Bernadette has over 30 years experience in social care. She originates from Dublin and began her social work career in residential unit for young people in short term care preparing for independent living. After qualifying in social work in 1989 she worked as a Senior Social Worker in a generic social work team in London working with vulerable children, families, adults and the elderly/senior citizens in the fields of mental health and drug abuse. Since 1996 she was appointed as Hammersmith & Fulham's Principal Officer in Multi Disciplinary Training and Child Protection Chair.

In 1999 Bernadette completed her Masters Degree in Social Work Education & Training from Kingston University. She subsequently established and developed a robust and effective multi disciplinary training programme for the then Area Child Protection Committee and has taken the lead in initiating many developmental projects promoting best practice in and across the boundaries of professions and boroughs with the focus on safeguarding children. She has developed and delivered training to a variety of agencies, voluntary organisations and faith communities and is well respected and liked. She has also taken the lead in organising 5 successful annual conferences for the Hammersmith & Fulham Safeguarding Board with prominent speakers and experts catering for upto 200 participants from a variety of agencies and disciplines.

In addition Bernadette chaired Child Protection Conferences to develop and review child protection plans. Her standards are high and she is known to have applied her role as chair in a critical but fair manner engaging with families but keeping the child in focus.

Bernadette provides regular consulation to Creative Outcomes in overseeing continued professional development as well as facilitating critical reflective practice in work undertaken and is part of assuring quality.

She also is available to be commissioned through Creative Outcomes for down to earth consulation to Local Authorities and a variety of other agencies to develop child protection or safeguarding procedures and policies. She delivers training of high standards and is able to provide a variety of safeguarding courses to agencies. Bernadette can also co-train Safer Recruitment Training for Local Authorities and other agencies as well as Training for Trainers Programme to enable and empower organisations to deliver their own quality training to develop the workforce. She is also well able to organise effective Conferences on behalf of organisations and agencies. In addition she is also available to be commissioned to chair complex child protection meetings to review child protection plans.