Our Team

We are experts in safeguarding children and young people. Between us we have over 130 years experience of work with children and young people and their families.

Our Qualifications include:

• Social work
• Early Years (Foundation Degree, Level ¾ training)
• Postgraduate degree in Systematic Psychotherapy
• Diploma Youth Work
• MA in Social Policy & Public Administration

About Catherine Rushforth

Catherine has a strong commitment to working in true partnership with individuals and organisations to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families. She has a passion for ‘growing on’ professional competence and confidence to achieve excellence, whilst also supporting the development of honest, accessible and ethical practice with families.

Catherine is a qualified Early Years Practitioner, Social Worker and Systemic Family Therapist. She is known as a dynamic innovator in the Childrens’ Services professional training and mentoring environment, widely respected for her obvious commitment and belief in what she is doing. Catherine’s credibility is enhanced by her continued involvement in professional practice, undertaking assessment and therapeutic work with families on a regular basis. Her capacity to bridge the space between theory and practice regularly inspires both Managers and Practitioners to ‘step up to the plate’ in taking their safeguarding responsibilities seriously.

Over the last 15 years Catherine has developed training and support programmes covering the spectrum of needs in the pre-birth - 19 age range . Her team of expert associates share both her vision and the delivery of services. Catherine has shaped a philosophy whilst building a reputation of exceptional quality and integrity.

She is involved at leadership level, supporting managers whilst also ensuring quality control by delivering training programmes and continuing to shadow and mentor associates herself.

On a national level she has:

• Contributed as an independent member of Serious Case Reviews, following a child's death
• Regularly presented at National Conferences on Safeguarding issues
• Written articles on Safeguarding for professional journals

What Catherine has to say about her Team:

I have carefully selected an impressive group of Associates, all exemplary in their individual specialist areas with regard to safeguarding.

As a team we have a long standing commitment and interest in Social Justice. We are also well-versed in current research findings and apply them to a practical, evidence-based approach.

Associates have a range of knowledge and a wealth of practical experience across the pre-birth to 19 years age range; with Chris and Christine bringing their expertise from across the Youth and Youth Justice Services, myself covering the whole age-range scope of services and Karen's experience across Early Years Provision.

Christine Morgan

Christine is exceptionally well-read, with a MA in Social Policy and Administration. She is a life-long advocate for social justice, including Childrens' Rights and the fundamental importance of family life.

Christine has a sharp eye for emerging trends and coupled with her informal, relaxed approach, puts her intellect to work in assisting others to :

• Recognise how their service ‘fits’ within the current legal and social policy framework
• Apply an evidence-based approach to practice, rooted in respected research findings
• Adopt an accessible structure for monitoring and evaluating professional practice

Chris Grant

Chris brings an extensive experience of direct work with young people to the Team. He is a warm and exceptionally perceptive man who has the capacity to draw out the best in young people and practitioners alike.

He is a respected figure in residential care, youth services, youth offending and integrated services within the community and across the secure estate in Secure Training Centres and Youth Offending Institutions.

His stance is unwavering in enabling professional understanding of :

• The complex needs of young people during adolescence, particularly for those who experienced troubled early years, family breakdown and family trauma
• The need to apply a sensitive and comprehensive assessment model with a view to achieving successful engagement with young people and their families
• The importance of Practitioner maturity and 'boundaried' work with young people to bring about positive and sustained change

Karen Fishwick

Karen is an Early Years Practitioner who has worked for 30 years on her commitment to the growth and development of young children and their families.

Feedback from training events that Karen facilitates is consistently excellent. She provides a ‘personal touch’ for Practitioners as they challenge and overcome both personal and professional obstacles in their learning journey.

She has an exceptional capacity to:

• Break down apparently inaccessible material into practical, ‘bite-sized chunks’ - Introduce just to right level of ‘challenge’ to her approach with Practitioners to assist them in reaching for ‘the best’ in their interaction with children and their families.
• Develop deeply respectful relationships, which recognise both common values and beliefs and difference.

Karen is widely respected for her caring, yet incisive quality to ‘weevil into’ the most entrenched of difficulties with families and organisations and to enable practitioners in re-shaping practice to a high standard.

All our Team members have been CRB checked at an enhanced level.

We have also completed our Strengthsfinder Test (Gallup). All team members are extremely strong in relationship - building.

Ready to talk? Got some Questions?

If you’re an individual or an organisation, whatever your sector or level of experience, we are happy to discuss your needs. Contact us here to schedule a conversation.