About the Teaching Consultants

In late 2018, we embarked on a mission to recruit our Teaching Consultants; practitioners with responsibility for statutory social work who would teach specialist elements of the social work curriculum to the next generation of social workers.

Since then, the Teaching Consultants have received comprehensive training in the design and delivery of teaching and have contributed significantly to both the BA and Masters social work programmes. They’ve also played a determining role in student admissions; being part of interview panels and conducting exercises and role plays with prospective students.

Here’s an introduction to some of our fantastic Teaching Consultants:

Leila Hassan Farah:

I am a registered Social Worker who qualified over 20 years ago, has worked in Child Protection, and now manages a team of Social Workers and Family Assessment Workers in completing Parenting Capacity Assessments.

Andrada Pepenel:

I have a BA and MA in Social Work. I have completed an Erasmus Exchange in the Netherlands for 6 months during my University course which broadened my way of thinking about Social Work. My first Social Work job was working with homeless children and families in Romania in 2011. This was a very exciting opportunity and I then decided to come and work in the UK. Since 2014, I have been working with the Child Protection proceedings team and over the past 2 years I have been managing a team of Social Workers and Support Workers. I have experience in all aspects of Children and Families Social Work, and I am looking forward to sharing some of my expertise with you as part of my new role as a Teaching Consultant.

Anthony Adedokun:

I am an advanced Social Worker working within the hospital discharge setting. A Best Interest Assessor and Practice Educator, I have 3 year’s experience in teaching theories and methods of intervention. Other areas of specialism are Safeguarding Adults, deprivation of liberty, the Care Act and delayed discharges in the Adult Care setting.

Sheila La Touche:

The opportunity to be a part of this new initiative, in the role of a Teaching Consultant, I count as a great privilege.
My current role is a Child Protection Conference Chair, and my previous experience includes working as an Independent Reviewing Officer for “Looked After Children” and in the capacity of Managing Social Work teams. I have worked both in and outside of London, as well as briefly overseas and I have a passion for contributing towards developing practice, working on an ASYE programme, with Step-Up students, and as a Practice Educator over the years.
I look forward to working with the team and students to make a difference, where positive sustained achievements can be noted as an outcome to the future development within Social Work practice.

Lee Avery:

My experience is working with Adults who use Mental Health and Substance Misuse services. I am looking forward to supporting students’ learning by using case studies that evidence theory and being able to explore with students the stigma around mental ill health, the risk indicators and the social disadvantages that impact on those with mental illness.

Marco Orlando:

I am a qualified Social Worker and Best Interest Assessor who has experience in working in a variety of challenging contexts with statutory responsibilities over Children and Adults. I have extensive knowledge in Safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and deprivation of liberty safeguards. My specialisms are in alcohol misuse, homelessness, travellers, and Social Work principles.

Mark Standing:

I have now been a qualified Social Worker for 24 years. I qualified as an approved Social Worker in 2001 and have been practicing as an Approved Mental Health Professional since 2008. I have worked mainly with Adults but for the last 4 years I have worked in a generic Out of Hours service. I have previously worked as a Team Manager of a Community Mental Health team. I have also been a Practice Assessor which involves supporting trainees who wish to become approved mental health professionals.

Averil Kathan:

I am the Head of Service for Early Help, Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), Referral and Assessment Service and the Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team for the London Borough of Sutton. I’m also the Strategic Lead for Safeguarding and my specialist areas of knowledge include Child Sexual Exploitation, Missing Children, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Honour Based Violence. I can also play the piano, so will be able to entertain you if technology fails!

Sallie Johnson-Land:

I work at Croydon Council in the Adults division and currently work across Care Homes reviewing placements for older people. My specialisms are working with LGBT issues in older age and the stigma, prejudice and discrimination they face, and I look forward to sharing my experiences with students.

Pam Mallett:

I am an Adult Social Worker working within a community based Social Work team linked to a GP. I have experience in Care Act assessments and Mental Capacity assessments and am a Section 42 enquiry officer. I’m a Practice Educator and I’m looking forward to sharing my knowledge as a Teaching Consultant.