OUR PEOPLE
Meet the people behind the Social Work Toolkit
DONNA FLETCHER
Bsc Social Work
Practice Educator
Qualified Childrens Advocate
Donna is Director of Social Work Toolkit and the creator of Safe Space mentoring service. She is an accomplished, qualified and passionate social worker with more than 20 years experience in Children services and Youth Work.
Her expertise lies in working with children, young people, and families to achieve better outcomes and has a wealth of experience in conducting child in need assessments, direct work and planning.
She is a qualified advocate and has a unwavering commitment in sharing the importance of obtaining the child’s voice which has led her to provide training to other professionals and Local Authorities to enhance their practice model, working methods, supporting social workers in their practice and those starting their journey in the profession.
Her vision for the Social Work Toolkit is to continue to build a platform for professionals to have access to expert-led training and resources, aiding and supporting them in their learning and practice, encouraging and sustaining the workforce nationwide.
TOOLKIT TRAINERS
ANDY TURVEY
Andy has over 20 years of extensive work with children and young people affected by youth violence, gangs, child exploitation and trauma.
He is highly skilled in engaging and vulnerable young people, gang exit, youth violence interventions, community work, project management and researcher.
He is a passionate youth and community professional with a First class Batchelor degree focused in Youth Ministry and is focused on inspiring the next generation of young people and professionals, creating opportunities, development and learning for all and social equality.
CAROL BATCHELOR
Carol is a Qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England. Carol holds a BA (hons) in Social Work obtained in 2014 at Coventry University. Carol is an accredited Children and Families' Social Worker. Carol is trained as a social work practice educator having achieved Practice Educator one in 2020 at the University of Birmingham, and qualified in Practice Educator two at Birmingham City University in 2021.
Before becoming a social worker, Carol worked for fifteen years in the leisure industry, where she held many managerial roles. From 2011 Carol's quest for a career change led her to work in children's residential care in Staffordshire and as a Project Manager for an Independent Visitor Project for a third sector volunteer organisation in the Black Country and Shropshire areas.
Having worked in frontline Local Authority Social Work in the West Midlands over the last decade Carol has developed a wealth of experience in working with Children and Families. Carol was a Senior Practitioner at Birmingham and Solihull FDAC during its first year from 2021. Carol has many years experience in the family court proceedings, public and private.
As a trained Practice Educator (PE2) in Social Work education, Carol is now a Team Manager for a Child Protection and Court team of social workers where she drives good practice with a focus on the child. Carol is passionate about social work education and supporting those coming into practice or already in practice to be the best they can be.
Uniquely Carol has lived experience as a child in care, having spent her teenage years in residential care. Carol is proud of being a Care Experienced Person, and uses her experiences to support other people, whether it be though improving practice or shared experiences. Carol is passionate about doing all we can to keep children within their families, as outlined in law.