Personal Information
Qualifications: B.Soc., University College Cork (2006), M.A. Counselling & Psychotherapy (Munster Technological University) (2022), B.A. Counselling & Psychotherapy (Munster Technological University) (2020), Professional Diplomas: Leadership & Management; Project Ma
Services Offered:
Assessments, Consultancy, Expert Witness, Other and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Age Assessments, Alcohol and drug misuse, Autism, Domestic violence, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health, Online abuse and Grooming and Sexual abuse issues
Other Expertise:
Clinical supervision; Irish mental health, education and child protection systems (HSE/Tusla) - in depth knowledge
Foreign Languages:
Gaelic
Regions available:
Ireland
Location:
Ireland, remote / virtual assessments nationwide; onsite primarily Munster, travel elsewhere by agreement
Email:
eibhlinmcn@gmail.com
Mobile:
0863822263
Telephone:
0863822263
Profile
Independent Social Worker providing court-directed, evidence-based assessments and expert witness reports. I specialise in Section 47 assessments under the Child Care Act 1991 and Section 32(1)(a) and 32(1)(b) child-focused reports for private law proceedings. My work covers parenting capacity, attachment and sibling relationships, children’s needs, contact and risk. Experienced in interviewing children and adults, analysing complex safeguarding information and giving oral evidence. I deliver clear, timely reports with trauma‑informed practice and strong multi‑agency collaboration.
Personal Information
Qualifications: BSc Psychology, MA Social Work, Parent Assess Trained
Services Offered:
Assessments and Expert Witness
Specialism:
Alcohol and drug misuse, Allegations of parental alienation, Autism, Domestic violence, Learning difficulties / Special needs and Mental Health
Other Expertise:
Orthodox and secular Judaism - indepth knowledge; Parent Assess Assessments
Foreign Languages:
English
Regions available:
London
Location:
London
Email:
naomi@naomiruben.co.uk
Mobile:
07968 593720
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
Personal Information
Qualifications: B SS CQSW Mediator (MFI)
Services Offered:
Assessments, Complaints, Consultancy and Teaching / Mentoring
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering and Immigration and asylum seekers
Foreign Languages:
English
Regions available:
Ireland
Location:
Ireland
Email:
irishsocialwork@pm.me
Profile
I provide an Assessment Service specialising in Form F, Special Guardianship, Kinship Care, & Art 56 (EU Regs) in relation to the placement of children in Ireland from the UK and other EU jurisdictions. I also provide risk assessment and follow up support and supervision where required. My agency Social Work Solutions Ireland is approved for the purposes of obtaining Garda (Irish Police) Vetting. Irish state registered social worker (www.coru.ie) (Reg. No. 005439) and member Irish Assoc of Social Workers (IASW).
Personal Information
Qualifications: B.Soc Science; Post grad diploma in Applied Social Studies; CQSW; Family Therapy training; PAMS training
Services Offered:
Assessments, Consultancy, Expert Witness and Teaching / Mentoring
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Autism, Cultural issues, Domestic violence, Forced marriages, Immigration and asylum seekers, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues
Other Expertise:
Private law assessments involving contact and residence as well as leave to remove from the jurisdiction. Public law-parenting assessments. I specialise in mental health issues, Learning difficulties / Special needs
Foreign Languages:
English, French and Spanish
Regions available:
International, London and South East
Location:
London
Email:
Ware126@btinternet.com
Mobile:
07768 355704
Telephone:
07768 355704
Profile
I qualified in 1976. I worked in a local authority and as senior psychiatric social worker, in Child and Family and Psychiatry. I am a Children’s Guardian and caseworker for NYAS. I have been an independent social worker for the past 21 years specialising as an expert witness in private law and public law assessments in Children Act proceedings. I undertake independent social work assessments of families in private law matters involving residence and contact as well as leave to remove from the jurisdiction or internal relocation. I have assessed parents and families in public law. I have travelled extensively all over the world for assessments in both public and private law. I have family therapy and PAMs training.
