Personal Information
Qualifications: MSc Social Work; DipSW, 1996 BA (Hons)2:1 Social Policy and Administration 1992
Services Offered:
Assessments, Chairing, Complaints, Consultancy, Expert Witness and Teaching / Mentoring
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse and Cultural issues
Foreign Languages:
English
Regions available:
East Midlands, Eastern, International, London, North West and South East
Location:
Thames Valley, London
Email:
fareena@fareenashaheed.com
Mobile:
07740 404645
Telephone:
07740 404645
Profile
I qualified as a Social Worker in 1996 and commenced work in a local authority, undertaking the full range of statutory intervention. After working with an Independent Fostering Provider I joined Cafcass as a Family Court Adviser, then progressing to Service Manager. I later returned to local authority practice in a QA and Practice Development role. As an Independent Practitioner I provide a broad range of high quality assessments. In addition, I have IRO experience, and contributed the OU SW degree course as an Associate Lecturer. I regularly design and deliver training for practitioners. Find out more or contact me at fareena@fareenashaheed.com or http://fareenashaheed.com/
Personal Information
Qualifications: CQSW, Dip SW, Licensed SW (Idaho, USA)
Services Offered:
Assessments and Expert Witness
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Domestic violence, Learning difficulties / Special needs and Pams Assessments
Other Expertise:
British Sign Language and Judaism/Jewish culture (some knowledge)
Regions available:
East Midlands, South West, Wales and West Midlands
Location:
Bristol/South West
Email:
charlesplummeriswp@gmail.com
Profile
I have 35 years’ experience of social work practice with children and families in a variety of settings, encompassing statutory children & families work within local authorities, residential work, family counselling, education, and latterly fostering and adoption. I have held the positions of Senior Practitioner, Practice Supervisor, and Team Manager, and have worked as a Children’s Guardian since 2005.
I can undertake assessment of parents who have additional needs/challenges/vulnerabilities, for example, mental health issues, substance misuse issues and learning disabilities. (Parent Assess trained)
Section 7, Section 37, & Specific Issues Reports
Special Guardianship/Kinship/Connected Carers Reports
Sibling Together & Apart assessments
Personal Information
Qualifications: MA AASW Diploma (Child Protection) CQSW B.Ed, Expert Witness Certificate accredited
Services Offered:
Assessments, Expert Witness, Teaching / Mentoring and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Cultural issues, Domestic violence, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues
Foreign Languages:
English
Regions available:
East Midlands, Eastern, International, London, South East and South West
Location:
South East
Email:
gill_timmis@outlook.com
Mobile:
0771 1948658
Telephone:
0771 1948658
Profile
I am an independent social worker with over 25 years experience of children and families social work. My expertise is in the following areas: independent parenting and risk assessments; assessments of prospective adopters and kinship assessments; representation of children as CAFCASS Children’s Guardian and in private law disputes concerning contact, residence and removal from the jurisdiction, appointed by the National Youth Advocacy Service. I have trained social workers and CAFCASS practitioners in child care legislation and practice, adoption and children’s rights and participation. I have published research and professional articles. I have worked in Bulgaria and Ethiopia running workshops in child care practice and legislation. I have knowledge of practice and have social work and legal contacts in Bulgaria and Ethiopia to enable me to provide advice in relation to international cases.
Personal Information
Qualifications: Expert witness certificate (2010), Post Qualifying Child Care Award (2006), Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Social Work – Child Care (2006), PQA Part 1 (2003), Dipsw (2001), Diploma in Higher Education (Social Work) (2001)
Services Offered:
Assessments, Chairing, Complaints, Consultancy, Expert Witness, Teaching / Mentoring and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Autism, Cultural issues, Domestic violence, Immigration and asylum seekers, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues
Foreign Languages:
English
Regions available:
International, South East, South West, Wales and West Midlands
Location:
Somerset
Email:
Pippa@HectorISW.co.uk
Mobile:
0789 6255180
Telephone:
0789 6255180
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.
Personal Information
Qualifications: MA.BA.CQSW. FETC 730, Dip.Child Protection, Dip.French, FMA supervisor
Services Offered:
Assessments, Complaints, Consultancy, Expert Witness, Other, Teaching / Mentoring and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health, Playtherapy and Sexual abuse issues
Other Expertise:
Mediation
Foreign Languages:
English, French, Hebrew and Spanish
Regions available:
London, South East, South West and West Midlands
Location:
Thames Valley and London
Email:
judi.lyons@ntlworld.com
Mobile:
07710 038106
Telephone:
07710 038106
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.
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: MSC Social Work Studies and Diploma in Social Work
Services Offered:
Assessments, Consultancy, Expert Witness, Teaching / Mentoring and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Allegations of parental alienation, Domestic violence, Female Genital Mutilation, Forced marriages, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues
Regions available:
London and South East
Location:
London
Email:
angelaadams99@icloud.com
Profile
I am an Independent Social Worker and expert witness with over 30 years’ post-qualifying experience in Cafcass, the Probation Service, and independent practice. I specialise in family law proceedings, safeguarding, and domestic abuse, with extensive High Court and international expertise. My background includes adoption, fostering, Special Guardianship, and complex risk assessments. A former Service Manager and High Court Team member with Cafcass, I bring nationally recognised expertise, including award-winning work with children and families. I provide clear, evidence-based assessments and oral evidence, underpinned by a relational, trauma-informed approach that ensures children’s voices and safety remain central.
Personal Information
Qualifications: BSc (Hons), MSc in SW, CQSW, Practice Teaching Award
Services Offered:
Assessments, Chairing, Complaints, Consultancy and Expert Witness
Specialism:
Alcohol and drug misuse, Allegations of parental alienation, Domestic violence, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health, Online abuse and Grooming and Sexual abuse issues
Foreign Languages:
English
Regions available:
International, London and South East
Location:
Surrey
Email:
resolvesocialwork@gmail.com
Mobile:
07504 163211
Telephone:
07504 163211
Profile
I am an Independent Social Worker and Social Work Consultant with nearly 30 years experience of practice and management in social care services, primarily in local authority child protection work. I have worked in various teams - assessment, care planning and court work included - and dealt with a wide range of risk issues for children. I began working independently in 2016. I have well developed assessment, care planning, supervisory and report writing skills. My interests are in improving the effectiveness and quality of services and ensuring good assessment, planning and long-term outcomes for children and families.
Personal Information
Qualifications: BA Hons in Applied Social Studies; CQSW & DIPSW
Services Offered:
Assessments, Chairing and Consultancy
Specialism:
Alcohol and drug misuse, Allegations of parental alienation, Cultural issues, Domestic violence, Immigration and asylum seekers and Sexual abuse issues
Other Expertise:
Contact supervision
Foreign Languages:
English
Regions available:
East Midlands, Eastern, International, London, South East, South West, Wales and West Midlands
Location:
South East London
Email:
rhf36@yahoo.com
Mobile:
07931 581279
Telephone:
07931 581279
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. I am interested and have undertaken training in so-called parental alienation. A good listener my primary task is to protect vulnerable children.
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.