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Niall Rynne

Personal Information

Qualifications: Bachelor Social Work BSW University College Cork; Masters in Social Policy MSocSc UCC Cork

Services Offered: Assessments, Consultancy, Expert Witness, Other and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work

Specialism: Adoption and Fostering, Age Assessments, Allegations of parental alienation, Autism, EHCP (SEN) and Learning difficulties / Special needs

Other Expertise: Tailored professional supports in all areas of Child Welfare and well-being

Regions available: International and Ireland

Location: Ireland

Email: niall@iswc.ie

Profile

As a professional Independent Social Work Consultant based in the Republic of Ireland, I offer qualified, registered, and insured services tailored to meet the needs of UK local authorities and allied professionals. With extensive experience in the placement of children from the UK to Ireland and across the EU, I provide a comprehensive range of assessments, including Connected Persons, Special Guardianship, Kinship Care, Parental and Viability Assessments. Additional services include Contact Supervision, Placement Monitoring, Court Reports, and Expert Witness services. Credentials & Memberships: • CORU Registered No. SW0006566 • Insured by Nagalro UK • IASW Member No. 5168 • NISCC Registered No. 7038894 • BASW Associate Member No. 158792 • Director of Nagalro UK • Member of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) I deliver evidence-based, child-centered assessments and reports, specifically designed to address the unique requirements of instructing Children’s Services Departments across the UK. My expertise includes international placements, legal frameworks, and post-placement support, such as home visits, contact supervision, and caregiver support. By fostering collaboration, engagement, and effective communication, I aim to achieve high-quality outcomes for children and families. For local expertise and professional Independent Social Work services in the Republic of Ireland, please contact niall@iswc.ie. Phone 00-353-(0)-87-719-8481 www.iswc.ie

Angella Wells

Personal Information

Qualifications: PGC Health & Social Care Mngment; Practice Teacher's Award; DipSW; BA(hons) Criminal Justice Studies; LOCF Access to SW

Services Offered: Assessments, Chairing, Consultancy, Expert Witness and Teaching / Mentoring

Specialism: Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Cultural issues, Domestic violence, Immigration and asylum seekers, Mental Health, Pams Assessments and Sexual abuse issues

Foreign Languages: English

Regions available: East Midlands, Eastern, London and South East

Location: London

Email: angellawells2@gmail.com

Mobile: 07432 081 927

Telephone: 07432 081 927

Profile

I am involved in all aspects of court related family work, undertaking safeguarding/parenting assessments, report writing, delivering training and case file auditing. I am competent in PAMs assessments and have an interest in evidence-based intervention models of assessment/teaching such as Triple P parenting and various strengthening families’ models. I have previously worked as a Child’s Guardian/IRO advocating and supporting children and young people. More recently I have been involved in strategic management with oversight of a range of quality assurance functions, including policies/procedures, performance management, inspection preparation, contextual safeguarding of vulnerable adolescents and serious case review learning.

Julia Isikwe Hughes

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.

Gill Timmis

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.

John Abdullah-Zadeh

Personal Information

Qualifications: DipSW, BSc, CQSW, MSc

Services Offered: Assessments and Expert Witness

Specialism: Adoption and Fostering, Cultural issues, Female Genital Mutilation and Immigration and asylum seekers

Other Expertise: Middle and Far Eastern, Mediterranean and all islamic traditions

Foreign Languages: Arabic, Bangla, English, French, Hindi, Italian, Mirpuri, Punjabi, Spanish and Urdu

Regions available: East Midlands, Eastern, International, Ireland, London, North West, Scotland, South East, South West, Wales, West Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber

Location: UK

Email: abdullah_zadeh@hotmail.com

Mobile: 07860 574063

Telephone: 07860 574063

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

Carole Littlechild

Personal Information

Qualifications: CQSW 1976; NVQ5 Manageme4nt 2005

Services Offered: Assessments, Chairing, Complaints, Consultancy, Expert Witness, Other and Teaching / Mentoring

Specialism: Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Domestic violence, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues

Foreign Languages: English

Regions available: East Midlands, Eastern, London, South East and West Midlands

Location: Hertfordshire

Email: carolelittlechild@yahoo.co.uk

Mobile: 07976 529604

Telephone: 07976 529604

Profile

Whilst working with families to develop & maintain parenting skills, understand traumas associated with neglect & abuse, disrupted care through to alternative permanent parenting - understanding & representing children’s needs throughout has been my focus, as a social worker & manager in front line & adoption, in Court reports, as family mediator, as Children’s Guardian & Adoption Panel Advisor. Latterly I have specialised in developing my understanding of trauma and attachment needs in children. I have over 30 years of providing consultancy, practice supervision & training. I have extensive experience in all matters relating to adoption in England & Wales.

