Specialist Team

Our specialist team of advisors work across all divisions of the Keys group and report into our Clinical Director. Here is a brief overview of who’s who and their areas of expertise.

Helen Stewart

Helen has a registered manager’s award which is equivalent to a foundation degree. Helen has extensive experience as a registered home manager and has worked successfully with extremely challenging children and young people since 2001. In 2011, Helen used her experience to take on the role of specialist adviser in Behaviour Management and self injuries behaviour. Helen’s role within the organisation involves training and developing staff teams, visiting homes and offering advice and strategies to managers, staff teams, and young people.

Katherine Proudman

I am responsible for educating and empowering staff and young people around child sexual exploitation (CSE), child criminal exploitation, gangs, county lines and child trafficking. My aim is to reduce risks to both the individual and Keys – and to promote placement stability.

I have extensive experience of working within the field of child sexual exploitation, sexual and domestic violence, gang violence and teenage pregnancy. In my previous role I was an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate and National CSE Trainer working alongside The National Crime Agency on Operation Stovewood. This is the largest and most complex investigation of its kind into Child Sexual Exploitation and presented a range of challenges along its way. My leadership in this role ensured a commitment to remaining victim-focused at all times and working closely with other stakeholders to ensure the best possible service for the survivors. This included working closely with partners within homelessness teams, the IDVA service, police, social care and mental health where we have been able to often identify single point of contact to streamline support for survivors.Prior to this, I worked as a tackling gang violence coordinator in Leeds. During this time I was responsible for developing and delivering training to other professionals and was commissioned to do so by agencies such as councils and the NHS.

As part of this work I was responsible for designing and delivering relevant and current training that addresses modern grooming models such as online, as well as law / legislation, good practice, voice and influence and life story work delivered by survivors of child sexual exploitation. I also designed preventative resource packs to be used within educational and informal youth settings.

I have developed therapeutic programmes for women and children such as “ hands are not for hurting,” dealing with the effects of domestic violence, sexual abuse and exploring safe relationships from both the perspective of the adult and the child. In addition, I have delivered accredited pieces of work for the council around “relationships and staying safe.” This programme was developed for young people as a preventative tool.

Steve Challinor

Steve has a degree in Criminal Justice and retired from the police in 2012 having served as a police officer for 30 years. The majority of Steve’s police service was as a detective and he has spent periods managing CID teams, child protection teams and major investigation teams at various times. He has also operated as a member of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, where he provided advice and guidance to senior police officers in respect of major crime investigation. After retirement, Steve went to work for North Wales Police as an advisor to police command teams in respect of missing children and child sexual exploitation before moving to work for Keys as the Specialist Advisor for Police Liaison. Steve works closely with homes, helping them build positive relationships with their local police force and is actively working to reduce incidents of police involvement with the young people. He provides advice and support to Keys managers, headteachers and police forces and takes part in strategy and professionals’ meetings.

Fran Gracie

Fran’s background in the substance misuse field began in 2003 when she started work in adult drugs and alcohol rehabilitation, initially as a qualified Counsellor and Deputy Manager. During this time, she completed a BSc in Counselling at Leeds University, Counselling Supervision qualification and Registered Managers Award. Fran also ran a private counselling practice on a part time basis. In 2007, Fran worked with young people and families in a specialist substance misuse service covering Manchester. During this time, Fran re-trained to become a Systemic Family Therapist at Leeds University; she implemented the first substance misuse family therapy team in the UK and developed a Supervision Model for the Lifeline Group. She later secured a post as an Operations Manager for a young person’s substance service covering five districts of East Lancashire. Fran remains passionate about substance services and is a trustee for a Charity that offers resettlement to people in recovery from substance addiction.

In 2016, Fran secured the role at Keys as a National Specialist Advisor for substance misuse, covering all the Keys Group services in the UK. Fran offers advice and support to staff working with all service users that use substances and delivers specialist training to all staff within the organisation. Fran also provides the organisation with latest intel on new and emerging substances which increases staff awareness of the types of substances in circulation.

Occasionally, Fran will deliver direct evidence based, care planned psychosocial interventions and harm reduction advice to young people, ensuring that all presenting needs are identified and safeguarding concerns are responded to. Fran is qualified to deliver Acupressure and Acupuncture treatment which she will offer as an intervention to any young people using substances with consent from their lead professional.

Sarah Taie

For some months now the Keys Group Senior Leadership Team has been planning to deliver a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Strategy.
Keys Group is striving continuously to improve children, young people’s and adults’ experiences and outcomes. Success rests upon ambitious, focused, strategic leadership and a workforce that is exceptional. The Keys Group vision is central to this PBS strategy that seeks to inspire and support young people to live happy, healthy and successful lives.

Sarah Taie has recently been appointed as Head of Positive Behaviour Support to develop and drive this strategy. A significant part of this strategy is the plan to work in partnership with BILD (British Institute of Learning Disabilities) to support the delivery of an extensive learning and development programme across the organisation. The programme will be delivered in a phased approach, commencing in November 2020 and running throughout 2021.

Sarah has previously worked in a number of settings supporting individuals with Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health needs. This has included working in Assistant Psychology roles, as well as establishing and managing a PBS and Autism outreach support service. Most recently Sarah worked as PBS Lead for a national provider of residential care and supported living for individuals with Learning Disabilities, Mental Health needs and Autism. She hopes to apply her knowledge and experience to her role at Keys Group.