Suzy Kitching is a children’s Social Worker with over 25 years’ practice experience.

Alongside her work with Strengthening Practice,Suzy is an Independent Scrutineer for a Local Safeguarding Children’s Partnership and a Lead Reviewer for Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews.

Suzy is passionate about skilled practice and learning; she was awarded an MBE for services to children and families in 2010 following the success and innovation of an integrated adult and children service she set up and developed.

Suzy has worked in the Northeast of England as a practitioner and delivered training in skill-based family practice across the country, developing whole family practice where adult issues (substance misuse, domestic abuse, and Mental health) impacted on the wellbeing and safety of children.

Suzy has worked in Local Authorities at both an operational and strategic level where she has supported practice improvement and culture change as Head of Service and Principal Social Worker. Suzy has a real interest and passion in supporting and improving practice by applying learning into practice.

Nicola had a career in the NHS, working as a nurse in both children and adult services. For many years she took on safeguarding roles and promoted collaborative leadership in the development of children’s partnerships.

Since becoming an Independent Safeguarding Consultant, Nicola has chaired and authored several reviews for safeguarding adults and children using a range of methods. She has maintained a focus on critical learning that can make a sustainable change for the population. Nicola uses a consultative approach to empower local agencies and practitioners to implement the necessary change.

Nicola’s work on Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews has included focusing on suicide and undetermined causes of deaths in teenagers, serious youth violence, identity, ethnicity and cultural issues, neglect, domestic abuse, and the impact of unsafe sleeping arrangements for infants.