SAFE Associate – Catherine Irving
Catherine is a qualified Social Worker and NSPCC accredited child protection trainer. Beginning her career in residential care settings, then qualifying as a social worker in 2001, Catherine has worked within a variety of Local Authority teams, including child protection, hospital based, children with disabilities and early help.
Catherine was a part of the implementation of both the Early Support for children with disabilities and Common Assessment Framework. It was within these roles that she first gained experience designing and delivering training. Catherine worked in schools for 5 years, bringing her social work skills into the education environment in the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Catherine has provided training and consultancy services since 2010, including alongside her other employed roles. In 2019, she took the leap into full time self-employment and hasn’t looked back. She delivers training, and provides consultancy services to schools, early years settings, sports organisations, charities, child counselling organisations, and on behalf of Local Authorities.
Alongside her Social Work degree (BA Hons), Catherine has an MSc in Social Research. She is also a parent governor for a Secondary School.
Catherine is passionate about supporting others with their safeguarding and child protection responsibilities and driven by the desire to ensure the voice of the child is pivotal to all of her work.