Personal Information
Qualifications: Certificate Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Post Graduate Diploma in social work, CQSW, Advanced Award in Social Work, CCETSW Practice Teaching Award, Post Graduate Diploma Advanced Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice
Services Offered:
Assessments, Teaching / Mentoring and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Autism, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Playtherapy and Sexual abuse issues
Foreign Languages:
German
Regions available:
East Midlands, Eastern, London, South East and South West
Location:
South West London
Email:
julia_hughes_gal@hotmail.com
Mobile:
07770 347660
Telephone:
07770 347660
Profile
I am black of Afro-European heritage. I have worked as a Children and Families social worker for the London Borough of Ealing and Staffordshire social service departments. Between 1995 - 2020 I have worked as a Children’s Guardian. I undertake independent Social Work Parenting Assessments, Special Guardianship assessments and Fostering assessments and therapeutic life story work with children who are experiencing trauma as a result of abuse or parental disputes. My specialisms are: West African Culture, Race and Identity. I also undertake International assessments in Germany and Nigeria. I am an integrative psychotherapist and have a small private practice where I work with adults and young people. www.JIH-Counselling.co.uk.
Personal Information
Qualifications: Masters in Social Work, Psychology Degree, VIG Practitioner, L2 & 3 Counselling
Services Offered:
Assessments, Expert Witness and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Allegations of parental alienation, Cultural issues, Domestic violence, Forced marriages, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health, Pams Assessments and Sexual abuse issues
Regions available:
London, South East and South West
Location:
West Sussex
Email:
paula.pettit@eastsussex.gov.uk
Profile
I am a Social Worker with 19 years’ experience in children’s services. This includes several years at SWIFT Specialist Family Service where I specialised in domestic abuse, attachment and learning disability. I have extensive experience in specialised risk and parenting assessments, special guardianship assessments and providing expert opinion in family courts. I have worked independently since 2021 and been instructed from local authorities, private fostering agencies, and independent social work agencies. I have a particular interest in domestic abuse, non-accidental injuries, attachment and learning disability. Also have some experience of working with different cultures including Afghan and Pakistani.
Personal Information
Qualifications: Diploma in Social Work, BA(hons) Child and Adolescent Studies, PQ1
Services Offered:
Assessments, Chairing, Complaints, Consultancy, Expert Witness, Teaching / Mentoring and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Domestic violence, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues
Foreign Languages:
English
Regions available:
South East and South West
Location:
South East, Kent
Email:
nicci.levy@avocetisw.co.uk
Mobile:
7818415633
Telephone:
7818415633
Profile
My background is in residential social care settings, working with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and then I went on to specialise in child protection; working in local authorities as a Social Worker, Deputy Manager and Independent Reviewing Officer. Practising as an ISW since 2006 I undertake assessments for the Court in public and private law proceedings including PAMS Assessments. I carry out the role of Investigating Officer and Independent Person in the Stage Two complaint process as well as Stage Three Review Panel Member and I chair Foster Carer Annual Reviews of Approval. CV available on request.
Personal Information
Services Offered:
Assessments, Consultancy, Expert Witness, Teaching / Mentoring and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Allegations of parental alienation, Domestic violence, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health, Playtherapy and Sexual abuse issues
Other Expertise:
Specialist Systemic Family Therapy Programme
Foreign Languages:
English
Regions available:
Ireland, London, Scotland, South East, South West and Wales
Location:
Surrey and Devon
Email:
trishbarryrelph@icloud.com
Profile
I am Founder and Director of Co-Parenting Matters Ltd. trishbarryrelph.com I have extensive experience as an expert in the preparation of reports for Court in Public and Private Law Proceedings where there is a resist – refuse dynamic or contact difficulties with children of separated parents. I have a private clinical practice as a Specialist Systemic Family Therapist in Guildford, Surrey and in Totnes, Devon. I offer bespoke and tailored high conflict therapeutic interventions, and therapeutic viability assessments as a SJE. I am a registered social worker with 38 years’ experience in child protection, adult mental health, (warranted under 1983 MHA) with 20 years’ experience as a clinician in child and adolescent mental health CAMHS. I am a legally registered social worker with CORU in Ireland and am available to work within this jurisdiction.
Personal Information
Qualifications: CQSW, Advanced risk assessment training - DVIP (Domestic Violence Intervention Project)
Services Offered:
Expert Witness and Teaching / Mentoring
Specialism:
Domestic violence
Other Expertise:
Knowledge of Judaism
Regions available:
London
Location:
Greater London
Email:
sewvive@gmail.com
Profile
Qualifying in 1994, I worked for Cafcass in private & public law for 12 years & as a Probation Officer. My Local Authority experience is in Early Help & Children’s Social Care where I held a specialist domestic abuse post for 7 years. I have worked independently since 2021 as a NYAS caseworker in Rule 16.4 Guardian proceedings, as a Section 7 report expert witness in family court proceedings & providing coercive control consultancy & training. I also take direct instructions from parents as a McKenzie Friend in family court proceedings. I was awarded the Certificate in Chairing a Domestic Homicide Review in November 2025.