Who we are

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 After spending his career as a police detective, including 14 years in the Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU) Philip launched what is now Woodland Baines in 2022. His safeguarding background includes specialist child abuse investigation including multi-agency joint investigation under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989, Achieving Best Evidence (ABE/VRI) for vulnerable and intimidated witness interviews and family liaison work. Philip is also a qualified AIM 3 assessor for children who display Harmful Sexual Behaviours. Since launching Woodland Baines, Philip has led on quality assurance of the Home Office Harmful Sexual Behaviours Support Service (HSBSS), worked with a range of education and children’s home providers and continues to support domestic and international law enforcement agencies and their partners develop knowledge and skills in child abuse investigation, harmful sexual behaviour and trauma-informed practice. Philip delivers evidential independent investigation of complaints, position of trust suitability assessment and coaching packages for organisations. Philip also supports victims and survivors (and their families) who have been directly affected by all types of abuse, including technology assisted child sexual abuse (TACSA) through his work with the Marie Collins Foundation. 

 Claire is a safeguarding specialist with a background in multi-agency working and managing multi-disciplinary teams working in early help and preventative services, child protection services, and with care experienced children and young people. Claire’s 20 years statutory services experience spans, youth justice, targeted youth support, early help and intensive family support, cover local authority designated officer, safeguarding partnership multi-agency training, education welfare. Claire spent several years developing safeguarding training, consultancy and membership support services at a group of membership organisations before joining Woodland Baines in August 2025. Claire has a depth of knowledge and experience in safeguarding audit, complaints and safeguarding investigation, critical learning and rapid reviews, suitability assessment and coaching, safer recruitment and safer working cultures, safeguarding supervision, matrix management arrangements for health and specialist workers, missing and exploited children, transitional safeguarding, harmful sexual behaviour assessment, victim and restorative services. Claire is trained in safeguarding supervision, AIM3 and TA-HSB assessment and supervision, restorative justice conference facilitation and family group conference facilitation.