Katy Simister

Katy is a Social Work Outreach Educator for Apprentice Social Workers with a background in statutory children and adult learning disability/SEND services. Using her project management skills and a passion for working with disabled children and young people. She founded and managed a successful charity Aiming Higher for disabled children. In recent years she has moved into social work development roles and has worked with the Greater Lancashire Teaching Partnership.

Katy is a qualified Practice Educator. She has honoured to be involved with organising the GLTP conference and having the pleasure of hosting the chief social worker for children's services. Katy is a committee member of NOPT (National Organisation of Practice Teachers).

Katy's passion for working with children and adults with a learning disability/SEND has lead her to being asked to be a School Governor at Highfurlong School and a Director at the Sandcastle Waterpark for accessibility (up till 2018).

Katy's knowledge of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility lead her to develop a Soft Play and Sensory Centre at Aiming Higher She renovated the centre into the warm activity hub that it is today for the children. She developed a Family Support Service to help families navigate the complexity of raising a disabled child, and later helped secured a Big Lottery grant to expand the team to support more families. Her empathetic and compassionate approach to social work is reinforced by her love of Social Pedagogy which has flourishing courses at UCLan. She continues to champion Social Pedagogy in LA's as an 'way of life'/theory that is person centred, relationships based and builds on people's strengths.

Katy has spoken at ROLE for International Women's Day to inspire and build confidence in young women.

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