Fran has worked in children and adults social care for over 35 years and has held senior management positions within Local Authorities for 17 years. A strong voice of social work, Fran has championed strength-based practices nationally. She has been delighted to be part of an innovative and creative team at Thurrock Council where she held the position of Principal Social Worker (PSW) and Head of Adult Social Care till January 2022.

In October 2019 Fran was appointed Chief Social Worker for England. Despite being a challenging 2 years because of Covid-19, she continued to drive forward the Chief Social Worker’s priorities and to ensure social work and social care was high on the political agenda. Fran founded and chaired a national safeguarding forum during the Covid 19 pandemic, which continues today. Notably Fran co-authored the Ethical Framework and wrote or contributed to other national publications:

  • The Ethical Framework (Coronavirus Act 2020)  HERE
  • ‘Bridging the Gap’ Practice briefing on Transitional Safeguarding’ HERE
  • Music For Dementia – guide for social workers HERE
  • Loneliness  Research in Practice Study  HERE
  • ‘A Spectrum of Opportunity’ Exploratory Study Social Work and Autism HERE
  • ‘Revisiting Safeguarding Practice’   HERE

Fran is also co-author of Practice Principles by Principal Social Workers HERE.

Fran has now retired from Local Government and is an Independent Consultant in Social Work, Safeguarding and Adult Social Care.  She has worked as a Senior Intervenor for NHSE, ensuring the rights of autistic adults are upheld in mental health hospitals. She has been a partner at Social Work England, inspecting university social work programs.  Currently she is working for a number of Local Authorities, having introduced bespoke practice reviews in preparation for CQC inspections.  Fran is also a Mentor and Coach for PSW’s and recently became a Trustee for the Social Work Awards.

She was recently appointed as the new national Chair of the Principal Social Worker Community of Practice and Special Advisor to Local Government Association.