Tricia Pereira

I am a social worker and senior leader in adult social care, my career has focused on building fairer, more humane and equitable systems.

I have attended the EFRJ conferences with the Understanding People Project, delivered practice sessions, and participated in a panel in Tallinn. I have worked with restorative justice and restorative practice since 2013, completing restorative facilitation training and later embedding restorative approaches into local authority practice models and workforce development as a career pathway for social workers. This led to my involvement in national policy development, with the Chief Social Worker for England, ensuring restorative and strengths-based principles were central to adult social care practice. As Director of Operations at Skills for Care, the strategic workforce body and government delivery partner for adult social care in England, I shaped national strategy, governance and operational. I worked closely with Chief Executives and equivalent leaders across the UK five nations to align priorities, influence shared agendas and strengthen workforce policy. My work has always centred on people, relationships and creating the conditions for good practice to thrive. I have advised central government, chaired national advisory groups, and networks. I have also worked with the World Health Organisation to design European programmes, strengthening my understanding of how different countries approach justice, care, and community harmony and wellbeing. I currently serve as Co-Chair of the Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard Independent Advisory Group. Across all my roles, I have championed restorative approaches as a way to bring humanity, accountability and fairness into policy and systems.

In four years, I would like to strengthen key partnerships to enable the EFRJ to be recognised across Europe as a leading voice on restorative justice in social work, adult services, health, community wellbeing and wider public sector reform. The work highlighted in Athens on migrant children was pivotal and showed the importance of taking clear, principled positions, and I would like to see the organisation continue to build on this. I would like the EFRJ to strengthen its policy influence, deepen its partnerships with NGOs and public bodies, and increase its visibility among social work practitioners, researchers and communities. I want restorative justice to be understood not only as a response to harm, but as a way of working that strengthens relationships, supports accountability, and brings humanity into systems. I hope the EFRJ continues to embed equity and intersectionality in its governance, programmes and partnerships, with Global Majority leadership reflected in visible and meaningful ways. I would also like the EFRJ to feel accessible to practitioners and communities who may not yet see themselves represented in restorative justice spaces.

Having worked in local government, charities and NGO’s I understand how organisations balance mission, funding, governance and accountability and how Boards provide the stewardship needed to keep an organisation values-led, sustainable and focused on its purpose. In Tallinn and again in Athens, the need for greater representation and inclusivity was raised. As a woman of the Global Majority in senior leadership, I would bring lived and professional experience of equity, representation and the realities of racism and discrimination. This perspective would strengthen the Board’s ability to understand and respond to the barriers faced by many communities across Europe. I would bring a systems lens, policy expertise and experience from a national charity working at the interface of government, practice and workforce development. I understand organisational oversight, funding models, accountability and partnership working, and would support the EFRJ to strengthen its governance, long-term sustainability and strategic direction. I would contribute to expanding the EFRJ’s reach into social work policy and exploring and securing adult services funding, where restorative approaches can have significant impact and where there is clear appetite for growth. I would also bring a strong commitment to equity and Global Majority leadership, helping the organisation embed intersectional practice and broaden representation across its work. My contribution would be collaborative and strategic, I believe that in the current political climate, restorative justice has an essential role in transforming systems and relationships across Europe.

I have worked with Tricia in a professional capacity for over 10 years and in that time, I have observed her unique ability to make a positive impact both at a leadership level, by providing insightful strategic oversight, and also at a practitioner and personal level, using excellent communication and connection skills. Tricia has brought her breath of experience of managing complex situations, leading policy areas and knowledge of individual professional development to UP-Project. She has advised us on policies, processes and leadership systems, as well as supporting us with restorative case facilitation in workplace conflicts. Alongside her years of experience as a social worker, she is also a trained restorative practice facilitator and has lived experience of systemic discrimination and the negative impact of tokenistic support for equity and diversity. Therefore, I feel Tricia could bring something different and energising to the Board and fully endorse her candidature.

Tricia is a senior leader in adult social care in a large local authority in England. When she asked me to present to her staff, she impressed me by her commitment to value based practice and her wish to embed restorative values throughout her department. She is not only very people and relationship oriented but also has a strong authoritative presence which inspires and motivates people. She will bring expertise in leadership, strategic policy making and people and financial management to the Board. She will also bring valuable experience of the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion. She attended the EFRJ conference in Athens and I believe this inspired her to become actively involved in the EFRJ. I believe she would bring a new dynamic to the Forum.

Email: tricia@upproject.uk

Organisation, job title: Understanding People (UP) Project, social worker & senior leader in adult care