Personal Information
Qualifications: MBA, MSc, CQSW, DipSW, AASW, PTA, RSW
Services Offered:
Assessments, Chairing, 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, Forced marriages, Immigration and asylum seekers, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health, Pams Assessments, Playtherapy and Sexual abuse issues
Foreign Languages:
Arabic, Bangla, Hindi, Sylheti Bangla and Urdu
Regions available:
East Midlands, Eastern, London, North East, South East, South West, Wales and West Midlands
Location:
London
Email:
maswoodahmed@hotmail.com
Profile
Experienced PAMS & ParentAssess 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.
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: Expert witness certificate (2010), Post Qualifying Child Care Award (2006), Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Social Work – Child Care (2006), PQA Part 1 (2003), Dipsw (2001), Diploma in Higher Education (Social Work) (2001)
Services Offered:
Assessments, Chairing, Complaints, Consultancy, Expert Witness, Teaching / Mentoring and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Autism, Cultural issues, Domestic violence, Immigration and asylum seekers, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health and Sexual abuse issues
Foreign Languages:
English
Regions available:
International, South East, South West, Wales and West Midlands
Location:
Somerset
Email:
Pippa@HectorISW.co.uk
Mobile:
0789 6255180
Telephone:
0789 6255180
Profile
Pippa Hector started Hector Independent Assessments in March 2008 having worked in the statutory sector for over 10 years in Child Protection and Mental Health. She quickly gained a reputation for in-depth assessments and as demand has grown established a small team of Social Workers who offer a comprehensive Parenting and Kinship Assessment service. We have developed a framework for parenting assessments that gives a flexible range from snap shots of parents knowledge to in depth assessments over 12 weeks to analyse not only parental understanding but ability to change patterns of behaviour and promote the needs of their children.
Personal Information
Qualifications: LLB Hons, MA/CWSW, Accredited Social Work, Practice Teacher, Diploma in Counselling, Advanced Award in Social work. MSC in Mental Health social work and Professional doctorate (from the Tavistock clinic); PAMS
Services Offered:
Assessments, Chairing, Complaints, Consultancy, Expert Witness, Teaching / Mentoring and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
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, Playtherapy and Sexual abuse issues
Foreign Languages:
English, Hindi, Mirpuri, Punjabi and Urdu
Regions available:
East Midlands, Eastern, International, London, North West, South East, South West, Wales, West Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber
Location:
London
Email:
drfarooqiassessments@gmx.com
Mobile:
07958 295831
Telephone:
07958 295831
Profile
Dr Rukhsana Farooqi Social Work Consultant/Director of Empowering Black Children and Families LTD a multidisciplinary Team. I have expertise in working with families from Pakistan, India and, Bangladesh and an interest in working with children of dual heritage. Also experience of working in child protection and assessing children and families subject to court proceedings. I have been a Guardian ad Litem for the Leicester, Nottingham, Birmingham and London panels and a part-time Court Welfare Officer for the Middlesex Probation Service. I undertake Independent comprehensive assessments in Public and Private Law Proceedings, immigration, age assessments and work for the Official Solicitor. I have expertise in forced marriage and honour based violence. I have undertaken assessments where there have been issues of radicalisation. I also have expertise in child and adolescent mental health and therapeutic work with young Asian women.
Personal Information
Qualifications: Masters in Social Work, Psychology Degree, VIG Practitioner, L2 & 3 Counselling
Services Offered:
Assessments, Expert Witness and Therapy / Counselling / Direct work
Specialism:
Adoption and Fostering, Alcohol and drug misuse, Allegations of parental alienation, Cultural issues, Domestic violence, Forced marriages, Learning difficulties / Special needs, Mental Health, Pams Assessments and Sexual abuse issues
Regions available:
London, South East and South West
Location:
West Sussex
Email:
paula.pettit@eastsussex.gov.uk
Profile
I am a Social Worker with 19 years’ experience in children’s services. This includes several years at SWIFT Specialist Family Service where I specialised in domestic abuse, attachment and learning disability. I have extensive experience in specialised risk and parenting assessments, special guardianship assessments and providing expert opinion in family courts. I have worked independently since 2021 and been instructed from local authorities, private fostering agencies, and independent social work agencies. I have a particular interest in domestic abuse, non-accidental injuries, attachment and learning disability. Also have some experience of working with different cultures including Afghan and Pakistani.
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.
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: 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
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.