Brian Atkins

For many years I provided consultancy for children's and adult sector social care organisations, following a long career as practitioner and manager in local authority children’s services. I worked with organisations at a strategic level in organisational and systems development, including collaborations with senior academics such as Professor David Thorpe on his Front Door model. My company, ETC, was included in the register of recommended providers under the government’s Children Services Improvement Plan [DCSF]. Within the company I also provided training in personal safety and managing challenging behaviour for social care staff and managers.

The 2nd edition of my book originally published in 2013 [Critical Publishing] is due to be published in September. This edition is entitled “Keeping Safe and Working Effectively for Social Care and Health Professionals”, reflecting the new approach of not just keeping safe, but being able to work professionally in very challenging situations. I believe that this is critical to providing safe protective services for vulnerable children and adults, and essential for both practitioners and employing organisations.

I'm still actively involved in the sport of judo, as the chair of my local club and coaching regularly. I'm proud to be still contributing to this life changing activity, and I’m particularly pleased the diversity of attendance at the club in terms of gender and ethnicity which has improved greatly in recent years.

In my leisure time I'm enjoying travelling, learning Italian, painting and dinghy sailing all of which is great fun!