Meet the Team
The whole team firmly believe that upholding a child’s right to maintain relationships with both parents is our priority. It is not easy in all cases, but we make it possible by working closely with families and their own individual circumstances.
From complexities in the relationship or communication breakdowns, to moderate/severe safety concerns, many factors can influence whether child contact remains after the breakdown of a marriage or relationship.
With a vision to provide families with the vital support needed to rebuild child/family member relationships, our Founder Anna set about creating a team of experienced professionals who could offer a variety of services to meet the needs of multiple family situations, all within a centre that provides a safety net for even the most difficult of interactions.
Anna Robinson
Director and Family Mediator
Gaye Walton
Operations Manager
Tracy Rajput
Weekend Duty Manager
Emma Bethlehem
Family Case Manager
Hannah Walton
Admin Manager
Leanne Cass
Administrator
Anna Robinson, Our Founder
The Starting Point Centre is the brainchild of Anna. Having noticed a clear need for a stepping stone between mediation and child contact orders, Anna set about creating a business that would help more families agree on child contact without going to court.
With her vast childcare experience and mediation qualifications, Anna knew exactly how to create a safe and secure environment and service offering what was needed to support this journey. Over the years, she’s used her expertise and commitment to the end goal to create a team which shares the same passion, and together they’ve helped hundreds of parents rebuild relationships with their children.
Gaye Walton, Operations Manager
With a remarkable 30-year journey spanning the realms of Human Resources and Business, Gaye brings a wealth of experience to our team. Her professional journey began as a Nursery Nurse and Nanny, where she cultivated a strong foundation in care and support and learnt the necessary skills to build rapport with children and their families.
In her current role, she oversees all operational functions within the company, including accounts management and customer enquiries, ensuring a seamless and positive experience for our families. She also provides invaluable support to our director in charting the way forward and assists our dedicated Family Time Duty Managers in addressing their queries.
Tracy Rajput, Weekend Duty Manager
With a degree in Children's Care, Learning, and Development, Tracy’s dedication to supporting children and families has thrived over a remarkable 34-year career. She has championed inclusivity, working with children from diverse backgrounds and abilities, ensuring their holistic development throughout her entire career. Prior to joining our team, Tracey spent 28 years in a private nursery, progressing from nursery officer to deputy manager, where her focus included not only children but also the staff's training and the nursery's day-to-day operations.
In her role here at the centre, her responsibilities include being duty manager at the weekend and supporting contact workers, ensuring they're equipped to support families, and creating a warm, homely space for parents to connect with their children. She works collaboratively with parents, striving to facilitate effective co-parenting and rebuild strained relationships.
Emma Bethlehem, Family Case Manager
Emma’s journey in education spans over a decade, from managing preschools to working in primary schools, where she’s embraced diverse roles and responsibilities. Not only has she taught classes but also led initiatives in SEND, Speech & Language, and phonics interventions. Additionally, she’s had the privilege of training staff and becoming Team Teach certified, ensuring positive handling in challenging situations.
Her transition to our team was fueled by the desire for new challenges and an eagerness to gain fresh skills and experiences. In her current role as Family Time Duty Manager, she’s entrusted with essential responsibilities, acting as duty manager through the week and overseeing her own accounts, where she conducts referral evaluations (risk assessments), and performing pre-contact visits. She also oversees the supervision of our contact workers ensuring they have the support they need at all times.
Hannah Walton, Admin Manager
Hannah embarked on her journey with us in 2021 to gain invaluable experience while pursuing her university studies. Little did she know that this opportunity would evolve into a fulfilling career after graduating. Her growth within the company has seen her take on various roles and responsibilities, including the daily management of the admin team, all financial aspects such as invoicing and payroll. Hannah’s speciality is keeping the team on track with her attention to detail.
Leanne Cass, Administrator
Leanne started working with us in December 2022 as a Typist. With a background in customer services, she quickly became an asset to the team and progressed into the role of Administrator, supporting the Admin Manager. Outside of work, Leanne is undertaking a Business Management degree.
In addition to our in-house team, we also collaborate with a number of social care workers and legal professionals to provide multi-agency support to our families.
Our Qualifications and Accreditations
Our Newest Accreditation
Anna and Emma have recently received their qualification and accreditation to run the Triple P Program (Positive Parenting Program). This Program is one of the most effective evidence-based parenting programs in the world, backed up by more than 35 years of ongoing research. Triple P gives parents simple and practical strategies to help them build strong, healthy relationships, confidently manage their children’s behaviour, and prevent problems developing. Triple P is used in more 30 countries and has been shown to work across cultures, socio-economic groups and in different kinds of family structures.
Want to be part of our team?
We are always on the lookout for family focused individuals with a passion to make a difference to join our team. Are you someone who can build rapport with children, young people, and their families? Do you have either social work, CAFCASS, family court or other relevant experience? If you’re looking for an exciting new adventure, check out our current vacancies here.
