Training Consultantancy
About
Our Story
Susan Swan – Professional Summary
Profile:
Susan has a wealth of experience in CQC-regulated services, having successfully led multiple services to achieve Good and Outstanding CQC ratings. Her ability to implement robust systems and processes ensures consistent high-quality care delivery while fostering a culture of accountability and excellence across teams.
A passionate leader, Susan excels in recruiting, training, and mentoring care teams, empowering staff to reach their full potential. Her leadership approach emphasizes creating a positive and supportive work environment, which translates directly into exceptional care for residents.
With a strategic and solution-focused mindset, Susan has a proven track record of turning around underperforming services. She has addressed areas of non-compliance, implemented effective strategies to meet regulatory standards, and restored stakeholder confidence, delivering sustainable improvements.
Susan is deeply committed to delivering person-centered care, ensuring the dignity, rights, and well-being of each individual are prioritized. She has expertise in developing individualized care plans that meet both regulatory requirements and the unique needs of residents.
Her specialized care expertise includes supporting individuals with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health challenges, and complex physical needs. She ensures tailored care strategies that promote independence and enhance the quality of life for those in her care.
Our Team
Stephen Manley – Professional Summary
Stephen Manley is a distinguished expert in teaching, social care, and children's residential services, with a remarkable career spanning over two decades. As a registered children's social worker with Social Work England, Stephen brings over 10 years of experience in safeguarding, policy development, and report writing. During his tenure as a senior practitioner with Kent County Council and the London Borough of Bromley, Stephen provided critical leadership in protecting vulnerable children and managing complex cases, solidifying his reputation as a trusted leader in social care.
Stephen's expertise extends beyond social work, with over 20 years as a therapeutic foster parent, giving him a profound understanding of the emotional intelligence required to support children in care. His hands-on experience offers a unique perspective on the practical and emotional needs of children, allowing him to design care strategies that truly resonate with both children and care teams.
As the Co-Director of his own children’s home, Stephen combines his business acumen with his deep knowledge of the residential care sector. His success in navigating the regulatory landscape and managing care homes ensures that he excels in both compliance and creating nurturing environments for children.
In his role as a partner at Blenducate, Stephen pioneers transformative training programs for social care professionals. Leveraging his expertise in Organizational Psychology, Game Theory, and Social Science, he designs innovative and interactive learning experiences that are both engaging and practical. His creative use of film and video makes complex topics accessible, equipping professionals with the tools to deliver outstanding care.
Stephen's comprehensive understanding of emotional intelligence, coupled with his dedication to empowering others, positions him as a leading figure in the fields of teaching, social care, and children's residential services. His ability to connect theoretical knowledge with practical application continues to inspire and elevate care professionals across the sector.
Geraldine Stephens – Professional Summary
Profile:
Geraldine Stephens is a highly skilled PBS (Positive Behaviour Support) and BEACON Parenting Trainer, specializing in therapeutic approaches to parenting that draw upon the principles of the PACE model (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy). With a strong background in supporting families and care professionals, Geraldine is passionate about equipping individuals with the tools to foster healing, resilience, and positive outcomes for children with complex needs.
Geraldine has extensive experience in delivering evidence-based training programs designed to help parents, caregivers, and professionals navigate the challenges of raising children who have experienced trauma or adversity. By integrating the PACE model with the BEACON framework, she empowers caregivers to build trust and secure attachments, promote emotional regulation, and address challenging behaviors through understanding and therapeutic responses.
Her expertise in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) ensures that caregivers and professionals learn practical, proactive strategies to manage behaviors. The PBS training emphasizes understanding the underlying causes of behavior, reducing triggers, and creating environments that promote positive development.
The BEACON model, as an alternative to PACE, provides caregivers with a structured yet flexible framework to address the needs of children in a way that prioritizes their emotional and psychological well-being. Geraldine ensures that every participant leaves the training equipped with actionable strategies to foster communication, support children’s unique strengths, and enhance the overall caregiving experience.
Geraldine’s training focuses on key objectives such as understanding trauma and its impact on child development, applying therapeutic parenting techniques to build emotional resilience, developing empathy-driven strategies to address challenging behaviors, and creating supportive, nurturing environments for both caregivers and children.
Geraldine Stephens is committed to promoting compassionate and evidence-based care for children and young people. With a focus on collaboration, empathy, and empowerment, she creates a safe and engaging learning environment for all participants, ensuring they feel confident in applying what they’ve learned to make a meaningful difference.
Dyahanne Sappleton – Professional Summary
Profile:
Diane Stapleton is a highly experienced safeguarding trainer, specializing in equipping professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to protect vulnerable children and adults. With a career dedicated to promoting safety and well-being, Diane is recognized for her ability to deliver impactful and engaging training programs that empower individuals to respond effectively to safeguarding concerns.
Diane’s expertise spans both children’s and adults’ safeguarding, ensuring her training is comprehensive and tailored to meet the needs of diverse sectors, including health, social care, and education. She is adept at breaking down complex safeguarding legislation and frameworks, such as Working Together to Safeguard Children and the Care Act 2014, into practical strategies that participants can apply in real-world scenarios.
An accomplished communicator, Diane creates a collaborative learning environment where participants feel confident to ask questions and explore safeguarding challenges. Her training emphasizes the importance of recognizing early signs of abuse or neglect, understanding risk factors, and taking appropriate action to ensure safety. She also highlights the importance of interagency collaboration and fosters a culture of shared responsibility among professionals.
Diane has delivered training to a wide range of audiences, from frontline practitioners to senior managers, tailoring her sessions to suit varying levels of experience and expertise. Her training programs often include case studies, interactive workshops, and scenario-based learning, making the content highly engaging and relevant.
Driven by a commitment to excellence in safeguarding practice, Diane ensures her training not only meets statutory requirements but also inspires participants to prioritize the dignity and rights of those they serve. Her approachable style, combined with her deep knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures, has made her a trusted resource for organizations seeking to strengthen their safeguarding practices.
Diane Stapleton is passionate about building safer environments for all and remains dedicated to sharing her expertise to make a meaningful impact in the field of safeguarding.
