At Churchfields Family Services, our people are our greatest strength. We are led by experienced professionals with deep knowledge of children’s services, residential care, safeguarding, and family support. Our team brings together leadership, hands-on practice experience, and a commitment to the highest professional standards to deliver exceptional support and assessments for families and children.
At Churchfields Family Services, our vision is to empower families and children to achieve their full potential in a safe, supportive environment. Growing up in a stable, loving family with the freedom of an outdoor childhood instilled in me a deep appreciation for the importance of guidance, support, and opportunity.
My professional journey in recruitment and social care exposed me to the challenges faced by vulnerable families, from children’s homes to women’s refuges, and the lasting impact that quality support can have. These experiences, combined with my personal commitment to family and community, have shaped the philosophy of Churchfields Family Services.
We are dedicated to providing structured guidance, practical support, and empowerment for parents and children. Our aim is to ensure families are fully prepared, informed, and confident, enabling independence, resilience, and ambition. At Churchfields, no family faces challenges alone — our team is here to support, guide, and help every family build a safer, stronger future.
Our leadership and senior practitioners have expertise in running children’s homes, supported accommodation, and care services. They bring experience in operations, management, safeguarding oversight, staff training, workforce development, and regulatory compliance. They are skilled in residential family assessments, evidence-based interventions, and professional reporting.
All team members maintain high professional standards and are registered, or working towards registration, with Social Work England. Their practice follows the BASW Code of Ethics, and ongoing training ensures they stay current with safeguarding and family assessment best practice.
Working collaboratively, our team delivers safe, structured, and outcome-focused assessments. With strong governance and professional accountability, families feel supported, empowered, and confident in every aspect of our service.
Director
Born in Gidea Park, Essex, in 1979, Joanna brings a strong background in recruitment, business operations, and social care services. Early in her career she worked within a large recruitment organisation specialising in medical staffing, where she progressed to managing a major contract covering four hospitals. In this role she was responsible for coordinating staffing across all levels of medical professionals, from junior doctors to consultants.
Following a company merger, she continued her career within social care recruitment, working closely with a wide range of services including supported living schemes, shelters for the homeless, women’s refuges, and children’s homes. Through these experiences she developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals and families.
After spending several years raising her family and supporting the management of the family business, her focus turned towards creating meaningful support services for parents and children. Inspired by both her personal experiences and her belief in the importance of stable family support, she established Churchfields Family Services.
Her vision is to ensure that parents, particularly those facing difficult circumstances, have access to guidance, support, and the confidence needed to build safe and positive futures for their children. Through Churchfields, she is committed to empowering families, promoting independence, and creating opportunities for children and parents to thrive.
Business Development
Nik supports the growth and development of services at Churchfields Care, helping to strengthen partnerships and ensure families can access high-quality support. With a diverse professional background in project coordination, operations, and client relations, he brings a strategic and practical approach to developing services that meet the needs of children, young people, and families.
Nik began his career in London’s jewellery districts, where he developed strong customer service, leadership, and business management skills. This early experience shaped his ability to build trusted relationships and understand the importance of delivering high-quality services.
More recently, Nik has worked in professional project and surveying environments supporting work with local authorities, gaining valuable experience in reporting, compliance, and stakeholder engagement. This experience has strengthened his understanding of regulatory frameworks and the importance of maintaining high standards in professional services.
At Churchfields, Nik focuses on building strong partnerships with local authorities, professionals, and community organisations. He is committed to supporting the continued development of services that make a positive and lasting difference to the lives of children, young people, and families.
Consultant
Head of Care & Operations
Steve has dedicated his career to working with some of the most vulnerable and challenging children and young people in the UK. He began his career working in a young offenders institution before moving into children’s residential care, progressing through roles including Registered Manager and Responsible Individual.
With extensive experience across the sector, Steve brings a strong understanding of residential care, safeguarding, and high-quality service delivery. He has a proven track record of establishing and managing children’s homes that achieve ‘Good’ and ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted outcomes, maintaining high standards of care and positive outcomes for children and young people.
Steve is a strong leader and strategic thinker with significant experience in developing organisational strategies and operational plans to support effective services. His knowledge of residential care standards and best practice helps ensure Churchfields delivers safe, structured, and supportive environments for children and families.
Alongside his professional work, Steve is also a Board Trustee for YMCA Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire, where he supports initiatives that create positive opportunities and experiences for children and young people.
Consultant
Head of Quality & Safeguarding
Abi is the Head of Quality & Safeguarding at Churchfields Family Services and a qualified Therapeutic Life Story Practitioner with over 15 years’ experience working across the care and education sectors. Her professional background includes secure settings, residential care, and alternative education environments, giving her extensive knowledge of supporting vulnerable children and families.
Abi brings over seven years of management experience, during which she consistently maintained ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted outcomes. This reflects her strong leadership and commitment to maintaining the highest standards of care and safeguarding practice. She has a clear understanding of regulatory expectations and plays a key role in supporting Churchfields to maintain robust safeguarding frameworks, high-quality practice, and strong governance.
Abi also has extensive experience in developing and delivering training programmes, supporting staff teams to build the skills and confidence needed to provide nurturing, therapeutic environments where children and families can thrive.
Consultant
Head of Residential Practice
Tom is an enthusiastic and dedicated residential care professional with over 12 years’ experience working in children’s residential homes and secure settings. His career has included roles such as Registered Children’s Home Manager and Responsible Individual, where he has supported services through Ofsted registration and the development of new home managers.
Tom has extensive experience supporting young people with a wide range of needs, including those stepping down from Tier 4 mental health services, as well as children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and learning needs. His work focuses on creating safe, nurturing environments where young people can stabilise, develop confidence, and achieve positive outcomes.
Alongside his professional work, Tom is passionate about raising awareness and creating opportunities for children in care. He hosts a podcast supported by children in care and is actively involved in community initiatives that encourage participation and engagement, particularly through sport.
Tom is committed to building strong relationships with young people, staff teams, and partner agencies, helping to ensure children receive the support, stability, and opportunities they deserve.