Carol Walker

Carol Walker became involved with Keep Talking in 1986 when she answered an advertisement for potential mediators. At the time she was working part time as a social worker and her daughter had just started playgroup so she had some spare time and was keen to become involved and trained as a mediator.

Her original career was as a nurse but she swiftly moved to social work after having had a very good experience working in an adoption unit in Washington DC. Carol then worked in the Children's Department of a London borough before finally joining Leeds Social Services Department in 1971. She did all aspects of children and family work over the years as a basic grade social worker, then as a manager until she retired in 2002. Since then she has thoroughly enjoyed being able to work exclusively with Keep Talking.

Having worked for so long in statutory work she finds the voluntary nature of Keep Talking particularly rewarding. Parents who use the service want the best outcome for their children and themselves at a time when emotions are raw and the potential for conflict is high. Carol feels confident that the process is helpful in supporting parents to find solutions which work for their family and which enable children to benefit from having two active parents following separation/divorce.

The professional support service for separating parents can involve counselling, and work with a parent and children, as well as information sessions and therapeutic mediation. The feedback suggests that parents particularly value the service in achieving working agreements around their children.