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
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: BSc (Hons) – Psychology: University of Kent – 2008. BA (Hons) – Social Worker: The Open University – 2013. Currently studying a Masters degree at Staffordshire University (not specifically related to Social Work)
Services Offered:
Assessments and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Alcohol and drug misuse, Allegations of parental alienation, Autism and Domestic violence
Other Expertise:
Domestic violence / abuse
Regions available:
East Midlands, Eastern, London, North West, Scotland, South East, South West, West Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber
Location:
Kent, London
Email:
sophielatham121@gmail.com
Profile
I have undertaken a vast number of Section 7 reports and also been appointed as a Children’s Guardian under rule 16.4. I have extensive experience giving evidence in court proceedings. I am committed to delivering the best possible service to children and families, whilst undertaking thorough assessments of risk. I have been directly involved in transfer of residence cases when significant concerns are raised about the inability of one parent to promote the relationship between the child and the other parent. I have experience working with young people with ASD, as I worked in a ASD unit of a school during my Psychology degree.
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.
Personal Information
Qualifications: Doctor of Social Work awarded 2025; Master of Social Work, 2013; BA (Hons) Social Studies, 2011
Services Offered:
Assessments, Consultancy, Expert Witness and Teaching / Mentoring
Specialism:
Alcohol and drug misuse, Allegations of parental alienation, Cultural issues, Domestic violence, Female Genital Mutilation, Forced marriages, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues
Other Expertise:
Child abduction; Wardship, Relocation; International family issues; SW research, supervision
Regions available:
London, South East and South West
Location:
South West
Email:
lhdoyleisw@outlook.com
Profile
Since qualifying over ten years ago, I have gained a range of experience within social work in Ireland, Wales, and England. Alongside my practice, I have conducted research achieving a Doctorate in Social Work. My strengths lie in direct work with children, risk assessment, and decision making. I complete child and family assessments which feature complex factors and international issues. I am confident in raising the voice of children within their proceedings and advising the court on the living arrangements that are in their best interest. Through my employment with Cafcass, I developed expertise in private law family court proceedings, comprehensively analysing family issues under the Child Arrangements Programme and within the High Court. I am also licensed to provide CUBAS parenting assessments focused toward families where Care Proceedings may be necessary. I can be relied upon to provide expert written and oral evidence.
Personal Information
Qualifications: BA. CSW / CQSW
Services Offered:
Assessments
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues
Other Expertise:
Assessments/Reviews of local authority services
Foreign Languages:
English
Regions available:
North West, South West, Wales and West Midlands
Location:
South West
Email:
clare_mowbray@yahoo.co.uk
Mobile:
07771 823 742
Telephone:
07771 823 742
Profile
Clare Mowbray is a self employed Children’s Guardian/Family Court Adviser and Independent practitioner and practice teacher. Clare’s Cafcass work is within Gloucestershire, the independent practice is outside Gloucestershire. Independent work includes assessments in public and private law cases of parents and grandparents etc, assessments of prospective foster cases and file reviews in respect of social services provision. The training of Guardians, social workers and other professionals is carried out through Cafcass and independent assignments. Clare has a particular interest in mental health and adoption issues and markets her own report writing skills course for social workers.
Personal Information
Qualifications: BA, Master of Social Work (MSW), MA Art, MA Psychosocial Studies, PGcert Practice Education
Services Offered:
Assessments, Complaints, Consultancy, Expert Witness, Teaching / Mentoring and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Allegations of parental alienation, Autism, Cultural issues, Domestic violence, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues
Regions available:
East Midlands, Eastern, London, South East, South West and West Midlands
Location:
London
Email:
jeffrey@valuedsocialwork.co.uk
Mobile:
07833710328
Telephone:
07833710328
Profile
I am an Independent Social Worker and Expert Witness with 25 years of experience as a qualified social worker, including more than 10 years in independent practice as an expert witness within the UK family court system and investigating complaints and allegations against professionals. I have worked in Local Authority children’s services, Cafcass, and taught social work in universities. I have extensive experience in private and public law proceedings; Section 7 reports; parenting assessments; risk assessments and adoption work. My written and oral evidence has been positively evaluated in several published Family Court judgments.
Personal Information
Qualifications: DipSW, BA in Social Work
Services Offered:
Assessments, Complaints and Expert Witness
Specialism:
Cultural issues, Mental Health and Pams Assessments
Foreign Languages:
Bengali
Regions available:
London, North West and Yorkshire & Humber
Location:
Manchester
Email:
margarethenry@aol.com
Mobile:
07905 406712
Telephone:
07905 406712
Profile
I specialize in Cultural Assessments for the African Caribbean Community. I am, PAMS trained and will be undertaking Parent Assessments. I have twenty-one years of post qualified experience undertaking child protection investigation and am available to undertake complaints and investigations.
Personal Information
Qualifications: BA(Hons); CQSW;Diploma in Theology;PQAward in SW; Practice Teaching Award in SW; AA in SW; CPE Law
Services Offered:
Assessments, Chairing, Complaints, Consultancy 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:
Pams
Foreign Languages:
English and Punjabi
Regions available:
East Midlands, Eastern, International, Ireland, London, North East, North West, Scotland, South East, Wales, West Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber
Location:
West Midlands
Email:
s.kumari@ind-assessor.co.uk
Mobile:
07395 565288
Telephone:
07792 060031
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.
Personal Information
Qualifications: BSoc Sc; MSW; MSc Mental Health; MII Mediator
Services Offered:
Assessments, Complaints, Consultancy and Teaching / Mentoring
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Cultural issues, Domestic violence, Mental Health, Sexual abuse issues and Traveller / Roma Families
Other Expertise:
Will supervise access visits; Housing assessments for sex offenders
Foreign Languages:
Gaelic
Regions available:
Ireland
Email:
psweeney@swmc.ie
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.