Our Partners
The Partnership brings together professionals with extensive experience in both clinical practice and safeguarding. Our collective expertise spans psychology, psychotherapy, social work, and counselling, enabling us to provide specialist consultancy across a wide range of complex and sensitive areas. We have delivered consultation and support to numerous organisations and public inquiries and contributed to research.
claire.barker@sasconsultancygroup.co.uk
Claire Barker, BSc, DipPsych, MSc, C.Psychol, AFBPsS (She/Her)
Claire is a HCPC Registered and Chartered Forensic Psychologist and an Affiliate member of the British Psychological Society. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and a Master of Science Degree in Applied Forensic Psychology. Claire has worked within the field of forensic psychology for 20 years, working with both victims and offenders. Claire has worked on two large public inquiries since 2018; The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. Within both of these roles, Claire was involved in the design and development of trauma-informed support models and had responsibility for overseeing the provision of emotional support for those engaging with the Inquiry’s work. Claire has also provided advice to a number of other inquiries and is currently the Chief Psychologist to The Lampard Inquiry.
Claire was the lead researcher for two research articles published in 2023, evaluating the impact of using a trauma-informed approach within a public inquiry. In 2022, Claire was a keynote speaker at the NOTA Conference, presenting the emerging themes of this research.
Outside of her inquiry work, Claire continues to complete expert witness reports for the criminal Court and is a Specialist Member of the Parole Board for England and Wales.
Cassy Harrison, DipSW, BSc, MSc (She/Her)
Cassy is a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England, holding both a Diploma and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work along with a Master of Science Degree in Safeguarding in International Contexts. Cassy is also a qualified Action Learning Facilitator and a registered Employers Against Abuse Ambassador with The Survivors Trust. Cassy is currently studying for her Professional Doctorate in Community and Social Care: Policy and Practice and has published research in the field of Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews.
Cassy has worked in the field of safeguarding adults and children for over 20 years, beginning her career as a children and families Social Worker. She spent 4 years as the Deputy Head of Safeguarding at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) before progressing to the Head of Safeguarding, providing safeguarding advice across the work of the Inquiry and leading the strategy as the Inquiry moved towards conclusion. Cassy is currently providing safeguarding consultation to the work of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry as the Head of Safeguarding, having successfully developed and implemented their safeguarding strategy. In addition she provides safeguarding advice to Pentathlon GB as a member of a Safeguarding Case Management Group.
Cassy has extensive experience of senior leadership within the voluntary sector having been a Consultant Social Worker and Associate Inspector for the NSPCC, and Safeguarding Lead for the National Autistic Society. Cassy previously sat on the Board of Trustees for a large charity that provides family support services within local communities.
Tom Strannix, MA, MBACP (He/Him)
Tom is a mental health professional, registered as an accredited counsellor and psychotherapist with the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy. Tom has an Advanced Diploma in Counselling & Therapy, a Master of Arts Degree in Advanced Child Protection, and is qualified as a clinical supervisor and therapist in a range of trauma therapies, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and Trauma Focused CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). Tom has almost 20 years experience as a clinician, and over ten years experience as a clinical supervisor and consultant in trauma-informed support and safeguarding models.
Tom’s experience includes a range of senior leadership positions across public, private and voluntary sector organisations, UK-wide and the US. Tom held a senior role for four years at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), as a Clinical Lead advising the solicitor to the Inquiry and the Chair, with specific responsibility for the Inquiry’s trauma-informed approach and emotional support offer to witnesses, core participants, the wider public and Inquiry staff. Tom has also provided advice and consultancy to Inquiry public engagement activity. Outside of IICSA, Tom has advised a range of other inquiries including the Thirlwall, Manchester Arena, Infected Blood and UK Covid-19 public inquiries.
Beyond Inquiry work, Tom works in a senior leadership role for safeguarding in a national digital mental health service and provides a range of consultancy and supervision to clinical and safeguarding professionals, either working independently or for national providers.
