who are social workers 👩‍💼

At Holding Hands, many of our senior team members are qualified social workers. Parents often ask what this means and why it matters for contact visits.

Social workers are trained professionals who understand how families function, how children cope with change, and how stress or conflict can affect relationships.

They listen carefully, notice small things that matter, and focus on what helps children feel safe and supported.

Social workers combine knowledge of child development with strong communication and problem-solving skills. They’re skilled in managing emotions, identifying risks, and helping families find calmer ways forward. They can read between the lines - seeing both what’s said and what’s left unsaid.

In contact visits, these skills translate into practical support:

• balancing empathy with clear boundaries

• understanding the impact of separation and trauma

• ensuring children’s emotional needs come first

• helping parents learn new patterns of connection

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When social workers lead the intake process and guide contact visits, families benefit from a steady hand. They help parents understand the purpose of each step, and they make sure every decision is grounded in safety, respect, and child focus.

Their presence brings a layer of reassurance - knowing that someone experienced is watching for the small moments that show how a child is coping.

At one recent visit, one of our senior contact workers wore the same soft jumper she’d worn when the baby first met her during the child familiarisation session. It was a small detail - but an important one.

That’s the thoughtfulness of social workers - they notice what helps a child feel safe, and they weave it into the smallest moments.