Skip to main content

Search for a social worker

Find a Social Worker using the search facility below: 

Alison Austin

Profile

My early career was spent working at a psychiatric hospital and then as a social worker in a busy London Borough where I was a Fostering and Adoption Officer. I have been a Children’s Guardian since 1984 and more recently I have been writing independent reports as an expert witness in family proceedings. I have also carried out many Home Study Assessments for both Inter-Country and Domestic Adoptions and have experience of guiding applicants through the Court process and preparing Rule 29 Reports.

Savinder Bhogal

Profile

I have considerable experience in children and family work and assessments. I fully understand different cultures within Asian families and have the advantage of speaking the most common languages spoken by these families. Focus of my work is always in the child’s best interest, placement within the family or extended family. I have undertaken assessments of extended families locally and abroad. I can undertake the training of prospective foster/adoption carer and pre – post placement work with children

Naomi Ruben

Profile

Naomi qualified in 2007, after completing the Graduate Training Scheme with Barnet Council. She worked for the Local Authority for a total of 13 years, covering a range of roles from frontline assessments to child protection and children in foster and kinship care. Having focused on Court Proceedings for several years, Naomi became an ISW in 2017. Since that time, she has completed a wide range of assessments, specialising in Parenting Assessments and SGO reports. Naomi also completes Private Law assessments where there are issues around residence and contact. Naomi is trained in completing Parent Assess assessments where there are known or suspected learning difficulties

Tony Macklin

Profile

I have 34 years experience as a qualified Social Worker. I provide Independent Parenting Capacity Assessments and Kinship Assessments in Ireland and the UK. I have provided Guardian ad Litem Assessments to the Family Proceedings Court, Family Care Centre and High Court in Belfast since 1996 and District Court and High Court in Dublin since 2006. I also provide reports for legal proceedings in respect of children/adults abused in care and unaccompanied minors. I have acted as a Practice Teacher for several students and tutored on the Courtroom Skills Module for the Social Work Course at Queens University Belfast.

Niall Rynne

Profile

A qualified, CORU registered and insured Independent Social Worker based in the Rep. of Ireland. Providing professional time sensitive services to Local Authorities and allied professionals in the UK. Working in a systematic, professional and timely manner. Experienced in working with LAs in the placement of children in Ireland from the UK. Services include assessments in Form F, Connected Persons, Special Guardianship, Kinship Care, Parental Assessments, Viability Assessments, Contact Supervision, Court Reports and Expert Witness. Member of the Irish Association of Social Workers IASW, the Teaching Council of Ireland and Council Member in the Rep. of Ireland for Nagalro.

Philippa Hector

Profile

Pippa Hector started Hector Independent Assessments in March 2008 having worked in the statutory sector for over 10 years in Child Protection and Mental Health. She quickly gained a reputation for in-depth assessments and as demand has grown established a small team of Social Workers who offer a comprehensive Parenting and Kinship Assessment service. We have developed a framework for parenting assessments that gives a flexible range from snap shots of parents knowledge to in depth assessments over 12 weeks to analyse not only parental understanding but ability to change patterns of behaviour and promote the needs of their children.

Yvonne Wilson

Profile

I have 27 years social work experience in Children and Families within Child Protection in London and as a Guardian in London and Kent. With my black afro-caribbean background I have acted as a self-employed ISW and Children’s Guardian in public and private law cases for thirteen years. Worked with families where concerns encompass neglect and child protection, substance misuse, domestic violence, mental health and learning difficulties. Undertook ASW training in 1991; have experience of cultural issues, complex assessments where children are rehabilitated to their families and also sibling contact during and post proceedings. Have undertaken Special Guardianship reports, Form F Assessments and Adoption PAR Assessments and worked as a Senior Adoption Social Worker and Supervising Social Worker and IRO.

Judi Lyons

Profile

I have worked as an independent social worker specializing in providing assessments of children and their families, principally involved in Children Act (1989) proceedings since 2004. I have provided reports for local authorities, parents and grandparents in public law proceedings and given evidence in court. I have also conducted parenting assessments in the UK and Europe. Until 2010 I was also a Children’s Guardian, having spent 25 years in this role. I have combined this area of work with being a practice teacher and part-time lecturer in social work. I am a qualified FMA supervisor and work as a family mediator and supervisor in divorce proceedings. I currently train solicitors for the Children Panel.

Surinder Kumari

Profile

I have considerable experience of court processes and have undertaken numerous assessments for the courts on different aspects including Parenting, Friends and Family Assessments, Sibling attachment, Core Assessments, Social Work Assessments, Contact and Risk Assessments. Some of these have been complex pieces of work with families where there have been child deaths/torture, surrogacy and forced marriages. I am trained to undertake Parenting assessments using the PAMS assessment tool parents with learning difficulties and undertaken the teachings. I am passionate about working with families and presenting good quality assessments to assist the decision making process for children and their families.

Robert Forrester

Profile

Born in Jamaica but educated in UK , I am at ease working with clients from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. I have worked in Residential Childrens Homes and after qualifying as SW I joined Hackney Children Services. This inner city experience helped develop strong assessment skills working with communities including Orthodox Jews, Turkish, S. Asians, West African, Eritreans, Caribbean,Irish, White British and Travelling families. I have addressed sexuality and gender issues. Worked for 9 Local Authorities & also Cafcass managing Children's Guardians in the Principal Registry. I was a manager at Windsor & Maidenhead and at Redbridge Children's Trust as a Quality Assurance Officer. A good listener my primary task is to protect vulnerable children.