Providing independent expert social work assessments

Liz is a highly experienced social worker and expert witness primarily covering the Midlands area. Her career of sixteen years has spanned Duty & Assessment, Children in Care, Triage, Safeguarding, Referral & Assessment, Family Support, Court and Support & Protection teams.

Throughout her local authority social work career, Liz completed a breadth of assessments, including Child and Family/Core Assessments; section 7 and 37 reports; Together or Apart sibling assessments; viability assessments; comprehensive kinship assessments; and parenting and risk assessments including capacity to protect and capacity to change.

Liz gained experience in specialist child abuse investigation and is Tier 3 ABE trained, enabling her to conduct video interviews with children in criminal cases.

Liz has experience managing high and complex caseloads of children subject to Child Protection Plans, including those in pre-proceedings or subject to LAC procedures and high-end Child in Need. Her ability to work to tight timeframes and ensure high quality, research-informed, evidence-based outcomes is proven.

She is skilled in engaging children and young people, including those with complex social, emotional, behavioural and communication needs. Liz has extensive experience undertaking direct work with children and young people to determine their wishes and feelings and ensure the specific needs of each child is central to decision making, including care arrangements and contact with parents, siblings and wider family members.

Liz has been in independent practice since 2017 and has developed a strong expertise in working with parents with learning disabilities or learning difficulties.

Liz has an excellent reputation with Local Authorities, Solicitors, Children’s Guardians and members of the Judiciary. She has completed more than 300 expert assessments and is in high demand.