c o n c l u d i n g p a n e l

SO WHAT?

  • Sophie Humphreys is a highly experienced independent advisor on child protection and safeguarding, providing expertise to central government and local authorities across the UK. Founder of Pause and a cofounder of SHiFT, Sophie is known for her innovative, systemic approaches to breaking harmful cycles, from supporting women at risk of repeat child removals (Pause) to helping children escape cycles of crime (SHiFT). She is the creator of the Breaking Cycles Model for public service reform, which underpins both organisations.

    Sophie is also Social Entrepreneur in Residence at Purposeful Ventures, a Commissioner for the Commission on Young Lives, and was appointed to lead work on child sexual exploitation in Oxfordshire.

  • Isabelle Trowler was appointed as the government’s first Chief Social Worker for Children and Families in 2013. She qualified as a Social Worker in 1996 and has worked as both a practitioner and senior leader across a range of local government settings.

    Isabelle chairs the National Practice Group and is a member of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel and the Family Justice Board. She was also a founding member of the What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care (now known as Foundations).

    With more than 30 years’ experience in the children’s sector, Isabelle has made significant contributions to national policy and practice, including the 2022 Independent Review of Children’s Social Care and the government’s response, the development of the statutory children’s social care national framework, and the refresh of post-qualifying standards for child and family social work. She is currently working closely with the Families First for Children pathfinders and has a particular interest in the national rollout of multi-agency child protection teams.

  • Dr Carlene Firmin is an academic, author, and activist dedicated to social justice and equality. She is best known for creating Contextual Safeguarding, a framework that addresses the risks young people face beyond their homes, in peer groups, schools, and public spaces.

    A Professor of Sociology at Durham University, Carlene has led transformative research and policy work on extra-familial harm, with her framework now influencing practice across the UK and internationally. Before academia, she spent over a decade working in voluntary and statutory agencies, focusing on community and group-based violence affecting young people.

    Carlene is a Global Ashoka Fellow, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and Associate Editor of Child Abuse Review. Widely published, she has authored four books and over 50 academic works. In 2011, she became the youngest Black woman to receive an MBE.

  • Stephanie Roberts-Bibby is Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Justice Board. An experienced senior leader with a strong track record across government and criminal justice, she is passionate about people, cultural change, and making a difference. She specialises in leadership, strategy, change management, and building high-performing teams.

    With 21 years’ experience as a Prison Governor, including at Winchester Prison, Stephanie began her career as a Prison Officer at Feltham YOI, where her work with teenagers sparked a lifelong commitment to justice reform. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in PE and Sports Science from Loughborough University

  • Helen is a qualified Social Worker and holds a combined Degree (BA Hons) and CQSW. On qualifying, she worked for Leicestershire County Council where she undertook a range of social work and managerial roles before moving to similar positions in London Boroughs. Helen joined Essex County Council in July 2011 and is currently the Executive Director Children Families & Education.

    During her London years, she chaired and authored much of the pan London Child Protection Procedures. She co-authored “Ten pitfalls in assessment and how to avoid them” and has co-authoring an article “Practice needs to be braver, Child Protection and the paradigm of risk”.

    Helen is an active member of the ADCS, being on the Council of Reference, and the ADCS representative on UASC and Family Justice Reform Implementation groups. As well as Chair of ADCS Families, Communities and Young People Committee. Regionally, Helen is the Chair of East Region Sector Led Improvement Group.

    Essex Children & Families is Ofsted graded overall Outstanding from its ILACS inspection in 2018 and 2023. Helen has been a strong supporter of sector-led improvement, as such, she is a lead contractor with the DfE for improving children’s services as Intervention Advisers, and as a Partner in Practice, to other LA’s, graded Inadequate and Requires Improvement, by Ofsted, respectively. Helen was the Children’s Commissioner for Blackpool. Helen is the CLT sponsor for the Women’s Network at Essex County Council.