Catherine Kiruri
Northwood,London
Summary
Dynamic Senior Practitioner with extensive expertise in safeguarding, risk management, and complex casework. Demonstrates strong leadership in guiding practitioners, ensuring high‑quality practice, and driving continuous service improvement. Skilled in multi‑agency collaboration, complex decision‑making, and the delivery of evidence‑based interventions that promote safety, independence, and personalised outcomes for vulnerable adults. Committed to robust quality assurance, reflective practice, and maintaining excellence in statutory social work.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
4036
4036
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Senior practitioner
Haringey Council
London
2024.04 - 2026.02
- Provide supervision and practice oversight for social workers, social work officers, and social work practice.
- Support staff with complex case discussions, safeguarding decision-making, and professional development.
- Lead on complex assessments, applying strengths-based practice and outcome-focused planning.
- Carry out safeguarding enquiries (Section 42), coordinate multi-agency meetings, and develop protection plans.
- Complete Mental Capacity Act assessments, best interest decisions, and support legal processes.
- Provide practice leadership during crisis situations, including high-risk cases involving self-neglect and deterioration in health.
- Work closely with health partners, GPs, community nurses, housing teams, and voluntary sector organisations to provide holistic support.
- Support service development through participation in quality assurance, audits, and reflective practice.
- Deputise for the Team Manager in operational oversight, panel preparation, and case allocation.
- Contributing to management performance meetings, providing updates on practice quality and service delivery.
Social Worker
Haringey Council
London
2020.04 - 2024.04
- Managed diverse case load of over 20 cases for adults with complex needs including physical disabilities, homelessness, mental health needs.
- Conducted complex assessments under the Care Act 2014, and Mental Capacity Act assessments, ensuring a strengths-based and person-centred practice.
- Completed safeguarding enquiries (S42), coordinate protection plans, and work alongside police and other agencies.
- Supported safe hospital discharges, including Discharge to Assess pathways and crisis planning.
- Prepared court-ready reports, professional statements, and chronologies, often for the Court of Protection hearings.
- Offered professional coaching and mentoring to junior colleagues and students.
- Built strong professional networks with NHS partners, voluntary sector organisations, and community groups.
- Completed NHS Continuing healthcare checklist and Decision support tool jointly with health workers.
Community Project Manager
Mojatu Foundation Organisation
London
2017.08 - 2020.03
- Working in partnership with other agencies and responsible for setting up and running events to support and empower victims of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and domestic violence.
- Establishing and maintaining partnership/working relationships with a range of agencies working on the issues of FGM.
- Supporting and empowering victims of FGM and Domestic violence.
- Preparing verbal and /or written reports for funders and trustees.
- Signposting and making referrals to the relevant organisations for victims who have complex needs such as housing, migration concerns or other health concerns.
- Setting up and running events for women, youth and communities.
- Planning and organising people tasks and resources to complete a project on time and within budget.
- Planning budgets and overseeing programs.
- To keep abreast of issues regarding FGM and domestic violence on a national and local level with particular reference to those that may affect the work of the project.
- Developing training and materials on FGM and related issues, that are appropriate for a range of ages, groups, communities and professionals.
- Monitoring and evaluating the service through various methods including feedback from service users.
Social Worker
Harrow Council
London
2016.07 - 2017.07
- Working as part of a team in a busy department dealing with vulnerable adults and other health care professionals. Responsible for the completion of overview assessments, formulations of packages of care and helping patients to reach their potential and improve their lives.
- Undertook and wrote up assessments such as Social Care needs and safeguarding assessments which met specified standards and timescales.
- Completed mental capacity assessments and Best Interest decisions.
- Managed a caseload of up to 18 clients.
- Made decisions and recommendations on support care packages for service users.
- Worked with multiple professionals within the NHS, families and community-based colleagues to maintain support networks enabling safe and sustainable discharge for the service users.
- Conducted interviews with individuals and families on the wards and in their homes to assess and review their situation.
- Attended board rounds and participated in Multidisciplinary Team meetings regarding service users, e.g. case conferences.
- Made recommendations regarding service users Nursing /Residential homes placements and presented their cases to Local Authority funding Panels.
- Participated in training, supervision and team meetings.
Complex Discharge Coordinator
Northwest London Hospitals
London
2011.10 - 2016.06
- Working as part of a team in a busy department dealing with vulnerable adults and other health care professionals. Responsible for the completion of overview assessments, formulations of packages of care and helping patients to reach their potential and improve their lives.
- Undertook and wrote up assessments such as Social Care needs and safeguarding assessments which met specified standards and timescales.
- Completed mental capacity assessments and Best Interest decisions.
- Managed a caseload of up to 18 clients.
- Made decisions and recommendations on support care packages for service users.
- Worked with multiple professionals within the NHS, families and community-based colleagues to maintain support networks enabling safe and sustainable discharge for the service users.
- Conducted interviews with individuals and families on the wards and in their homes to assess and review their situation.
- Attended board rounds and participated in Multidisciplinary Team meetings regarding service users, e.g. case conferences.
- Made recommendations regarding service users Nursing /Residential homes placements and presented their cases to Local Authority funding Panels.
- Participated in training, supervision and team meetings.
Education
BA 1st class Hons - Social work
Brunel University
Practice Educator -
Hertfordshire University
Skills
- Advanced safeguarding & risk management
- Complex case analysis & problem-solving
- Leadership, supervision & coaching
- Expert knowledge of Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Court report writing & expert witness skills
- Service development & quality assurance
- Reflective practice & evidence-based interventions
REFEREES
Available upon request
Additional Training
Management Pathway Training
Timeline
Senior practitioner
Haringey Council
2024.04 - 2026.02
Social Worker
Haringey Council
2020.04 - 2024.04
Community Project Manager
Mojatu Foundation Organisation
2017.08 - 2020.03
Social Worker
Harrow Council
2016.07 - 2017.07
Complex Discharge Coordinator
Northwest London Hospitals
2011.10 - 2016.06
BA 1st class Hons - Social work
Brunel University
Practice Educator -
Hertfordshire University