Tony Macklin

Personal Information

Qualifications: Bsc(Hons) Sociology, PG Diploma in SW, Teaching

Services Offered: Assessments, Expert Witness and Teaching / Mentoring

Specialism: Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Allegations of parental alienation, Autism, Immigration and asylum seekers, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues

Other Expertise: Northern Ireland Practice Teacher Award

Regions available: Ireland

Location: Belfast

Email: t.maclan@outlook.com

Profile

I have 34 years experience as a qualified Social Worker. I provide Independent Parenting Capacity Assessments and Kinship Assessments in Ireland and the UK. I have provided Guardian ad Litem Assessments to the Family Proceedings Court, Family Care Centre and High Court in Belfast since 1996 and District Court and High Court in Dublin since 2006. I also provide reports for legal proceedings in respect of children/adults abused in care and unaccompanied minors. I have acted as a Practice Teacher for several students and tutored on the Courtroom Skills Module for the Social Work Course at Queens University Belfast.

Alison Austin

Personal Information

Qualifications: BSc Sociology, CQSW

Services Offered: Assessments, Chairing and Expert Witness

Specialism: Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse and Mental Health

Foreign Languages: English, French and Italian

Regions available: Eastern, International, London and South East

Location: Surrey

Email: alison_austin_woodman@yahoo.co.uk

Profile

My early career was spent working at a psychiatric hospital and then as a social worker in a busy London Borough where I was a Fostering and Adoption Officer. I have been a Children’s Guardian since 1984 and more recently I have been writing independent reports as an expert witness in family proceedings. I have also carried out many Home Study Assessments for both Inter-Country and Domestic Adoptions and have experience of guiding applicants through the Court process and preparing Rule 29 Reports.

Marie-Louise Perkins

Personal Information

Qualifications: DipSw; BA (Hons) Community Care Management

Services Offered: Assessments and Consultancy

Specialism: Alcohol and drug misuse, Domestic violence, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues

Other Expertise: Training

Foreign Languages: English

Regions available: East Midlands, Eastern and International

Location: South East

Email: mpassessmentsltd@gmail.com

Mobile: 07714 706972

Telephone: 07714 706972

Profile

Qualified for 14 years, with 12 years frontline child protection and Court proceedings work including Team Manager roles in a Local Authority. Most recently I have been the PLO manager whilst providing staff training around court proceedings and involved in several High Court cases. I have completed Fostering assessments (Form F and reg 24) sibling assessments, parenting assessments (including for parents with addition, domestic abuse and mental health concerns), viability assessments for connected persons as well as working as a Cafcass Associate particularly in private law proceedings (Section 7 reports).

Maxine Harris

Personal Information

Qualifications: Diploma in Social Work, Diploma in Health and Social Welfare, Diploma in Applied Social Sciences, Diploma in Higher Education, Bachelor of Science Honours degree, Postgraduate Diploma in Childcare Law and Practice

Services Offered: Assessments, Chairing, Consultancy and Expert Witness

Specialism: Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Cultural issues, Domestic violence, Immigration and asylum seekers, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues

Foreign Languages: English

Regions available: East Midlands, North West and West Midlands

Location: West Midlands

Email: maxih7@virginmedia.com

Mobile: 07956 502477

Telephone: 07956 502477

Profile

After qualifying as a social worker in 1998 I worked in a local authority children and families team mainly in child protection. I commenced independent work in 2003 working initially as a Childrens’ Guardian representing children in public law proceedings. I presently do independent work with local authorities and private fostering agencies. I have prepared numerous reports for court and have acted as an expert witness in family proceedings. I have knowledge of the Islamic culture, dual and mixed heritage families, lesbian and gay partnerships, family assessments, sibling relationships and family contacts. I have chaired child protection and family group conferences and fostering panels.