Pauline Bennett

I have dedicated more than 40 years of my professional life to working with children, young people and families, with my career spanning health, social care and the family justice system.

My professional journey began as a Qualified Nurse, where I developed a strong understanding of compassionate care and the importance of supporting individuals and families during challenging times. I later qualified as a Social Worker, obtaining my Diploma in Social Work (Dip SW) and the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) before completing a Master of Laws (LLM) in Child Law, enabling me to combine practical social work experience with specialist legal knowledge.

My early social work career included working within residential childcare with Barnardo's before moving into frontline statutory social work within a London local authority. In 1994, I was appointed as a Children's Guardian (Public Law), a position I proudly held for 28 years. During this time, I represented the interests of children involved in complex care proceedings, working closely with the Family Court, judges, solicitors, barristers, social workers and other professionals to ensure that children's welfare remained at the centre of every decision.

Throughout my career, I have been privileged to support thousands of children and families, often during some of the most difficult periods of their lives. This experience has shaped my belief that every family should be treated with dignity, fairness and respect.

As Founder and Manager of Project West Assessment & Contact Services, I have been privileged to lead an organisation committed to delivering independent, child-focused services that are trusted by families, legal professionals, CAFCASS and local authorities.

For over 20 years, Project West has supported families through ALL levels of Family Time, assessments, family support and related services. We have earned a reputation for delivering high-quality, professional and impartial services, always placing the welfare and best interests of children at the heart of everything we do.

I firmly believe that professionalism, integrity, compassion and independence are the foundations of good practice. These values continue to guide both my work and the ethos of Project West today.