About Us

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Forward4Families was established in 2005 by Lillian Bernadine, Ruth Seal and Susan Hammond whose professional backgrounds includes;

  • Children’s Guardian
  • Social Work Management
  • Independent Reviewing
  • Training
  • Independent Social Work
  • Counselling
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Family Therapy
  • Restorative Justice
  • Mediation
  • Complaints Investigation

Our varied experience identified a need for more bespoke Family Group Conferencing services, training and mentoring. Initially, Lillian, Sue, and Ruth undertook most of the referrals for Family Group Conferences and, within a year, due to demands on the service, Independent Co-ordinator’s joined the organisation with the initial members playing more of a managerial role.

As the needs and demands of Local Authorities and the courts changed, the Social Work services we offer have shifted and grown considerably and, by the end of 2010,  a number of Independent Social Workers joined the team, providing a range of Assessment Services.

Forward4Families will be celebrating its 20th year in late 2025 and we are looking forward to celebrating many more years as our reputation has strengthened and consolidated.

 

Our values:

 

  • We are child-centred. Children’s wellbeing and safetyis at the heart of everything we do
  • We champion the preservation of safe, nurturing and meaningful family and community connectionswhere appropriate and possible
  • We maintain strong partnerships based on collaboration, professionalism and integrity.
  • We deliver clear, actionable and outcomes-based recommendations that professional bodies and families can understand and endorse.
  • We respect and celebrate every family’s background and identity.

 

Lillian Bernadine – Director:

Lillian qualified as a Social Worker in 1983 and, throughout her career, has been a Social Work Practitioner, Team Manager and Independent Reviewing Officer in Local Authority Child Protection Work.

Lillian was a Children’s Guardian for twenty-seven years. She is currently an Independent Social Work and Management Consultant and a Personal Development and Executive Coach and Trainer, specialising in stress and workload management, career progression and performance related issues.

Lillian has a Master’s Degree in Personal Social Services and Management – Child Care (1988), a CQSW and Diploma in Social Work (1983) and a Diploma in Socio-Legal Studies (1984). Additionally, Lillian is a trained FGC Co-ordinator (1998) and an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Accredited Organisational and Personal Coach (2009).

 

The Team

 

Our Independent Social Workers and Management Team (ISWs) are leaders in their field, chosen for their extensive frontline and management experience in Child Protection. Although a cohort of ISW’s have in excess of twenty years’ experience, each ISW brings a minimum of 8 years of direct work with children and families before joining our team.

Our ISW Managers have on average, in between 20 and 45 years Social Work experience as Team Managers, IRO’s, Cafcass Practitioners and Managers.

This level of experience matters. It means our ISWs understand the real challenges families face and can quickly build strong, meaningful relationships that can support lasting change. They also appreciate the demands on Local Authorities and use that insight to create practical, realistic plans that make a difference to families.

When you work with us, you’re partnering with professionals who know what works – because they’ve lived it.