EWJ Safeguarding & Social Work Consultancy Ltd provides high-quality, independent social work and managerial consultancy services to Local Authorities, independent fostering and residential providers, social care organisations, legal professionals, and private family law services.  Elizabeth is an experienced social work professional with extensive expertise in safeguarding, child protection, fostering, assessment, and quality assurance, her consultancy delivers independent, child-centred services that are needs-led, evidence-based, and outcome-focused.  Elizabeth works collaboratively with organisations to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and families, providing professional insight, independent scrutiny, expert assessments, service development support, and practice improvement solutions. Her approach is founded on the principle that every child deserves to be safe, nurtured, and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.  Elizabeth firmly believes that a child's early years are the most significant in shaping their future life opportunities. Experiences during childhood have a profound impact on emotional wellbeing, relationships, resilience, learning, and future parenting capacity. Early intervention, effective support, and informed decision-making are therefore critical in achieving positive long-term outcomes.  At EWJ Safeguarding & Social Work Consultancy Ltd,  Elizabeth strives to ensure that children remain at the centre of all planning, assessment, and decision-making processes.      

Elizabeth Walton-James is a highly experienced and respected Social Worker, registered with Social Care Wales and a member of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). With over 22 years' experience in statutory children's social care, she has developed extensive expertise in safeguarding, child protection, quality assurance, service leadership, and multi-agency working.

Following an early career working with children and families in the UK and USA, Elizabeth qualified as a Social Worker in 2001 and began her career in frontline children's services. She quickly progressed into senior practitioner and management roles, leading teams across child protection, safeguarding, and services for children with disabilities.

Elizabeth has held a number of senior leadership positions, including Team Manager, Safeguarding Team Manager, and Local Authority Safeguarding Lead. In these roles she provided strategic leadership for safeguarding practice, quality assurance, the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), Information, Advice and Assistance Services, Independent Reviewing Services, Child Sexual Exploitation, and Missing Children services.   

An accomplished safeguarding professional, Elizabeth has chaired and led numerous complex multi-agency meetings and reviews, including Professional Abuse Strategy Meetings, Secure Accommodation Reviews, and Child and Adult Practice Review Groups. She is an experienced auditor, practice reviewer, review chair, and investigator of complaints and grievances, with a strong reputation for driving service improvement and promoting high standards of professional practice.

In 2023, Elizabeth established EWJ Safeguarding & Social Work Consultancy Ltd, providing independent consultancy, safeguarding reviews, quality assurance, audit, management support, and specialist social work services to local authorities, voluntary organisations, safeguarding partnerships, and other agencies working with children and families.

Alongside her social work career, Elizabeth has served as a Magistrate for over 17 years with His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, bringing additional insight into legal processes, decision-making, and safeguarding within the justice system and in 2026 qualified as a professional Coach.

Undertaking  CUBAS Parenting, Sibling & Risk Assessments

Undertaking Form F & Connected Persons Assessments

Vice Chair of Foster Panel/ Fostering Independent Reviewing Officer 

Safeguarding consultancy for the Local Education Authority and Children’s Services

Independent Investigations of Complaints and Grievances

 Independent Chair of Professional Abuse Strategy/complex multi-agency Meetings

 Independent Chair of Secure Accommodation Reviews

  Independent Audit and Quality Assurance

 Independent chair and reviewer of Serious Case Reviews (SUSR)

Social Work Supervision/ Professional Coaching