My Story

With over 35 years of experience in social care, 33 as a qualified social worker, I’ve held key leadership positions in the public and private sector across the Northwest of England, specialising in:

• Children in need

• Children looked after and leaving care

• Children at risk of child sexual exploitation

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside remarkable children and adults, achieving "Outstanding" ratings in children’s residential care and field social work. Notably I masterminded Engage, a multi-agency specialist service for preventing children’s exploitation that linked social workers, educators, youth services and the police, and earned an "Exemplar" rating from Ofsted under my leadership, and I served as National Chair for the NWG (National Working Group).

For the past 15 years, I have held senior leadership roles in the private sector, working with international, national, and local providers. My responsibilities have included:

• Family support and edge-of-care services

• Therapeutic services for children

• Overseas social work services for the Armed Forces

I was honoured to lead the multi-agency response supporting those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire and to pioneer innovative approaches such as Social Impact Bonds (SIBs).

My extensive experience across both public and private sectors has equipped me with a deep understanding of social care, fostering meaningful partnerships and trusting relationships. I am committed to leveraging this expertise to drive collective growth and impact.