SJA Consultancy
Safeguarding Consultancy and Independent Social Work Service
Tel: 07479 902 930
Email: info@sjaconsultancy.com
Empowering individuals and organizations for a safer future
Excellent
Client satisfaction levels
Building trust with clients by being honest and transparent in what can be offered
20+
Years of expertise in the field of social care
ABOUT US
The service has been lead since 2013 by Samantha Ashley, a leading expert with credible experience in the field of health and social care and a wealth of solid credentials.
Samantha's credentials include:
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Level 4 Life Coaching (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body accredited)
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Certificate in Care Management (Social Care Management Qualification)
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BA Hons Social Work
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Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities evidence—based parenting programme
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Motivational Interviewing Training
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Mental Health Facilitator Training
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Conflict Resolution Training
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Level 2 Conflict Management training
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Professional Certificate in Effective Practice (Youth Justice)
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MA Youth Justice, Probation & Applied Criminology
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BA Hons Law with French
Samantha'a background includes:
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Senior leadership experience within the field of health and social care and charities which includes complex analytical decision-making, management of staff and delegation of tasks, strategic planning and reviewing, quality assurance and service improvement.
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Extensive experience of preparing Expert Witness Reports for a variety of different court proceedings.
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Investigating Statutory Stage 2 and 3 Children’s Services complaints in accordance with the Children Act 1989 in relation to statutory social services functions. These include issues such as: an unwelcome or disputed decision, concern about the quality or appropriateness of a service, delay in decision-making or provision of services.
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Samantha's experience in Children and Adult's Services and the NHS has given her a wealth of experience pertaining to good practice and she regularly undertakes work to help people raise complaints pertaining to complex issues around practice. Many of these have had successful outcomes.
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Undertaking work as a Child Abuse Civil Litigation Expert Witness as part of a specialist team of highly experienced independent social work experts providing reports for civil courts in cases of suspected negligence and/or breach of duty by the Corporate Parent (Local Authority). This work is specialist and forensic in nature and requires a high level of knowledge of the legislative context of claims, some of which may date back decades. A detailed report is produced which identifies whether or not there is evidence of negligence and/or duty of care by the Local Authority.
OUR VISION
SJA Consultancy is dedicated to providing excellent quality safeguarding consultancy and independent social work services. We are committed to empowering individuals and organizations to create safer environments and promote optimum wellbeing for children and vulnerable adults.
OUR VALUES
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Providing a service that gives value for money.
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Being professional and having integrity.
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Having regard for equal opportunities and acting in accordance with legislation.
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Being open an honest with those who purchase the services and only undertaking work that falls within areas of expertise.
SERVICES
ASSESSMENTS & REPORTS
Expert Witness Independent Social Work reports for a variety of situations, including public and private law proceedings in the family courts. Reports are also regularly provided for immigration tribunals which often center on the rights of children, particularly under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the legal duty to consider a child's best interests.
SAFEGUARDING AUDITS
SJA Consultancy also specialises in undertaking safeguarding audits to ensure that there are robust safeguarding systems, policies, procedures, training and professional guidance in place across the organisation. This includes checking to ensure that systems to identify and manage children and adults at risk of harm are fit for purpose, including reviewing safeguarding policies and ensuring that the organisation is compliant with legislation and national guidance relating to safeguarding adults and children. The findings will be conveyed to the organisation by way of a report.
SAFEGUARDING CONSULTANCY SUBSCRIPTION
Safeguarding for schools, colleges and other organisations working with children and vulnerable adults can be offered by SJA Consultancy on a regular basis. An ongoing remote Safeguarding Consultancy Subscription service is available to organisations for a monthly fee.
The Subscription provision of senior safeguarding knowledge, expertise, advice and support to professionals within the organisation in relation to safeguarding adults and children. The provision robust safeguarding supervision for onsite Safeguarding Leads.
SJA Consultancy can offer an enhanced service which in addition to the above-mentioned services can include (for an additional fee):
Attendance and representation at multi-agency forums such as Child Protection Conferences.
Regular on-site days being negotiated into service level agreements.Maintaining and developing effective safeguarding training across the organisation.
Being the lead investigator in identified serious incidents, complaints investigation. Maintaining and developing effective safeguarding training across the organisation. .
COMPLAINTS & INVESTIGATIONS
Handling complex complaints and investigations is also another service that can be provided in situations where it is unsuitable for a serious complaint or incident to be investigated by someone within an organisation. These may include things such as: safeguarding incidents and complaints and highly sensitive and complex HR cases like whistleblowing and Stage 2 and 3 Local Authority Complaints.
Investigations are carried out using professional judgement, and discretion and in accordance with organisational policies and procedures and legislation.
