Dr Beverley Barnett-Jones h.c is a social worker by heart and by profession. Over many years, she has worked closely with researchers, academics, and clinicians to strengthen the social care response to children and families where adverse childhood experiences and intergenerational social adversity manifest as trauma, stress, and loss—deeply affecting mental wellbeing and health. Her work is grounded in a commitment to contextualising these challenges within cultural, structural, and social justice frameworks.
She is currently the Associate Director for Practice and Impact at the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, bringing extensive frontline experience from children’s social care and the family courts. She played a key role in establishing three Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDACs) in England, introducing, and implementing the AMBIT model across LA settings and continues to serve as an expert advisor to the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
In 2024, Beverley was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Essex in recognition of her leadership and innovation in the field of family justice. She is kinship care experienced and is proud to support those who step up to care for children , as a Trustee for Kinship, the national charity for Kinship carers and their children.
Beverley recently founded the ABEL Initiative—Attachment, Belonging, Elevation and Love—a pathway to hope that promotes collaboration with faith-based communities in effectively implementing evidence-based practices and interventions that support vulnerable children, their families, and communities. Through ABEL, Beverley champions the integration of neuroscience, infant mental health, spirituality, and community wisdom to promote healing, resilience across the life course.