Hi Becky. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? How long have you been a social worker for?
I qualified as a Social Worker in 1996 with a Diploma and Masters in Social Work. I have been awarded the Post Qualifying Child Care Award and Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Social Work (Child Care) in 2006. From 2005, I have been working as a Senior Practitioner for Bristol Children and Young Peoples Service and since 2007; I have been working as a Senior Practitioner in the Children in Care Service. I have 15 years’ experience as a social worker within Children and Families Community Teams, Children with Disabilities and Residential Social Work and for 9 months in 2010 as an Acting Team Manager in Children in Care Service.
I have experience of contributing to practice and policy development by delivering good practice training regarding working with children in care to Newly Qualified Social Workers. I am able to initiate, supervise, support and ensure the development of the staff group I have produced practice guidance for completing quality reports to LAC Reviews and Care Plans. Additionally, I have developed a system to support the administration and good practice around LAC Reviews and Personal Education Plan Meetings for Children in Care. I understand the requirement of performance management indicators to monitor and maintain the quality of good practice.
On a personal level, I have a child with Autism and I work as a trainer for the National Autistic Society. I am also a private foster carer for my niece. As a parent, I understand the needs of caring for a child with a disability and caring for someone else’s child with the same aspirations that you have for your own child.
Why did you want to join the Social Work Practice? Do you have any particular areas of interest in terms of the services provided to children and young people in care?
In the Social Work Practice, I am keen to use my skills and interests to devise and deliver training and to further develop systems to support social workers to be able to spend more time with children and promote positive outcomes.
