I started at CCS in 2016, initially as a Social Work Team Manager, then as Head of Adoption and now as CEO. I feel privileged to lead such an enthusiastic team of staff who care passionately about adoptive families. Over that time, I’ve worked closely with the Social Work Service, Therapeutic Service and The Centre and seen growth and change. I have completed various leadership courses, a level 5 Management qualification, a Social Work diploma and an Architecture degree. I feel driven to help children find their forever family and home; to find staff and services that will help these children and to help their dedicated new parents find a way through childhood where happy memories can be made, whilst addressing the trauma that came before.

I qualified as a social worker in 2002 after working in residential settings with adults with Learning difficulties. I spent many years working in safeguarding teams with a number of Local Authorities, working with birth families and placing children for adoption. I left the Local Authority in 2015 to work in the voluntary adoption sector, before coming to CCS in 2017 as a Practice Manager and as Head of Adoption from 2022. People inspire me and intrigue me.

I am always encouraged by the resilience of the human race; especially children who have experienced adversity, trauma and loss, yet still manage to get up and get on with their lives. What an absolute privilege to be part of that journey!

I have worked in a Project Support and Finance role since graduating in 2009 with a Computer Science degree. I joined the team in June 2015 as Finance Manager for CCS. I have an AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting and CIPP Payroll Technician Certification. I love spreadsheets and use them to ensure that CCS remains financially secure so that CCS can continue to build a positive future for children for many more years to come. I’m also a keen runner and often fundraise for CCS.

I joined CCS in 2013 with 25 years of experience as a Senior Practitioner, Team Manager and Service Manager in Local Authority Children’s Services; including in Safeguarding, Looked After Children’s, Adoption and Fostering services.
I joined CCS as a Senior Practitioner and Project Lead for The Centre, becoming a Practice Manager in 2017. I have an MA in Social Work, PQ Child Care Award, a level 5 Management qualification, and a degree in Sociology and Practice Teaching Award.
I believe that all children deserve to grow up in a safe and attuned forever family. At CCS I am part of an accomplished service finding permanent families for the children who need them and supporting those families effectively.

I joined CCS in 2021 with over 30 years of experience working in Children’s Services. Originally beginning in the London Borough of Lewisham Early Years and Social Care and Health sectors then returned to Bristol to deliver local community childcare services both for the local authority, community projects and Surestart. Most recently I have spent 6 years working as a childcare manager for the YMCA where I discovered my motivation and passion for being part of a charitable organisation.
I am thrilled to be part of the CCS team as PAS Manager and feel privileged to become part of a valuable and life-changing journey for children and families.

Before my training officer role, I spent four years working as an adoption adviser for CCS. I have a birth son, and twins who joined our family through adoption in 2007, so I have lots of real-life experience to draw on when training our prospective adopters.
I have worked as a midwife at the RUH in Bath, running antenatal classes and training student midwives. After a period of study, I went on to manage the RUH press and communications office before leaving to focus on our newly adopted twins.
My previous work and home life experiences along with our highly experienced and knowledgeable CCS team have been key in helping me to develop the skills and empathy to engage, train and support our prospective adopters through our adoption process and beyond.

I joined CCS in 2021 first as Marketing Assistant, which allowed me to broaden my knowledge both regarding adoption and working in a Marketing team. Since 2022 I’ve been working as Marketing Officer and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this organisation.
Before this I was working as a freelancer in digital marketing, managing social media accounts of small businesses. I specialised in Digital Marketing in 2020 at UWE, Bristol, where I’ve lived since 2018 after moving from Italy.
Working in an adoption centre like CCS really inspires my work and makes me feel good knowing that I can help prospective adopters build their forever families.

Floella is a tireless campaigner on behalf of children, and we are honoured that she feels that the work of CCS Adoption is worthy of her endorsement.
Baroness Benjamin understands the importance of encouraging a diverse range of potential adopters to come forward, as this will enable more children to experience the richness of stable, loving family life.
Floella has enjoyed a long TV career of over 40 years but describes her real passion as “inspiring children and young people”. Over the last 30 years plus she has campaigned on behalf of children.
“I am supporting CCS Adoption because of the valuable work they undertake to bring joy and happiness into the lives of children who through no fault of their own, find themselves in need of a family. I always say “Childhood lasts a lifetime”, so early life experiences matter as they will form a foundation for adult life.”
“So, giving those children happy, wonderful, loving experiences and an understanding of who they are creating a strong identity which makes a huge difference when they grow up. It brings with it the confidence to face prejudice and adversity and helps to break down the barriers they may face. CCS understand the implications of not making sure this is delivered in children’s early lives and therefore do their utmost to practice this important philosophy.”

Jenny’s bold and contemporary paintings reflect her life-long love affair with Bristol and the South West. Largely working from memory, she experiments with acrylic, collage, ink and digital mediums to create contemporary and colourful images of her favourite places!
Jenny’s work has been exhibited in galleries all over the South West of England, including The Royal West of England Academy.
Originally from a scientific background, Jenny studied Biology at Oxford University and then went on to teach secondary science for ten years. In 2011, she gave it all up and decided to follow her dream of being an artist.

I have enjoyed a long and varied career in Social Work and Counselling serving in the public, commercial and voluntary sectors. My early years were in Northants working in child care and specialising in family placement. In 1990 I relocated to Bristol and moved to the commercial sector in the position of Staff Counsellor for a large retail company. In 1996, I moved to the voluntary sector where I managed a local organisation which supported individuals and families affected by stroke, until my retirement in 2010. In 2000 I returned to Bristol University where I gained an MSc. I have had several articles published on the psychosocial effects of stroke on the family.
Since 2010, I have been a Trustee of CCS and am a member of the Adoption Panel.

I have many years of experience as a primary school teacher in a challenging area of a large city and have been a trustee and volunteer fundraiser and more latterly Panel Member, at CCS since 2014.
Before training as a teacher, in my early forties, I supported small businesses with HR and Marketing for a number of years.
I am committed to achieving positive outcomes for CCS adopters. I also believe that post-adoption support is crucial to helping those families thrive. I am keen to support the work of CCS through various fundraising activities.
Married and living in South Gloucestershire, I have two adult daughters.

I have been a Chartered Accountant for 25 years and worked in the professional services, manufacturing, retail and financial services industries. Most recently I was Finance Director for a UK subsidiary of a US multinational in the electronic security industry, before moving on to a General Manager role in the same organisation.

I have just retired after 33 years of working as a social worker with children and their families. During my career, I worked in an adoption team working with all sides of the adoption triangle and established an adoption support service. My last post was as manager of an early help team.

I qualified as a social worker in 1975 and have spent the ensuing 45 years in a variety of settings from forensic psychology to adoption and fostering. I have specialised in adoption for the past 30 years, and have been connected to CCS, in one way or another, since 1995 - I have been a trustee since 2010. I am now semi-retired but continue to act as an adoption panel chair for Adoption West; I am due to retire in September 2021. For many years I was the ADM for CCS but now only step in when the current ADM is away.

I have many years of experience working within the financial services sector, having held a number of senior roles, including the management of a variety of community engagement programmes. Having lived in Bristol all of my life, I am in a civil partnership, where my partner and I live with our adopted son.