Sukriti Sen - Director for Children and Education
Sukriti Sen joined Coventry as Director of Children’s and Education Services in August 2024.
Sukriti qualified as a social worker 32 years ago and previously worked in two London boroughs in various positions before joining Essex County Council as the Director of Local Delivery, Children and Families in 2015.
Sukriti's been a senior leader since 2005 and has worked across a breadth of areas, including early help, child protection, children in care, children with disabilities, quality assurance and workforce.
Richard - Principal Social Worker
Name: Richard
Job role: Principal Social Worker
Year qualified: 2008
Why did you become a social worker?
After school I first went into catering and warehouse jobs until I completed 12 months of volunteering with a young person whose behaviour was causing education colleagues concerns. Whilst meeting the young person I began to realise what they had faced, lived through and why these experiences were being displayed as they were. This experience led me to want to help and support young people to channel their experiences in a more positive manner and to support children and families to improve their wellbeing. I then completed the social work degree and have focussed on children and families' wellbeing since.
Three tips for our ASYEs
- Treat all children and families as you would want to be treated yourself, actively listen to children and families about their life journeys, positives, challenges and do what you say you will do,
- Social work is a very rewarding profession and it is a privilege to be able to help children and families in their times of need. However it can be tough on a personal level at times and it is important to ensure you have self-care strategies and maintain a good work life balance.
- Keep reflecting on what you have done and why you have done it in the way you did it. It is important to keep learning and reflecting on our practices and thoughts. Use your support network (colleagues, managers) to reflect with you.
Liz - Team Manager Professional Practice Educator
Name: Liz
Job role: Team Manager
Year qualified (as SW): 2010
Why did you become a social worker?
I became a social worker as I wanted a career that was challenging but rewarding as well. I had worked in a school office for a number of years and saw working with children and families as something I was naturally drawn to and I felt I could make a difference being a social worker. Initially I wanted to work in adult mental health, however my final placement was in the Referral and Assessment team (RAS) in Coventry which is where I developed my passion for working with children and their families.
Three tips for our ASYEs
- Allow yourself time to reflect on the work you are doing to ensure the best decisions are made.
- It is okay to not know something…ask for support and be curious in sourcing the answer.
- Make sure you take time for yourself.
Gemma - Team Manager
Name: Gemma
Job Role: Team Manager
Year Qualified (as SW): 2015
Why did you become a social worker?
I come from a family with strong links in the health and social care field, profession. As such, my choice to become a social worker was heavily influenced by my family background and what I was exposed to from a young age and an understanding around an opportunity to make a positive difference for others. During my time in College, I held a part time job in a Domiciliary care home, supporting the elderly who were considered to be semi-independent and I did this, until I went to university. At the beginning of my studies I was interested in working with adults experiencing poor mental health and perhaps progress to an AMHP (Approved Mental Health Practitioner) and so I completed my first placement with MIND in Hull. However, following my second placement in a children’s sector, I really enjoyed working with children, particularly direct work activities. I believe this experience, shaped my journey into becoming a children’s social worker.
Three tips for our ASYEs
- There is no shortcut to becoming the worker you want to be; it takes time, experience and patience. Don’t stop learning and developing yourself, build positive relationships as you go along they become handy in the future.
- Whilst being the best social worker you can be, caring and supporting others, don’t forget to look after yourself too.
- Social work involves tough decisions that may seem daunting at this stage. However, social workers do not work in isolation, make the most of the support around you, peers and senior colleagues alike. This career takes time to be confident in and even the most experienced workers are still learning every day.
Bethan - Team Manager
Name: Bethan
Job Role: Team Manager
Year qualified: 2019
Why I became a social worker
I had thought about becoming a social worker ever since I completed my first degree, but was never brave enough to do it. After a detour through IT, Education and Hospitality, I eventually came back to the idea of social work and decided I should just go for it, and I am so glad I did! I knew it would be tough and I would need to work hard, but I did not realise just how interesting and rewarding social work with children and families would be. Since qualifying and joining Coventry’s Social Work Academy as a Newly-Qualified Social Worker myself, I have not looked back. It’s one of the best things I have done, and I feel privileged to have been a positive part of so many children’s lives.
Three tips for achieving good social work practice
- Look after yourself – this work is demanding and stressful, and we do it because we care, but if you don’t take time off to do other things, you will not be able to give your best
- Stay positive – it’s easy to focus on the negatives and all the things you have not managed to get done, but you have to remember the difference you are making and the reason you keep doing what you do
- Stay focused – it’s such a busy job, it can be easy to be blown off course and to focus on the needs of the adults rather than those of the children - so remember to slow down your thinking and keep children at the heart of your practice
Jennifer - Practice Educator
Name: Jennifer
Job Role: Senior Practitioner
Year Qualified (as SW): 2012
Why did you become a social worker?
