Meet the team

 

I am Jonathan Gardner, Principal Manager for the Kinship Team, and I am pleased to introduce our dedicated service, which is committed to supporting kinship carers and the children they care for. Kinship care provides children with the opportunity to remain within their family network when they are unable to live with their parents, and our team works to ensure carers receive the guidance, support, and recognition they deserve.

Our team consists of Kirsty Hancock and Eleanor Heath, who are our Senior Social Workers, providing leadership, practice support, and oversight across the service. They are joined by Social Workers Aimee Davenhill, Haroon Rashid, Nikita Randle-Day, and Whitney Foster, who work directly with kinship families to offer assessment, support, advocacy, and advice. We also have a part-time vacancy within the team, which we hope to fill shortly.

The role of a Supervising Social Worker is central to the support we provide for kinship carers. This includes building strong relationships with carers, offering regular supervision and guidance, identifying support needs, facilitating access to training and resources, and working collaboratively with partners to ensure children achieve the best possible outcomes. Supervising Social Workers are also instrumental in championing the voice of kinship carers and helping families navigate the challenges they may face.

Alongside our direct work with families, we are committed to driving the ongoing development of the Kinship Service. A key priority is reviewing and enhancing the Kinship Local Offer to ensure it remains relevant, accessible, and responsive to the needs of carers and children. By listening to the experiences of families and working closely with partners, we aim to strengthen the support available and continue improving outcomes for kinship families across our community.