Paul Nixon

Paul Nixon is a registered Independent Social Worker a well-known international expert in Children’s Services, Child Protection, Family Decision Making and Kinship Care. He is a dual citizen of New Zealand and the UK with more than 35 years continuous experience in working in the field of Child Protection.

Paul currently works internationally as a consultant with Government and Non-Government agencies and Universities in New Zealand, United Kingdom, Europe, USA, Canada and Australia. He is an Honorary Research fellow at Edinburgh University, Scotland and at Wellington (Massey) University, New Zealand. Paul is also Consultant in Social Work Research and Practice at the Kempe Centre, University of Denver, Colorado, USA.

Paul was the longest serving Chief Social Worker for the Government of New Zealand for 8 years, and prior to that was Assistant Director, Children’s Services, North Yorkshire County Council for 5 years. He worked in Government Children’s Services for 28 years, as a senior leader for 16 years, before setting up his own independent consultancy.

Paul has specialist interest in Relational Practices and Leadership, Family Group Decision Making, Kinship care, working with families, Children’s Participation and Evidenced Informed Prevention strategies. He has written and edited a number of books on Child Protection Social work, kinship care empowerment practice and work with children and families, alongside numerous published articles and chapters. He has provided leadership coaching, strategic development, training, practice and policy consultancy, research and evaluation across UK, Europe, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and other parts the world.