Owner/Independent Social Worker/Trainer

Dip SW (1995), BA (Hons) in SW (1996), PQ1 (2007)

1060644

Post qualifying I worked initially in various social work settings for 4 years. I then joined the area team as a Social Worker with children and families undertaking child protection, court work and looked after children long term work, including adoption. From 2005 I worked as a Senior Practitioner in the Looked After Children Team for Hertfordshire County Council with an honorarium for extra managerial duties. In 2006 I acted as Team Manager and joined the generic Emergency Duty Team as a Social Worker. I still work for EDT and since August 2007 have been working as an independent social worker through A-Z Social Work Consultancy and Services. I am a member of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

I am bilingual (English/Polish) and can offer translating and interpreting services. I also give social work type advice in my own page of Cooltura (a UK Polish weekly magazine).

Click here to view my Cooltura pages.

Independent Social Worker/Trainer

Diploma SW (1996), Teaching Diploma (1966)

1055794

I have 26 years experience working with children and families, 21 years in the UK and 5 years in Canada.  The last 6 years have been at management level for Hertfordshire County Council including long-term casework, looked after children and duty team. My main areas of expertise are care proceedings, risk assessments and parallel planning. I have also been a practice assessor for the past 8 years, including supervising overseas students. Since August 2007 have been working as an independent social worker through A-Z Social Work Consultancy and Services.

Independent Social Worker/Trainer

Dip SW/Dip HE (1994), PQSW (2007), ASW (2007), Post Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Social Work (2007)

10556363

I have 7 years pre-qualifying social work experience and 13 years post qualifying experience in Child Protection, including care proceedings, child protection investigations (memorandum trained) and as a family placement worker. I worked for 8 years as a practitioner and then became an assistant manager. My other experience includes fostering and adoption and community mental health team. I have also worked for Hertfordshire’s generic Emergency Duty Team for the past 4 years and am currently care coordinator for Early Intervention in Psychosis Team.

I have experience planning and delivering training in mental health and fostering and have written a chapter for the DOH Handbook for Approved Mental Health Practitioners in the UK, ‘Assessing Mothers and Babies’ and ‘Young Carers’ (2008). Since September 2007 have been working as an independent social worker through A-Z Social Work Consultancy and Services.

Catherine Stephens

Independent Social Worker/Trainer

CQSW, MA Social Work, Practice Teacher’s Award, Diploma in Advanced Social Work, Certificate in Supervision and Mentoring Advanced Award

1027356

I have 16 years experience in statutory childcare social work including court work, child protection, looked after children, children in need and planning for permanence.  I also have 7 years experience as a front line manager.

Jacqueline Weight

Independent Social Worker/Trainer

Hertfordshire University Diploma of Higher Education in Applied Social Studies (1995), Hertfordshire University Diploma in Social Work  (1995), Portman and Tavistock Clinic “Child Sexual Abuse Within the Family” (1996-1997)

1058692

I have worked for a local authority in a statutory field team setting, working with children and families for 12 years.  During this time I have covered the full range of statutory duties and responsibilities, including children in need, child protection, court work and looked after children and permanence leading to adoption.  I am an experienced team manager and between March 2002 and September 2007, managed a team of qualified social workers and professional assistants, also providing the full range of statutory services to children and families.  I am very conversant with relevant legislation within this field of work, including an in depth working knowledge of the Children Act 1989, Working Together Guidelines and Adoption and Children Act 2002 along with knowledge of The Human Rights Act, Mental Health Act, Care Leavers Act and Data Protection Act. Since September 2007 have been working as an independent social worker through A-Z Social Work Consultancy and Services.

Kara Lynham

Business Manager

BA (Hons) French (1993), Certificate in Management Studies (2002)

I have 9 years experience working in both the statutory and voluntary sectors. I set up and managed the first Carers Centre to open in Hertfordshire.  My responsibilities included staff and volunteer management, service development and delivery, finance, marketing and producing materials for publication including annual reports (1995-1999). I then took on the lead for primary care development covering Hertfordshire, working with primary care trusts. Since August 2007 have been working as a Business Manager for A-Z Social Work Consultancy and Services.

There are several other registered and fully checked practitioners who are unavailable at present.