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I
am a freelance social work consultant and trainer whose career
spans some 30 years in children and family work, and in
particular in the area of fostering and adoption.
I
bring to my work a wealth of experience in both field and
residential social work, including some 17 years in managerial
posts.
I
have worked in the statutory, voluntary and independent
sectors in the North West of England and as a freelance
trainer throughout this country,
Northern Ireland,
Jersey,
New Zealand
and the USA
.
My
most recent post involved the development and management of an
independent fostering agency. I am fully conversant with the
statutory requirements; the national minimum standards for
fostering services and the training required for carers and
staff.
I
have also worked extensively in adoption services and have a
deep commitment to the training and support of adopters and to
the pre and post adoption support of the children placed with
them.
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All
of my training programmes are developed with equal
opportunity in mind and within an ethos
of anti discriminatory and anti sectarian practice.
They
are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that current
legislation and research is taken into account in their
presentation.
As
a manager I have formalised and developed multi agency
training programmes with a focus upon supporting foster
carers to ensure that children in the Looked After
system are safe and protected. Foster Carers have also
been provided with the necessary skills to assist in the
task of providing a therapeutic and healing environment
for the child.
I
am also involved on a part time basis as a director and
manager of a new company named Turning Point, an
assessment, counselling and therapy service for children
and young people, whose fully qualified staff have
particular skills and experience in working with
children in the Looked After system and in pre and post
adoption situations.
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