Today, Clare sits down with Dr Jadwiga Leigh, the founder and CEO of the New Beginnings Foundation to discuss her life as a social worker with children and families in the child protection system.

We will learn how her practice as a statutory social worker led her to acquire an unfortunate office nickname 'The PPO Queen", and how it was this incident that encouraged Jadwiga to re-examine who she had become and what she could do to change her story...

A story that would ultimately lead her to starting a small community project in partnership in 2018 with Stockport Local Authority called, New Beginnings.

Join us on a journey that explores her past, the present and what hopes she has for the future.

The Story of the PPO Queen: From a spoiled identity to the founder of a community project.

At New Beginnings we work holistically with families who are known to Children’s Social Care. 

We have learned that parents who find themselves in the child protection system have most likely experienced prolonged episodes of trauma, such as physical, sexual and emotional abuse, often within the home, at some point in their lives. These traumatic events can lead to issues with mental ill health as well as drug and alcohol misuse. 
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We also recognise that becoming a parent is one of life's most complex challenges. Our aim, therefore, is to work closely with parents in the child protection process so that they can develop the strength, knowledge and power to become the parents they want to be and in return, teach other parents how to do the same.

Recently we decided to do a monthly podcast to bring our stories, battles, victories and lessons to others. We find that getting truths heard is incredibly healing and empowering and so this is our space to do that.