Stephanie Gee (MSc, DipSw) has over 8 years' experience as a Regulation 44 and Standard 3 independent visitor. Stephanie has a wealth of experience within social care settings for children and young people. As a Senior Practitioner Social Worker for almost 20 years, Stephanie has significant experience within both safeguarding and children with disabilities teams.

Stephanie had been "Head of Residential Services" for a large OFSTED "Outstanding" provider, working and communicating closely with a range of children with special needs.

Stephanie is registered with Social Work England and has been appropriately vetted through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Marisa Kelsall (BA Hons, PGCE) has a proven track record of experience in the childcare sector, spanning 30 years. Marisa has been working as a consultant with us since 2016.

She has expertise, particularly in working with children with special needs and mental health problems; having a special interest in autism. Her accomplishments include setting up and managing a variety of Residential Special Schools. She has also been responsible for a number of Children's Homes and has experience in independent monitoring visits.

She is a skilled at forming relationships with children and has strong communication skills.

Marisa has also been appropriately vetted through the Disclosure and Barring Service. 

Sarah Hancock (BSc Hons) has been providing visits for us since 2018. She is an experienced health professional, who has worked in both the community and in residential care as a specialist nurse for children with learning disabilities and also as a health visitor. 

She has experience of working with looked after children, when working in residential settings, or as the looked after child lead whilst working in the community. She has particular expertise in relation to the health and wellbeing of looked after children and has worked as a behavioural specialist. 

Sarah has been vetted appropriately through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Mandy Thomas (BA Hons) has been providing Regulation 44 visits for Children First Consultancy since January 2022. Mandy has worked for Staffordshire County Council Children’s Services for 28 years in a variety of roles including as a lead for social workers in schools, edge of care services and restorative practice. She has experience as a Service Manager for the Intensive Prevention Service.

She also has experience in Family Assessment and Support as both a Senior Social Worker and as a Team Coordinator.

She also worked as a Senior Personal Adviser for Staffordshire County Council for 9 years.

For 6 years Mandy worked as a Residential Care worker gaining proficiency in a role which involved the day-to-day care of young people.

Mandy is registered with Social Work England and has been appropriately vetted through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Stuart Banks (BA Hons) has been a regulation 44 Visitor with Children First Consultancy since 2021. Stuart has over 20 years of experience in the residential childcare sector, with over 10 of these as a Registered Manager.

Before working as a Registered Manager, Stuart gained experience and responsibilities from working as a Therapeutic Support Worker, through to becoming a Senior in the field with deputising responsibilities. This led to gaining skills and experience ranging from providing care and support, to training, supervising and developing care staff. With so much experience as a registered manager, Stuart has been able to mentor new managers and has overseen homes while their manager posts have been vacant.  

He applies his extensive knowledge of regulatory requirements and his vast experience in the childcare sector to his regulation 44 visits.

Stuart has been vetted appropriately through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Gillian Miele has over 21 years of experience within the care sector. She has held senior management positions for the past 18 years with roles including being the Group Head of Social Care and Compliance plus RI for a large children’s home group.

During this time, Gillian was responsible for the day-to-day leadership and strategy development for 9 provisions. She was also part of the Quality and Compliance committee during this time as well as being responsible for the strategic growth of 4 new homes in the group. Gillian has great knowledge of safeguarding with 16 years of experience as the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Prior to this Gillian gained experience as a RCW and worked her way to Home Manager at a different group whilst carrying out reg 33 inspections and monitoring reg 34 reports.

Gillian has been vetted appropriately through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Chantelle Bevan is an experienced health and social care leader with over 15 years of experience within the sector. She has experience ranging from frontline support worker and senior support worker to roles such as Operations Manager/Responsible Individual and Service Manager.

She has overseen service operations, strategic planning, budgeting, risk management, safeguarding and regulatory compliance.

She is experienced at implementing trauma-informed, child-centred practices, and has managed edge-of-care provisions, coordinated substance-misuse services and supported young people with complex needs.

Chantelle has been conducting Regulation 44 visits with Children First Consultancy since September 2025 and has been vetted appropriately through the Disclosure and Barring Service.