Who we are
About the Company
Our training and consultancy is managed by Jane Hughes, who has 44 years experience working in social care as a social worker and a social work manager. Jane established Making Connections in 2003 and has a reputation for providing a quality service to all our customers and is a well-respected trainer and consultant in adult safeguarding.
Managing Director
Jane has worked within the health and social care field for 44 years and started her early career in residential settings for children and adults with learning disabilities. Having trained as a Social Worker in 1982, she worked as a practitioner with children and adults across London and the South East, in workforce development in learning disability services and as a manager and service manager in adult social care.
As a practitioner and manager within Local Authorities, Jane played a key role in raising awareness about the abuse, exploitation and neglect of adults and worked on early policies, procedures and good practice on abuse prior to and post launch of No Secrets in 2000.
Jane established Making Connections (Isle of Wight) Ltd. in 2003 and has developed a very successful and well-respected training and consultancy company specialising in all aspects of child and adult safeguarding, mental capacity, deprivation of liberty. Jane was involved in local and national consultations around the ‘No Secrets’, worked with the DH around adult safeguarding in prisons. She continues to work nationally, working with the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services on the safeguarding enquiries and safeguarding concerns frameworks.
Jane has worked with service users on developing safeguarding outcomes as part of Making Safeguarding Personal, she delivers a wide range of safeguarding training, with a particular focus on Section 42 Enquiries. Works Safeguarding Adults Boards on the development of safeguarding policies, procedures, guidance and Safeguarding Adults Reviews, learning events and providing training and consultancy to Safeguarding Adults Boards.
Jane believes in working closely with commissioners, practitioners and people who use services, to co-design approaches to training and consultancy projects that support individuals and organisations in the delivery of quality services. She believes in sharing her passion and vision with service users and with staff across all agencies and organisations, within training and other forms of learning and development opportunities.
Jane works with a number of associate trainer and consultants, all of whom bring knowledge, expertise and passion to the child and adult arena.
Director and Company Secretary
Stuart has 40 years’ experience working in the public sector, as a Social Worker, Manager and Head of Services for Children and Families.
Stuart’s career has almost exclusively been in the field of child care and child protection working and living for many years in London.
As a Team Manager working for the London Borough of Southwark Stuart managed a team of social workers working with children and families and undertaking child protection investigations.
As an Area Manager in Hampshire County Council, Stuart was also responsible for chairing Child Protection Case Conferences.
In 1996 Stuart became Head of Service for Children and Families for Southampton City Council and during his 4 years in this role he was responsible for developing and maintaining close working relationships with local communities and agencies with a role in safeguarding children; developing strategic policies and in ensuring the robust implementation of safeguarding training across the workforce.
Stuart is currently a Company Director and Secretary; he oversees all company projects and contracts.
Business Manager
Gemma is our business manager and is the main point of contact for all business activity, overseeing all administrative actions and supporting our associate trainers.
Gemma has worked in Business Administration for over 20 years, gaining extensive experience within the Health and Care Sector. Gemma works alongside Stuart to ensure the business runs smoothly.
Administrator
Bekki is our administrator and works alongside our trainers to ensure their course material is up to date.
She is responsible for liaising with our commissioners to ensure we have all of the necessary information for our training courses i.e. registers, feedback forms so that they can run smoothly.
Site Map
Making Connections (Isle of Wight) Ltd, St Thomas House, 17 St Thomas Square, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1SL
Contact us at: makingconnectionsiow@outlook.com
