Director of Children’s Wellbeing
Nicola is a devoted mum to her adult daughter Alex and twins Jack and Phoebe born in 2010. As a family, they love spending time outdoors due to their love of horses. They own a foal called Bond which takes up most of their weekend, both Jack and Phoebe are avid horse riders so Nicola spends lots of time watching them with her heart in her throat.
Enabling families to make changes has always been the most important and rewarding part of Nicola’s job. Nicola feels it is a privilege and an honour to be welcomed by families to support them during some difficult and personal times.
Nicola completed her Degree in Social Work at Keele University in 2007. Following a degree, Nicola worked as a Children’s Service Practitioner at NSPCC, Crewe, where she gained 9 years’ invaluable experience, knowledge and skills working directly with children, young people and their families.
Nicola have extensive experience of developing and delivering bespoke interventions on a 1:1 basis focusing on various aspects of children’s emotional health and well-being, such as self-esteem, resilience, loss and separation, behaviour management, problem solving, understanding and managing feelings. Additionally, Nicola also has experience in delivering accredited group intervention programmes to children and young people facing multiple adversities including domestic abuse and substance misuse.
All the above interventions have been informed by evidence based holistic assessments. Nicola has demonstrated the ability to analytically assess all dynamics of family life and the child’s world to develop effective interventions which evidence positive outcomes.
In addition to her degree, Nicola completed a Graduate Certificate in Practice Education in 2015. As a Practice Educator, she has experience of supporting students and newly qualified social workers with their professional development and practice. She has also facilitated training packages and workshops at a regional and local level.
Since establishing as an Independent Social Worker in 2016 and later as a director of Just Family CIC, Nicola has specialised in Childhood Attachment, undertaking numerous training programmes. As an Early Years Attachment Practitioner, Nicola delivers Baby Bonding, Toddler Bonding, Heart to Heart and Parent Child Attachment Play. Furthermore, Nicola has also worked closely alongside and within the Creative Action Team CIC leading to a qualification in Level 1 in Animal Assisted Play Therapy.
This opportunity has been made possible by the National Lottery Community fund.