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Heloise Dove

Profile

After qualifying in 1971 I worked continuously in the children and families field of social work for independent, voluntary and statutory organisations, in residential and fieldwork settings, until 1988, including seventeen years in local authorities, six as a manager. For thirteen of these I was also an Approved Social Worker under the 1983 Mental Health Act. Since 1998 I have worked as a Children’s Guardian and Independent Social Worker. As an ISW I have prepared over 150 expert reports including assessments of risk, of needs, of parents and family members, generally within complex court proceedings. I give evidence in Court on a frequent basis.

Maswood Ahmed

Profile

Experienced PAMS Trained Independent Social Worker throughout England and Wales. Over 30 years Social Care experience, 17 years as Local Authority Social Work Team Manager. International social work experience including assessment, placement and supervision of children. Expertise in Asian, African, Eastern European, Sudanese, Somalian, middle-Eastern culture, language, religion, including Islam and Muslims. Bangladeshi, Sylheti, Bengali, cultural expert. Learning Disability, mental health and complex parenting/risk assessments. Case management and investigation involving Forced Marriage, Black Magic, Domestic Violence, child sexual exploitation, emotional, physical, sexual abuse and neglect. Independent immigration Tribunal reports. Experienced Expert witness. Expertise in Connected Persons, Special Guardianship (SGO) assessments.

Gill Timmis

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.

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.

Barbara Lockhart-Gleeson

Profile

I have been a qualified social worker since 1981 and currently work part time in child mental health services in a national specialist team. I have worked regularly as an independent social worker providing reports to the courts since 2007, and have experience in both public and private law proceedings. I have also provided reports in the Netherlands. I have particular expertise in children with neuro-psychiatric disorders and mothers with mental health difficulties. Occasional availability at short notice in London and South East.

Julia Isikwe Hughes

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.

Lynda Beat

Profile

After qualifying as a social worker in 1983 I have worked as a local authority social worker including in specialist mental health and child protection teams for 9 years. I have worked as a counsellor for the London Rape Crisis Centre, for the Pregnancy Advisory Service and for the NSPCC helpline. I was team manager in a local social services office for 4 years and have worked as a social worker for CAMHS. I have a particular interest in parents who have learning disability, depression and drug and alcohol difficulties. Since 1995 I have worked as a children’s guardian and since 2006 have acted as an independent social work expert providing assessments of carers and looking at contact disputes in private law proceedings.

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.

Patricia Sweeney

Profile

I have been a Senior Social Worker working in Ireland’s largest local Authority where I assisted individuals and families to live independently whilst encouraging safe and secure communities. During this time, I completed a Masters in Mental Health, with a particular focus on forensic mental health and housing (published) and have also undertaken research for the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. I’ve worked with multiple internal and external stakeholders in developing and completing housing assessments for sex offenders. I am currently practicing as a mediator in community mediation. With over 20 years’ experience in social work, I am a member of CORU and the IASW (Irish Association of Social Workers). My current work includes Special Guardianship and Fostering Assessments, Financial Assessments, Supervision and Mentoring and Social Reports for Court.

John Abdullah-Zadeh

Profile

Experienced Independent Social Worker throughout England and Wales. Over 40 years Social Work experience, 21 years Local Authority Social Work &Team Manager. International social work, parenting capacity & kinship assessments. Expertise in cultures, ethnicity, faith, and traditions relating to Asian, African, and European families. Immigration and mental health-related issues. Multilingual