Outcomes will be identified within high quality investigation reports that includes analysis and identification of the the root causes that led to a serious incident or complaint occurring. Reports will include conclusions and recommendations which will incorporate feedback and shared learning across the organisation.
ADVOCACY SUPPORT
SJA Consultancy is able to provide advocacy support in some situations. Advocacy empowers people by enabling them to have a voice, particularly in relation to decisions that are being made that will affect them.
Advocacy support can also help people to participate in decision-making forums involving professionals. It is also helpful in preventing and resolving disputes between individuals and organisations.
STAFF SUPERVISION & TRAINING
One-to-one or group supervision can be provided to staff. We offer customized solutions around safeguarding and best practice when working with children, families and vulnerable adults using a variety of approaches. The aim is to equip and empower professionals and organizations with the knowledge and skills to respond accordingly to complex family situations and safeguarding risks. In addition, SJA Consultancy can design and deliver a range of training packages to suit the needs of your organisation or team.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
We specialize in developing comprehensive policies and statements of purpose tailored to the specific needs of organizations, promoting a culture of safety, respect, and ethical conduct.
SUPPORT TO RAISE A CONCERN OR COMPLAINT
Our expertise extends to supporting individuals to raise concerns and complaints to public and private organisations in the field of health and social care. This may be in relation to the quality of services recieved, poor professional practice and failure to provide appropriate services.
ENABLING SAFER ENVIRONMENTS
Our focus on enabling safer environments through effective safeguarding measures sets us apart. We work tirelessly to promote wellbeing, prevent harm, and safeguard the rights of vulnerable individuals and communities.
PERSONALIZED SUPPORT
We are dedicated to providing personalized support, guidance, and practical solutions that enable our clients to navigate complex challenges pertaining to health, social care ad safeguarding with confidence and competence.
IMPACTFUL ADVOCACY
Our advocacy extends beyond individual cases, contributing to systemic change and societal awareness of safeguarding issues, thereby fostering a culture of protection and support.
EMPOWERING WELLBEING
We are committed to empowering the wellbeing of individuals and communities by promoting resilience, dignity, and the fundamental right to live free from harm and exploitation.
SUSTAINABLE SAFEGUARDING
Our approach aims to embed sustainable safeguarding practices within organizations and communities, creating a lasting impact on the safety and welfare of all individuals.
CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES
During the period Samantha serviced a contract for Welcare, she enhanced the assessment skills of staff through her knowledge and experience in assessing risks.
Samantha was also tenacious in her approach to the rights and justice for any service user irrespective of culture.
Samantha is an excellent supervisor who encourages staff to be reflective in their practice. Samantha is skilled at report writing and making sound assessments of children and families.
Samantha has a very positive attitude and aptitude to any work task undertaken. I cannot speak highly enough of her work and attention to detail.
Fay Morris
Welcare, SW Child and Family Support Service
I have worked with Samantha Ashley on two separate occasions. I have found her to be highly professional, very efficient and thorough.
She always puts the child at the centre of her work and is determined to achieve the best outcome for that child.
Samantha is also approachable, friendly and easy to work with.
Yvonne O’Brien
Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead, Bensham Manor School
This consultancy helped me by explaining the various things and the different avenues that a case could go down. The support provided from SJA made the process more understandable in terms of the next stages and ease the fear of ‘what to expect’ that was not explained by any other professional at the time.
SJA attended a medical appointment with the family to ensure the correct procedures were being followed. I particularly was surprised and appreciative by the out of office hours support that the consultancy could provide due to prior arrangement.
I would definitely recommend these services to families or individuals faced with similar circumstances to my family.
Lorraine Wallace
Individual
As a Social Care Provider,
my team and I have worked with Samantha at SJA Consultancy and have been impressed with her professionalism, and her ability to write both timely and comprehensive reports.
We really appreciate Samantha’s ability to cut through any politics, and deliver services beyond our expectations.
Samantha is conversant with a broad spectrum of Social Care Assessments and Reports, is committed and delivers with passion.
Samantha’s support to the foster carers has indeed reassured me, that there are still fragments of compassion, sincerity, fairness and kindness in what sometimes seems like a harsh world.
Olivia Osei-Asibey
Executive Director , Sankofa Care Ltd
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
SJA Consultancy (Samantha Ashley) facilitated a Safeguarding Training for Children and Vulnerable Adults at Lordship Lane Baptist Church. As Pastor and Participant of the course I found it very informative and enlightening.
A few years earlier SJA Consultancy conducted a course on identifying Domestic Violence within the community.
This course was to equip leaders, departmental groups and teachers with information and awareness and to recommend help were needed.
Overall, Samantha did a great job as a Safeguarding Consultant in raising domestic violence awareness.
Pastor Ronnie G Barham
Pastor, Lordship Lane Baptist Church
