Independent Social Work Assessments
Offering independent, high-quality assessments grounded in empathy, clarity, and professional integrity.
About This Service
​
Drawing on over 18 years of experience within adoption, fostering, and permanence, I provide a range of independent social work assessments for local authorities, fostering agencies, and regional adoption agencies.
All assessments are undertaken with sensitivity, thoroughness, and a strong understanding of the complex emotional and relational needs involved in permanency planning.
My aim is to provide balanced, evidence-based assessments that reflect both professional rigour and respect for the individual’s story.
Assessment Services Include
•Form F Foster Carer Assessments Comprehensive assessments of prospective foster carers, exploring capacity to meet children’s needs within a safe and nurturing environment.
•Adoption Assessments & PARs Assessments of prospective adopters, focusing on motivation, attachment understanding, and emotional readiness for adoptive parenting.
​
•Connected Persons / SGO Assessments Evaluating family and kinship carers to ensure safe, stable, and supportive placements for children.
​
•Foster Carer Reviews Annual or interim reviews offering reflective, balanced summaries of carers’ strengths, development, and ongoing suitability.
​
• Specialist Reports or Brief Assessments Including matching reports, update assessments, or addendums for panel or court.
Approach and Values
My assessment practice is:
•Relationship-Based: Building trust and collaboration with applicants and professionals.
•Trauma-Informed: Understanding how past experiences shape present capacity and relationships.
•Reflective and Balanced: Providing analysis that is thoughtful, evidence-led, and grounded in empathy.
•Professional and Transparent: Ensuring clarity of process, fairness, and compliance with regulatory standards.
I understand that assessment processes can feel intrusive or daunting; my role is to make them as respectful, transparent, and supportive as possible while maintaining clear professional boundaries.
Professional Background
I am a Registered Social Worker with extensive experience across statutory and independent sectors, including:
•Team Manager within an Adoption Support Team.
•Social worker and manager in fostering and adoption assessment and support.
•Independent Panel Member for fostering and adoption panels.
This breadth of experience enables me to bring balanced insight and a strong safeguarding focus to every assessment I undertake.
Practical Details
​
•Availability: Commissioned by local authorities, agencies, or private clients.
•Location: Based in Hampshire with flexibility to travel; remote assessments and interviews available nationwide.
•Fees: Provided upon enquiry, depending on assessment type and scope.
•Compliance: All work undertaken in accordance with regulatory frameworks and agency standards.