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Meet the team

The daily activities and functions of The College are currently being run by a small, dedicated interim team of business start-up and development specialists, marketing and communications professionals, social work education and training professionals, people who have used services, carers, policy and public affairs experts, project managers and administrative coordinators.

The Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) is supporting The College Team by offering additional expertise, infrastructure support and resources during the development phase.

The Interim College team, together with the Co-Chairs, the Transition Board and the Transitional Professional Assembly, work to develop and carry forward the strategy, purpose and functions of The College of Social Work.

The Transition Board

Purpose and function

The transition board is responsible for corporate governance of The College. It will be replaced by the membership elected board in Spring 2012. It is chaired by Maurice Bates.

Interim Co-Chairs

Maurice Bates - Maurice has worked across both Adult and Children’s services in practitioner, management, and leadership roles.

Professor Corinne May-Chahal - Corinne has been engaged with social work as a practitioner, educator, researcher and leader for over 34 years and has substantial experience of the statutory, voluntary, further and higher education social work sectors.

Transition board members

Kate Arnett - Kate is the Vice Chair of SWAG (Social Work Action Group), an organisation which works closely with social work students, educators and regulatory bodies, to enhance and optimise the education of social workers.

Graham Brittain - Graham is the Director of Education and Social Care for the Royal National Institute for the Blind. He has solid experience of working with a board and regularly works alongside RNIB trustees in leading the RNIB supporting children and adults with complex needs programme board.

Jo Cleary - Jo is a registered social worker and qualified teacher. She has been a director for eight years, and has been Executive Director of Adults and Community Services at Lambeth Council since May 2007.

Suzy Croft - Suzy is a Social Work and Bereavement Team Leader for St John’s Hospice, the hospice for central London.

Professor Patricia Ellen Higham - Pat is a registered social worker and an independent social work consultant for SWAP (the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Social Work and Social Policy).

Dave Hill - Dave is the Director of Children’s Services at Essex and was previously Director of Children’s Services in Croydon.

Joe Z Mairura - Joe is a registered social worker and Senior Manager with over 25 years of service in the health and social care sectors and a track record of achievements across social services, the NHS and the third sector.

Transitional Professional Assembly

Purpose and function

The Transitional Professional Assembly provides professional leadership at The College. When the College is fully established the Professional Assembly will comprise the elected Chairs of Communities of Interest and the elected Chairs of Faculties. The Transitional Professional Assembly will shortly be recruiting additional members. The TPA is chaired by Professor Corinne May-Chahal.

The Transitional Professional Assembly leads The College’s work to implement the Professional Capabilities Framework and other Reform Board products. It oversees and supports the work of the Policy Development Group, and guides all work to ensure that The College supports our members to be at the forefront of excellence in social work.

Interim Co-Chairs

Maurice Bates - Maurice has worked across both Adult and Children’s services in practitioner, management, and leadership roles.

Professional Assembly Members

Jamie Middleton - Jamie is a qualified and registered social worker, and is currently employed as a mental health social worker.

Andrew O’Beirne - Andrew is a fully qualified social worker, with extensive experience of court, child protection and work with looked after children.

Angus Skinner - Angus has over 40 years’ experience of social work services across the UK. As Chief Social Work Inspector for Scotland for 15 years, Angus provided advice directly to ministers on all matters of social work service legislation, policy and practice development.

Alison Tasker - Alison is a newly qualified social worker, who graduated in 2010 from Reading University. Alison worked as the Development Officer for the Local Involvement Network in the Bracknell Forest area after qualifying and is now undertaking an MSc in evidence based social intervention at Green Templeton College in Oxford.

Faculties

The Transition Board and the Transitional Professional Assembly are supported by three College Faculties and a Policy Development Group.

The Children’s, Adults’ and Mental Health Faculties will focus on galvanising social workers throughout the country to involve themselves in the work of The College. They will bring together the wisdom and expertise of social workers to develop their professional specialisms, discuss and resolve problems, produce guidance, and influence changes in law, policy and practice.