EDI Exploring Expertise: Accountability, allyship and Anti-Racist practice

We are delighted to be working alongside the Racial Justice Family Network to bring together a panel of experts for a conversation on what anti-racist practice looks like in day-to-day practice, the tools that support its implementation, and the pathways toward a more fair and equitable system for all children, young people and families.

This event takes place in a challenging context: the rise in far-right activity and the vilification of migrant communities is creating fear and insecurity among children, families and practitioners. At the same time, there is increasing awareness and understanding of racial disparities in experiences, decision-making and outcomes across children’s social care and the family justice system.

This 90-minute session will bring practitioners together to explore how anti-racist practice is being developed, implemented and sustained across the family justice and social care systems. The discussion will move beyond principles to examine how anti-racist commitments are being operationalised through policy, practice and leadership, and what is required to achieve a cultural shift in how decisions are made, how power operates, and how practitioners work alongside children and families.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Deepen understanding of what anti-racist practice means and what it involves
Learn about the process of embedding anti-racist practice within organisations and the tools developed to support this process.
Explore opportunities and barriers, and how accountability can be sustained across systems and practice.

PRESENTERS

Millie Kerr, Strategic Anti-Racist Practice, Brighton and Hove County Council

Millie Kerr is a registered social worker with over 30 years’ experience within the profession, 20 of which has been as a manager and senior leader. Traversing roles within local authority children’s services, adult services and the charity sector. Working in areas of child protection, HIV, and managing child asylum, child trafficking, care leavers and FGM services. She has expertise in strategic planning, engaging multi-agency partners, change management and delivering training/keynotes nationally . Millie is a strategic anti-racist lead for a local authority in Brighton, aiding anti-racist strategic improvements across children’s services and corporately across the council. Millie is passionate about enhancing racial justice and equity for all and is also a member of BASW children and family’s thematic group and the racial justice family network.

Antonia Ogundayisi, Service Manager for Anti Racist Practice, Thames & Essex County Council

With more than 13 years of experience in youth justice and social work across voluntary and statutory sectors, she brings a sharp and passionate focus to addressing entrenched racial inequalities in children and families services. In this role, Antonia is driving change across four key priorities: leadership, policy and procedure review, workforce composition, and social care practice. She is committed to fostering an environment where open, honest conversations about race and discrimination are normalised—and where every practitioner, regardless of background, feels confident and equipped to act. Her vision is for a social care system rooted in justice and compassion—one that systematically dismantles over-representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic children and families, and ensures they are heard, seen and supported to thrive.

Olivia Doherty, National Participation and Engagement Officer, Five Rivers Child Care

Olivia works for Five Rivers Child Care, a social enterprise providing children’s social care across the UK. Five Rivers delivers fostering, residential care and education services, all underpinned by its pioneering Attachment and Trauma Informed Care (ATIC™) clinical model. Olivia has over 30 years of experience working in the social care sector and has specialised in children and young people’s participation for the past 16 years. Having recently qualified as an integrative therapist, Olivia supports young people to explore their narratives and experiences safely within her role. As National Participation and Engagement Officer, Olivia adopts a children’s rights-based approach in her work on service delivery and systemic practice. This approach helps to create services which are accountable, fair, inclusive, safe and respectful of children as rights holders. Thinking critically around how we assure young people can exercise and explore their rights freely, is key is ensuring spaces are safe and equitable. Humility, respect and creativity are the core values that guide her approach to work.

WHO'S IT FOR

The session is aimed at foster carers, adopters, children’s services, social workers, supervising social workers, managers and anyone interested in enhancing their knowledge around working in an anti-racist way, when considering the long-term and permanence needs of Black and Global majority Children and young people.

For social workers, reflection on this session may contribute to your continuing professional development (CPD).

Members can watch recordings of previous Exploring Expertise Webinars here