I am an experienced Barrister of over 24 years call. In my current role as the Head of the Safeguarding and Community Services Legal Team for the LB of Southwark, I am responsible for a team of child care and adult social care lawyers, advocates and legal assistants. I provide specialist legal advice to children social care clients and officers and members within the council on children law and education law matters.

 

During my career I have practised at the independent Bar in chambers, central government at Treasury Solicitors and was appointed to an Inquiry. Practice areas included immigration and judicial review, crime and family law and regulatory law in respect of fitness to practise.

 

I enjoy delivering training to legal and social work professionals within the area of child protection and safeguarding with an emphasis on interactive learning and development workshops. I co–ordinated the delivery of training to professionals involved in preparing and presenting care proceedings at the Central Family Courts from 2017–2019 and currently sit on the CFC Family Justice Board Training Sub Committee. In October 2022, I was invited to be a speaker at the Central Family Courts conference, Guildhall, London and presented 'Public Law Reforms – 1 Year on. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. A Local Authority Perspective'.

 

I sit as a Senior Member of the Valuation Tribunal and as a Lawyer on the Independent Review Board for the Labour Party.  I am a Member on Workforce Racial Equality Standards Advisory Board for Social Care.