SJA Consultancy prides itself on delivering effective social care solutions on behalf of a range of clients including Local Authorities, private individuals and solicitors.

The service is provided by Samantha Ashley, Safeguarding Consultant and Independent Social Worker, registered with the Health and Social Care Professions Council (HCPC) and British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

SJA Consultancy & Advocacy - Independent Social Worker

I provide consultancy services including:

Support

Offering support to businesses that includes: quality assurance, investigations, policy development, recruitment, staff training and supervision.
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Reports & Assessments

A range of court reports and assessments including parenting assessments for Pubic Law proceedings in the family courts, section 7 reports in Private Law proceedings and Pre-Sentence Reports.

Intervention

Direct intervention with service users such as contact supervision for Looked After Children, parenting intervention, offending behaviour work, lifeskills intervention and work to address social skills.
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Contract Management

Management of commissioned early intervention contracts such as Early Help.

3 Benefits Of Using The Service

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One

My success stories include helping with the set-up of a newly formed semi-independent provision for looked after children and care leavers. SJA Consultancy helped to create staff job descriptions, referral processes and developed policies including safeguarding and safer recruitment.
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Two

I have delivered training on domestic violence to a church pastoral support team and delivered safeguarding training to charity volunteers.
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Three

I regularly provide court reports to private and public law proceedings to inform the final outcomes, many which have been successful.
SJA Consultancy & Advocacy - Independent Social Worker

Frequently Asked Questions

Taking on the services of a company that you don’t know can be a daunting prospect. This is understandable as you have little knowledge of the company, the quality of services they offer, and whether they’ll provide value for your money.

SJA Consultancy wants to build trust with perspective customers and demonstrate transparency, honesty, and integrity. I am confident in the services I can offer and am open and candid about what can be delivered.

These Frequently Asked Questions should provide you with some answers to any queries that you might have and provide some much needed reassurance.

However, if you can͛t find the answer to your question, or require a more detailed response, do feel free to go to the Contact section of the website and get in touch today. Alternatively, you may wish to call on 0203 488 1571.

What are your costs?
This depends upon the types of work being undertaken. However, you can rest assured that SJA Consultancy will provide you with a quotation that is cost effective and competitive within 1 working day of your enquiry.
Do you only work between Monday and Friday and within business hours?
Not necessarily. SJA frequently undertakes work during unsociable hours to fit in with the needs of the client.

This can be negotiated upon request.

Who are your clients?
Clients of SJA Consultancy include: Parenting Assessment Units, Local Authorities (Child Protection Teams/Fostering/Children In Need/Early Intervention/ Leaving Care/ Youth Offending Teams).

I also work with fostering agencies, private individuals, solicitors, charities, semi-independent services.

What areas do you cover?
Most of the work undertaken by SJA Consultancy is within the London boroughs and the surrounding counties. However, there is still scope to consider work outside of these areas so feel free to call and discuss your needs.
Do you provide advice to individuals whose children are subject to court proceedings in the Family Courts?
SJA Consultancy does not provide legal advice. You will need to contact a Family Law Solicitor for this. However, information pertaining to public and private law processes can be provided to individuals.

Additionally, there may be other types of services that can be provided to private individuals which can be discussed upon request.

What client groups have you worked with before?
Service user groups have included: children in care, care leavers, young offenders, children in need, children subject to child protection plans and court proceedings, children with additional needs such as autism and ADHD. Many of the service users have been parents. These have included parents undergoing parenting assessments and intervention as well as providing advice and professional options to parents who require assistance in private law matters (but not legal advice).
What if the type of service I require is not on your website? Does that mean you don’t provide that service?
Not necessarily. Recent work undertaken by SJA Consultancy has included a social welfare report in relation to a child involved in a court case about planning permission, a social welfare report in an asylum tribunal case, making recommendations in a private law matter regarding contact arrangements, and a report for divorce proceedings making recommendations relating to the care of an autistic child.
In what ways can a Local Authority benefit from using an Independent Social Worker rather than one of its own Social Workers with cases that are subject to court proceedings?
SJA can undertake assessments and provide an independent social work opinion to the courts in care proceedings. The courts often prefer to have a view that is independent of the Local Authority in cases where parenting and viability assessments are required.
Do you accept clients where they are eligible for Legal Aid?
SJA has undertaken work from solicitors whose clients are involved in ongoing court proceedings and who have been in receipt of Legal Aid. Being in receipt of Legal Aid would not necessarily prevent potential clients from accessing the services provided by SJA Consultancy. Do complete a contact form or call to discuss your particular needs.

Testimonials

Testimonials help to demonstrate evidence of our success stories and highlight some of the positive outcomes achieved by SJA Consultancy.

Take a look at what SJA’s customers have to say about the service they’ve received.

Samantha helped out with a comprehensive and invaluable report involving an assessment of a traveller family with children facing an injunction.

Her response to the request for assistance was prompt, professional and effective. I know where I will go for help in the future.

Derek McConnell

Solicitor, South West Law in Portsmouth

Contact SJA Consultancy Today

Please get in touch to discuss your needs.