Selina Wellings
Stourbridge,West Midlands
Summary
Experienced professional in children's social care with extensive expertise in safeguarding management, trauma-informed practice, and complex family intervention. Skilled in whole-family assessments, threshold decision-making, and outcome-focused planning, with a proven track record in service implementation and improvement. Adept at caseload and resource management, quality assurance, and workforce development, including coaching and mentoring. Demonstrates strong analytical abilities as a skilled assessor. Committed to collaborative partnership working to drive impactful results for families and communities while ensuring high standards of service delivery.
Overview
3
3
years of post-secondary education
24
24
years of professional experience
Work history
Senior Strengthening Families Practitioner
Sandwell Children's Trust
2015.09 - Current
- Successfully supported families with complex safeguarding concerns, preventing escalation to statutory intervention where appropriate.
- Regularly deputise for the Team Manager, providing operational oversight, workload management and safeguarding leadership.
- Built strong partnerships with Children's Social Care, Education, Health, Police and Housing services to achieve coordinated support and positive outcomes for families.
- Led on quality assurance processes including dip sampling, thematic audits and case reviews to strengthen practice standards across the service.
- Developed practitioners through supervision, mentoring, and reflective learning, enhancing performance and confidence.
- Contributed to service improvement through monitoring practice standards, identifying learning themes and promoting evidence-based practice.
- Key Achievements
- Key Responsibilities
Intensive Family Support Key Worker – Early Help
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
2012.12 - 2015.09
- Acted as Lead Professional undertaking comprehensive Early Help Assessments.
- Developed intervention plans focused on improving outcomes, safety and wellbeing.
- Delivered intensive interventions and practical guidance, enhancing family resilience and wellbeing.
- Coordinated multi-agency meetings and interventions.
- Monitored safeguarding concerns and ensured appropriate escalation in line with local authority thresholds.
- Engaged directly with families facing multiple and complex needs to provide tailored support.
- Undertook direct work with children, young people and adults.
- Ensured wishes and feelings of children remained central to intervention planning.
- Assisted parents in addressing specific needs, effectively preventing escalation and promoting improved family dynamics.
- Key Responsibilities
Social Care Assistant – Contact and Assessment Service / Looked After Children's Service
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
2010.11 - 2012.12
- Coordinated and facilitated supervised family contact for Looked After Children, enhancing family relationships and stability.
- Assisted social workers and foster carers in addressing and meeting diverse needs of children, ensuring holistic care.
- Undertook observational, parenting capacity and PAM assessments.
- Engaged with vulnerable adults and families experiencing substance misuse, mental health difficulties, and domestic abuse to provide tailored support.
- Presented written reports and verbal evidence within court proceedings.
- Supported service management in coordinating contact arrangements, workload allocation and staff capacity planning.
- Key Responsibilities
Social Care Assistant – Child Protection Service
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
2004.07 - 2010.11
- Collaborated with social workers on Child Protection and Legal Care Proceedings to ensure comprehensive support for families.
- Advocated for children, young people and families to ensure their needs were identified and addressed.
- Supported vulnerable families impacted by substance misuse, mental health issues, and abuse to promote stability and safety.
- Facilitated supervised contacts between children and family members to strengthen relationships and promote healthy interactions.
- Contributed to reviews, meetings and permanence planning discussions.
- Presented evidence and reports in court.
- Undertook a range of assessments including:
- Parenting Capacity Assessments
- Observational Assessments
- Section 7 Assessments
- BAAF "Together or Apart" Sibling Attachment Assessments
- Delivered direct work including:
- Wishes and Feelings work
- Identity work
- Self-protection work
- Bereavement, Separation and Loss work
- Befriending support
- Completed Life Story Work with children.
- Maintained accurate records in line with council procedures and legislative requirements.
- Key Responsibilities
Family Worker (Self-Employed)
Connect Contact Centre
2004.01 - 2004.07
- Conducted parenting assessments for vulnerable children and families to identify needs and inform intervention strategies.
- Collaborated with key workers to facilitate planning and permanency decisions, ensuring alignment with best practices.
- Oversaw contact sessions in private law proceedings to ensure compliance with legal requirements and support child welfare.
- Transported children safely to and from contact and assessment venues.
- Key Responsibilities
Nursery Nurse
North Lodge Day Nursery, Heathfield Independent Day School
2003.01 - 2004.01
- Ensured high standards of care and education in nursery settings, contributing to children's overall development.
- Planned and delivered age-appropriate learning and developmental activities.
- Encouraged children's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development through tailored activities and interactions.
- Established routines tailored to children's individual developmental needs.
- Cared for children aged 3 months to 3 years, fostering a nurturing environment for growth.
- Key Responsibilities
Education
Parent Assessment Manual
Parent Assessment Manual
2012.06 - 2012.06
NVQ Level 3 - Health and Social Care - Children and Young People
City & Guilds of London Institute
2007.09 - 2008.06
Diploma of Higher Education - CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education
Halesowen College
Halesowen 2001.09 - 2003.06
Certificate of Higher Education - BTEC First Diploma in Care
Stourbridge college
Stourbridge 2000.09 - 2001.06
Skills
- Extensive Children's social care experience
- Safeguarding
- Child-centred and trauma-informed practice
- Complex family intervention
- Engaging hard to reach families
- Skilled in Whole-family assessments
- Collaborative partnership working
- Confidence and professional curiosity
- Threshold decision-making
- Outcome-focused planning
- Caseload and resource management
- Leadership
- Quality assurance
- Coaching and mentoring
- Workforce development
Timeline
Senior Strengthening Families Practitioner
Sandwell Children's Trust
2015.09 - Current
Intensive Family Support Key Worker – Early Help
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
2012.12 - 2015.09
Parent Assessment Manual
Parent Assessment Manual
2012.06 - 2012.06
Social Care Assistant – Contact and Assessment Service / Looked After Children's Service
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
2010.11 - 2012.12
NVQ Level 3 - Health and Social Care - Children and Young People
City & Guilds of London Institute
2007.09 - 2008.06
Social Care Assistant – Child Protection Service
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
2004.07 - 2010.11
Family Worker (Self-Employed)
Connect Contact Centre
2004.01 - 2004.07
Nursery Nurse
North Lodge Day Nursery, Heathfield Independent Day School
2003.01 - 2004.01
Diploma of Higher Education - CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education
Halesowen College
2001.09 - 2003.06
Certificate of Higher Education - BTEC First Diploma in Care
Stourbridge college
2000.09 - 2001.06