Arlene Weekes

Skills

Management
Leadership
Meeting facilitation and chairing.
Safeguarding
Stakeholder involvement
Communication - oral and written
People focused
Person-centred
Strategic Planning and financial management
Project management

About

My qualified career began in 1990 as a probation officer before moving in 1999 to Children's Services she has worked in local government, the private sector and charitable sector. I have over 34 years’ experience, primarily as a manager as well as an independent trainer. Holding many roles, including Probation Officer, Leaving Care Team Manager, Children in Need and Looked After Children and Special Guardian Order and Connected Persons Service Manager, Child Protection Chair and Independent Reviewing Officer for both foster carers and children. I currently divides her time as a freelance trainer, Independent Fostering Panel Chair and Senior Lecturer at the University of West London teaching Values and Ethics and Understanding Diversity and Equalities.
My qualifications include a BA(Hons) in Applied Social Studies and Certificate Qualification in Social Work (CQSW), she holds a Diploma in Management Studies, Practice Teacher Award, Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) and Professional Doctorate (PhD) in social work.
My PhD research, awarded in 2021, explored how the biographies, attitudes and values of an individual influence their role and decision-making. I have since published and facilitated training on decision-making, EDI, self-awareness, and manage, conscious and unconscious influences. I have developed the concept of Effective Personal and Professional Judgement (EPPJ), a model of assisting individuals to improve the decisions and actions, they take in meeting the needs by understanding the effect of internal and external influences. Namely that, “Increased personal awareness increases professional effectiveness”.