Professional experience

I have worked for over 20 years in social care and am a qualified and progressed Social Worker.  I hold professional registration with Social Care England and NACAS.  Through Thrive Divergent, I work as an Independent Social worker and qualified Best Interest Assessor on a self employed basis.  I am based in Chester and have experience in co-ordinating the care and support of disabled and neurodivergent adults and children  in local authorities in both Wales and England. 

I have experience of working in Transition Teams, Adult Learning Disability Teams, Looked After Children's Teams, Child Protection and Supporting Families Teams.  I regularly undertake MCA and DOLS assessments as a qualified Best Interest assessor. I implement the BASW Addendum to the Code of Ethics for Independent Social Workers worker adhering to confidentiality, informed consent and data protection principles.

Lived experience

I have lived experience of supporting neurodivergent family members through transition to young adulthood, in navigating SEN education, EHCP processes and health systems.  I am later-life diagnosed as Autistic and ADHD and   identify and connect with neurodivergent communities.

Training and Education

I have training in low-demand approaches, neurodiversity-affirming practice, sensory integration, communication differences, and safeguarding.  I am trained in safeguarding adults and children and keep up to  date with practice developments.  I obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Social work in 2003 and a Post Graduate Certificate in Management in 1998.  I am a qualified Best Interest Assessor.

I have a Masters degree in Critical Autism Studies (distinction) and am working towards a Doctorate in Professional Health and Social Care studies with Autism as my focus for research.  

Personal

I am mum to a Jack Russell terrier and a not very imaginatively named cat called 'puss'.  I have an allotment and love to grow vegetables and flowers.  I have 13 houseplants and a tiny wildlife pond in an almost equally tiny back yard.  I am a keen runner (although not very fast) and enjoy trips away in my camper van.  I like to ride my bike (I have a carrier on the back for my little dog) and go to the gym.  I enjoy walking, open water swimming, arts and crafts, watching wildlife, foraging for wild-grown foods, watching nature and real life crime documentaries.  I am a compassionate and empathetic human with a strong sense of social justice.