I decided I wanted to be a social worker when I was quite young, about 15 years old. A lot of my family members worked in health and care professions, mainly the NHS and I always knew I wanted to work with people. I took up a few volunteering positions such as being a patient friend in a hospital, and quickly found myself keen to work with children and families. I found it incredibly rewarding helping families to support each other through challenging times. From there I completed my A-levels in law, sociology and politics and then my social work degree.
Three tips for our ASYEs
- Be kind to yourselves, nobody knows it all and keep asking questions, it's how we learn.
- Be empathic towards families and never lose your compassion. Any of us could need social care intervention at some point in our lives and think about how you would like that intervention to be.
- Never underestimate the importance of teamwork. Your colleagues can be your biggest support and champions, look after each other.
Leanne - Senior Practitioner
Name: Leanne
Job Role: Senior Practitioner
Year qualified: (as SW) : 2010
Why I became a social worker
I became a social worker as I wanted a job that supports members of the public and professionals
Three tips for achieving good social work practice
- Relationships
- Up-to-date knowledge
- Understanding the history of families.
Narelle - Senior Practitioner
Name: Narelle
Job Role: Senior Practitioner
Year Qualified (as SW): 2017
Why did you become a social worker?
From an early age I have always enjoyed working with and supporting people. My end goal has always been to support people to make positive changes in their lives.
At the age of 16 I worked in a residential home for adults with learning disabilities and continued this with children for a few years. Since qualifying I have worked in front line Child Protection Teams and the Youth Justice Service which has given me great knowledge within these areas.
Three tips for our ASYEs
- Always be reflective for future learning and development and never be afraid to ask for help.
- Treat everyone as you would like to be treated.
- Do not forget why you chose to do social work
Andreea - Senior Practitioner
Name: Andreea
Job Role: Senior Practitioner
Claudine - Experienced Social Worker
Name: Claudine
Job Role: Experienced Social Worker
Year qualified: 2020
Why I became a social worker
To help and protect children within the local community of Coventry.
To help young people and children feel empowered to make positive choices and decisions in their own lives and to ensure that the young people and children of Coventry can live a fulfilled, safe, and meaningful life based on their own aspirations and dreams.
To help guide and support vulnerable individuals.
Three tips for achieving good social work practice
- Build good positive relationships with Children and their families before discussing any plans to help with risks, worries or concerns.
- Never prejudge a situation, always ask, and clarify be inquisitive and have a passion in getting to know and understand your young people, children and families.
- Take time to reflect on your practice and life experiences always ask what would I change? How can I improve? What would make a bigger and better difference?
Louise - Professional Practice Educator
Name: Louise
Job role: Professional Practice Educator
Year qualified (as SW): 2013
Why I became a social worker
To support and empower others to make positive changes to their lives.
3 tips for our ASYEs
- Read – there is so much knowledge out there…soak it up! Embrace learning and development as it is the key to excellent social work practice.
- Plan – whilst plans can often get side-lined in social work, it's good practice to consider the outcomes you are working towards and plan how you might achieve them. Bringing in a contingency plan can also help to minimise disruption.
- Enjoy – This is your first year in practice. Use it as an opportunity to shadow, ask questions and get to know yourself as a practitioner.
Anne - Professional Practice Educator
Name: Anne
Job role: Professional Practice Educator
Year Qualified: 1980
Why I became a social worker
I remember in secondary school, being the only one to say I wanted to become a social worker. I find it hard to believe that I am still here doing a job which I love – never a dull moment, every day is completely different. I had ideas about helping others and making life better for children and their families. It turned out to be far more complex and interesting than I could ever have dreamed and continues to be an ongoing journey. I had a placement working with young people to set up a National Association for Young People in Care and supported them to challenge issues around their care and run a national conference, it was an inspiring time when there were lots of opportunities to work creatively and critically question practice. I have worked in a variety of social work roles within Coventry since qualifying.
I am now in the role of supporting and encouraging those starting on their social work journey and inspiring experienced practitioners to provide social work placements for students. It is a privilege to be involved in developing dedicated and enthusiastic practitioners in this challenging work. I continue to strive towards those early values in my day to day work in the Social Work Academy
Three tips for achieving good social work practice
- Listen carefully to what children and their families are saying is happening, don’t jump to conclusions or make assumptions, they are the experts of their own experience.
- Seek support to talk through what you are doing in supervision, take time to critically reflect on your own practice to inform your decision making.
- Explore different theories and methods, keep your social work values in mind and continue to be open to new ideas.
James - Professional Support Service
Name: James
Job role: Operational Support Officers
My role
To provide a range of administrative support to the Social Work Academy;
- Practice Educatorsâ
- Team Managersâ
- Senior Practitionersâ
- Child Sexual Abuse (Co-Ordinator) â
- Restorative Practice Leadsâ
- NQSW and recruitment of cohorts