BEN WHITNEY Independent Education Welfare Consultancy and Training SUPPORTING BEST PRACTICE IN SCHOOL ATTENDANCE email: ben.whitney1@btinternet.com tel: 07939 103340

ABOUT ME

Email: ben.whitney1@btinternet.com

Tel: 07939 103340

The picture on this page was taken by my amazingly talented daughter, Josie George - creative writer, photographer, copywriter and mother. Check out her professional website at http://www.josiegeorge.co.uk/

How did I get to here? I often wonder! After taking a Sociology degree and CQSW at Bath University, I began my professional career in 1974 as a social worker with the now defunct Avon County Council. Following the sudden death of my father - who was a rather unconventional Baptist minister - I decided to study theology at the radical Northern Baptist College and the University of Manchester. I took a postgraduate degree, then became a minister myself for over 5 years, before going to work for the Diocese of Lichfield Board for Social Responsibility till 1989.

When that job ended I went back into social work and a new career in Education Welfare which lasted until I took early retirement in 2011. In that time I published widely on the educational implications of the Children Act 1989 and other welfare issues during over 20 years' experience in Staffordshire and Wolverhampton Local Authorities. In both LAs I was Manager of the Education Welfare Service and played an active role on the training committees of both ACPCs/Local Safeguarding Children Boards. I have delivered countless 'Level 1' Child Protection training sessions for schools and have co-delivered 'Level 2' inter-agency training events in 3 Local Authorities. Since I 'retired' I have acted as Training Consultant during a review of attendance services for schools in two Midlands LAs and delivered a series of training sessions in several others on preventing and managing allegations against staff

I am now concentrating on supplying schools with self-study and groupwork resources by email on attendance along with school-based audits, half-day seminars and a whole-day Workshop. I also facilitate seminars and courses for FORUM Business Training and contribute to journals and conferences on attendance issues.

I also write and speak on Humanism and Christianity. Religions are all human creations. But does that necessarily make them worthless? If you'd like to know more about that, including a free paperback on a humanist approach to reading the Bible: 'Updating the Map'; just send me an email. Or download my Adobe book 'The Apostate's Creed' (see panel on left)

MY CHOSEN CHARITY

Make a loan. Change a life.

Values & Vision

I've worked in education welfare for over 25 years. My priority has always been on making sure that colleagues in schools and local authorities know the relevant attendance law and follow the required guidance, but also that they recognise the need for sensitivity in how they are applied. Schools should be compassionate, creative places, not a constant battleground.

So I may not always tell you exactly what you think you want to hear. But I will offer you an informed and independent voice that gives you real practical help in carrying out your statutory duties and seeks to promote creative solutions for those children and young people who most need them.

Contact details

Use the CONTACT ME page or e-mail or phone. See WHITTER for my thoughts on education welfare issuses: Currently: 'Some summer holiday reading' and 'Where now after Platt'?

Disclaimer

ALL INFORMATION AND ADVICE PROVIDED ON THIS WEBSITE, AND IN RELATED RESOURCES AND EVENTS, IS GIVEN IN GOOD FAITH AND IS TRUE AND ACCURATE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF. HOWEVER NO LIABILTY IS ACCEPTED FOR ANY ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES ARISING THEREFROM OR FOR ANY IMPLICATIONS OF UNINTENDED ERRORS. I HAVE BOTH PUBLIC LIABILITY AND PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE.

0808 800 5000

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Before you go....

Ever wondered whether there might still be a place for a personal spirituality, even if you don't believe in a God? I also write on 'Christian Humanism' as a hobby. All religions, their gods and their values, are human attempts to help us to understand ourselves. We created them; they weren't handed down from above. So is there anything left of any value in Christianity if you strip away all the doctrinal baggage and outdated assumptions about the way the world is? You decide.

Download my latest book for free here:
The Apostate's Creed Ben Whitney.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [881.5 KB]

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