Emma wintle

I began my career supporting adults with Learning Disabilities transitioning to life in the community after many years living in institutional settings.  In 2000 I qualified as a Social Worker and then as an Approved Mental Health Professional (then ASW) in 2003.  

Since qualification I have gained extensive experience in the mental health field as a care co-ordinator working with people with a range complex needs and social adversities.  I developed a particular interest in issues of Mental Capacity and the legal system after becoming involved a lengthy Court of Protection case.  I am a qualified Best Interests Assessor and have worked independently as such.  I have also worked for the Care Quality Commission as a Specialist Advisor supporting the work of the CQC in scrutinising care provided by Healthcare services.  

For the last 3 years, as well as continuing to practice as an AMHP, I have worked as a Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Social Worker for the NHS specialising in supporting women in the perinatal period and bringing a social work perspective to the team.  I have a particular interest in understanding the needs of trafficked women and victims of modern slavery and their children and also the specific, yet neglected, needs of women who have had children removed from their care.  This role has developed my experience and knowledge of working with families and the interface with Children’s Social Services.   

 I began working for EASL in 2021 on a sessional basis undertaking mental health assessments and helping support staff to understand the needs of their service users.  I enjoy the trauma-informed approach of the work and adopting a strengths based perspective.