About me

I'm Nick and the founder of NMA. I live in Exeter, Devon and moved here from the South East of England 30 years ago. In 1999, before qualifying as a Social Worker, I worked in a variety of roles supporting adults with learning disabilities. My final year social work student placement in an adult substance misuse service, combined with a few years of working in a statutory children and families social work team, provided me with a strong foundation in specialist adolescent safeguarding, and ultimately led to my role in specialist young persons substance misuse service. 

 

I worked within the specialist young persons substance misuse field for 12 years in both practitioner and management roles.  During this time, I supported many amazing young people in both home, school and community settings, and was privileged to support them in their journeys of change.

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In 2014,following my completion of a degree in Leadership and Management in Heath and Social Care, I decided that it was time for a new challenge. I was keen to apply my specialist adolescent safeguarding knowledge, skills and experience  to a new area of work.  I joined the local authority's specialist missing persons and exploitation team in a management role. Working within this team strengthened my understanding of the challenges and pressures that young people can face, and the factors which can influence and increase their vulnerability to harm. l have learnt about the importance of building open, honest and trusting relationships, working alongside the young person, their parents, carers and professionals, to support them in finding solutions that support their safety and well-being.  Children and young people are resilient and through empowering them them make safe and informed choices, 

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My way of working is positive, open, solution-focused and empathetic. I thrive on developing strong working relationships and bringing people together. By listening, understanding and collaborating with your organisation, I can support you by understanding your needs and focusing on practical solutions, which will support you to reach your goals.

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My areas of training specialism and work interest include adolescent safeguarding, adolescent drug and alcohol use, missing children and contextual safeguarding.

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I am a positive and engaging public speaker, I have delivered multi-agency professional training in a range of settings over many years - including mainstream and specialist education provision, children’s homes, third sector organisations, youth clubs and local interest groups. I am the founder of ‘SafeFest’ – an established and successful annual online adolescent safeguarding event. SafeFest provides a unique opportunity to bring professionals, practitioners and young people together to share research, practice and lived experiences.