are new to the sector and require support with understanding the registration process, regulations and contractual expectations.
My reputation within the social care sector is positive because of my child focused, personable approach. I assist providers with making positive changes using the knowledge and experience gained through my varied career.