Nick Robinson qualified as a Social Worker in 1999. He has post-qualifying experience in a number of local authorities in teams providing assessment, care management, support planning and safeguarding for older people, adults with physical disabilities, autism, brain injury and other neurological conditions. In his local authority career, Nick was involved in pilot groups developing policy and practice for personal budgets and he is a trained and experienced support planner.

Prior to qualifying, Nick worked on a support project for adults with mental health problems and in residential care with adults with severe learning disabilities. Nick has provided bespoke training to local authorities and solicitors on aspects of The Care Act 2014 and he has delivered training on behalf of a national training agency. Through ISWP, Nick is regularly contacted by solicitors, individuals, families or Deputies to provide independent assessments for adults and older people; expert witness reports; care and support planning; Mental Capacity Act assessments for Property and Affairs or Health and Welfare matters and Life Story Work.

Nick's areas of expertise include dementia, autism, Care Act eligibility, NHS Continuing Healthcare and carer’s rights. He is a member of the Court of Protection Practitioners Association and a ‘Dementia Friend’. Nick’s other professional interests include social work education. He is a qualified practice educator and an associate lecturer who has provided teaching sessions for a number of years on assessment skills; report writing; supervision, reflection and critical thinking skills and communication skills on social work training courses at two north-west universities.

nick.robinson@iswp.co.uk
07584 210947

Gill Mason qualified as a Social Worker in 1985. She has worked as an Independent Social Worker with ISWP since 2014, following a long career in social work, in a variety of local authority adult social care settings. She spent 10 years as an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) and is a trained Best Interests Assessor. She has extensive experience in mental capacity assessments and best interests assessments in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, care needs assessments and reviews, support planning and evaluating care standards.

Gill is a member of the Brain Injury Social Work Group (BISWG). Gill worked for 11 years in a dementia specialist multidisciplinary team. Gill believes in supporting people to maximise their health and wellbeing; this includes promoting choice, dignity and respect for people who are vulnerable through mental or physical illness, long term disability or in their role as a carer. She works with individual clients, solicitors, families and carers. She has a particular interest in mental health and mental capacity matters.

As an Independent Social Worker, Gill is accomplished in providing expert witness reports to the Court of Protection, COP 3 assessments and Certificate Provider work for LPA applications.

Report writing and analytical skills, combined with ongoing training, professional development and research, contribute towards Gill's skills as an independent social worker.

gill.mason@iswp.co.uk
0771 356 6903

Ali Sea is an Independent Consultant Social Worker, Case Manager and Expert Witness, based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and available for work in the North East, Yorkshire, Cumbria and the North West. Ali has worked with disabled people for over 19 years and is an experienced social worker and team manager with a wide variety of client groups including people with physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries, hospital discharge, learning disabilities, autism, mental health, drug and alcohol and transitions from Children’s to Adults Services.

Ali has rolled out new models of working across local authority teams, developed transition pathways for young people, is an experienced 16+ education panel member, Chairperson for safeguarding adults proceedings, has been part of SEND reform development groups and a Safeguarding Adults Boards Improving Practice Committee member and is currently a Member of the NICE Advocacy Services guideline committee.

Ali’s skills include; Care Act Assessments; Mental Capacity Act Assessments; Best Interests Assessments; Court of Protection Applications; Ministry of Justice Reports, Mental Health Tribunal Reports; Social Circumstances Reports; Safeguarding Adults Assessments; Risk Assessments; Continuing Health Care disputes; Service Delivery Development Team management and development consultancy; Complaints challenges; Training sessions and team building.

seasocialwork@gmail.com
07914 785831