Fareena Shaheed
Trainer

“How would I feel in that situation?”

Fareena began her career as Assistant Warden at the Elizabeth Fry Probation and Bail Hostel before moving into social work as Care Manager for Slough Borough Council.  She also worked as a Family Court Adviser with CAFCASS and, following promotion to Service Manager, she was the lead in the South East region on the Children’s Rights Agenda.

Most recently, Fareena held a position as Area Child Care Coordinator with Surrey County Council. This was a quality assurance and safeguarding role, focusing on driving continuous practice development and improvement. Working with teams in a targeted and time-limited manner in order to bring about change in practice, Fareena’s work included delivering training and workshops, providing CP and case consultation for ATMs and practitioners and contributing to training and development programmes (including the planning and delivery of PLO training).

Fareena was also Surrey’s Link Officer with Research in Practice and the social care representative on the Family Justice Council.

With a strong commitment to supporting disadvantaged groups, Fareena has previously held the position of Vice-Chair of the management committee for SAHARA, a refuge for Asian women fleeing domestic abuse.

Fareena continues to carry out assessment and court work alongside her teaching.

Qualifications

Fareena has a Professional Certificate in Management (Health & Social Care) from Open University, 2006. She also has an MSc in Social Work Studies/DipSW from the University of Southampton, 1996 – and a BA(Hons) in Social Policy and Administration from the University of Plymouth, 1992. Fareena is a published author and reviewer for Research in Practice.

Meet Fareena

What’s a quote you live by or that inspires you?

‘You have to be the change you want to see.’ (Gandhi)

What are three key values that guide your life choices?

Being ethical, being kind, and thinking ‘how I would feel if that were me or my loved ones?’

What makes you laugh?

Myself, i.e. laughing at myself when I do some incredibly silly things.

What has been your proudest moment as a practitioner?

A very long time ago a paediatrician described a mother I had previously worked with in very uncomplimentary terms and expressed her condolences that I had to work with this parent. I immediately responded by explaining that I had a very good relationship with the mother and maybe the paediatrician might want to think about why she and the mother had gotten off to such a bad start. I had been qualified for less than two years at that point so really didn’t know who I was as a practitioner, but can now see this was clear evidence of my relational approach.

What has been your proudest moment as a trainer?

This is tricky —— I think it is when I am to challenge people to aspire to be the best practitioner they can be in the contexts they work in.  Challenge is always hard and to be able to deliver it so people are able to be inspired to make good difference is very satisfying.

What makes you get up each morning?

My lust for life!

How do you want to be remembered?

Kind, strong, loyal, and principled.

What’s one piece of wisdom that guides you?

As above really. Would I want to be treated like that/how would I feel in that situation?

 

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