LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
Truly Independent Social Workers on your side
We exclusively work for families and are completely independent of Local Authorities.
From scrutinising assessments and helping you prepare for important meetings such as an Initial Child Protection Conference (ICPC), to sitting on your side of the table during those meetings, we bring truly independent social-work expertise to every stage of the process.
About Oracle
Oracle Social Work was created to give families access to truly independent social-work expertise of their own.
Our Independent Social Workers work exclusively for families and never Local Authorities, allowing us to sit firmly on your side of the table while maintaining independent professional judgement.
Our mission is to level the playing field. We believe significant decisions about families should be based on evidence, not unsubstantiated claims, assumptions or hypotheses presented as fact.
More Than Advocacy
An Oracle Independent Social Worker doesn't just help your voice be heard. We bring registered social-work expertise to scrutinise professional reasoning, respond in real time and challenge where appropriate. We can also support complaints where needed, providing evidence of what we have observed.
We understand social-work assessments, safeguarding practice and professional decision making because we are registered social workers. We can scrutinise assessments, help you prepare your evidence, attend meetings and professionally challenge where appropriate.
Choose the Oracle Support Thats Right for Your Family
You know your family. We know the professional system assessing it.
A parent can say "I disagree". An Oracle Independent Social Worker can examine why the professional conclusion was reached and whether the evidence actually supports it. Your evidence. Your voice. Backed by truly independent social work expertise.
Assessment & Report Scrutiny
Independent professional scrutiny of social-work assessments and other professional reports.
We examine the evidence behind professional opinions and identify factual inaccuracies, unsupported claims, assumptions and conclusions that are not adequately evidenced.
Where concerns are identified, we can prepare a clear, evidence based professional response for presentation at meetings or within the complaints process.
We follow the evidence. Our professional judgement remains independent.
Meeting Attendance & Advocacy
Put an Oracle Independent Social Worker On Your Side Of The Table.
Beyond advocacy
We don't just help your voice be heard. We understand the social-work practice, professional reasoning and decision making taking place in the room.
As discussions develop, we can respond in real time, asking questions, seeking clarification and professionally challenging where appropriate.
Our professional observations can also be documented, providing a clear record of what we observed and any concerns identified. This can provide an important independent record if concerns later need to be taken further.
Preparation & Specialist Support
Whether you are facing a parenting, pre-birth, Cafcass, risk, psychological or any other assessment, navigating CIN, Child Protection or PLO, or need support through a complaints process, Oracle will work alongside you.
We help you understand what professionals will be considering, how to prepare based on your individual strengths, consider what may come next and how to respond to concerns or decisions.
Whatever happens next, you don't have to navigate it without truly independent professional support.
Start With an Initial Consultation
Every family’s circumstances are different. Your support should be too.
All Oracle support begins with a 60-minute consultation with an Independent Social Worker. This gives us the opportunity to understand what has happened, what Children’s Services or other professionals are concerned about, what you are concerned about, and what you would like to achieve.
Your Independent Social Worker will listen to your circumstances, help you make sense of the professional processes involved and identify where independent social-work expertise may be able to support you.
This may include preparing for an assessment, scrutinising reports or professional opinions, attending meetings on your side of the table, helping you respond to concerns, or supporting you through a complaints process.
We will not simply tell you what you want to hear. Our professional judgement remains independent and evidence-led. Where we believe Oracle can assist, we will explain the support we recommend and why.
When booking, you will be asked to provide information about your circumstances so that we can understand the background before your consultation. We may contact you briefly beforehand if further information is required.
Consultations are available by telephone or video call. Home visits may also be available depending on location and availability and may incur an additional charge.
If, after reviewing your booking information, we believe that Oracle is not the appropriate service for your circumstances, we will tell you before the consultation and refund your consultation fee in full.
Initial Consultation: £95
1.
Book Your Consultation
Choose a consultation option that works best for you and your circumstances. Consultations can take place via telephone, video call or home visits, subject to availability. Please note that home visits may include additional charges.
2.
What to expect
You will be speaking with an experienced truly independent social worker, who understands how processes work in practice. We take the time to understand your situation and provide clear practical guidance tailored to you.
3.
After your consultation
You will leave with a clearer understanding of your situation, the processes involved and the next steps available to you. Where needed, ongoing support and further guidance can also be arranged.
Your Support Journey
A clear and supportive process designed to help you feel informed every step of the way.
Why Choose Oracle Social Work?
Independent from the Local Authority. Independent in our judgement.
We work exclusively for families and never Local Authorities. That is what makes Oracle truly unique. The true nature of independence is built into the way Oracle works. You are not simply bringing a general advocate into the room. You are putting truly Independent Social Work expertise on your side of the table, which immediately re-balances the power dynamics in a room full of professionals. The conversations change when everyone is aware that there needs to be accountability for actions taken.
Level the playing field
Our true independence of Local Authority reliance means that when we review an assessment, attend a meeting or question professional decision-making, our only responsibility is to give you an independent, evidence-led view and bring appropriate accountability and challenge to any malpractice or oversight.
Oracle Independent Social Workers understand the system from the inside and the reason you are here, is the same reason we are. We bring professional accountability to professional settings, because we have seen first-hand what many families have experienced and we chose to use our expertise to support the people we went into this profession to support.
All Independent Social Workers working on behalf of Oracle, will be registered with Social Work England. Registration number of the worker you are allocated will be provided following your booking to ensure you have peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful information to guide you through the process and answer common questions about our services.
