Gráinne Fegan

Gráinne has over 20 years’ experience of successfully leading innovative cross sector change programmes. She is passionate to make a real difference and has a history of developing and sharing new ideas, approaches and practises both regionally and nationally. Her career has been underpinned by strength practice, relational work and early intervention and prevention. She has created and run a number of innovative projects for families experiencing structural disadvantage and complex difficulties, from domestic abuse to homelessness.

Gráinne was Early Help Practice and Partnership Lead at Newcastle City Council and developed and led a team who enabled partnerships, services and families to work together effectively by building positive relationships and resolving any difficulties or conflict using strengths-based techniques. She supported her team to use models such as Solution Focussed Practice, Solihull approach, Family Group Conferencing, Appreciative Inquiry, Systemic Practice, Reflective Practice and Video Interactive Guidance.

Gráinne led the Trailblazer project that developed the Signs of Well Being Assessment tool and developed the first successful approach to whole family working in partnership with Substance Misuse Services.  She also managed Early Help at the front door and helped develop a range of working processes and projects.

Since 2019 Gráinne has worked as a consultant and has supported, developed and evaluated a range of projects. They include;

• Research into parental conflict and domestic abuse for Northumbria Police, the Violence Reduction Unit, and 6 Local Authorities.
• An evaluation of the Parkinson’s Power project.
• Developing a volunteer programme for children in the care system across Tees Valley.
• Supporting the development of the national Independent Visitors Network for Barnardos.
• A community consultation with parents and carers in County Durham about their experience of parental conflict leading to a Behavioural Insights project through the Department of Education and a dad/male carers Strategy.
• Service review and development for the West End Refugee Service, My Sisters Place and Changing Futures North East.
• Supporting the development of Dads/ male carers strategies with Family Hubs in 3 local authorities.
• Supporting the development of  a  Talking Therapies Service service for children up to 18.
• Organising a regional practice sharing conference on working with dads with Changing Futures North East and Northumbria University.

Gráinne has also recently provided training around parental conflict, domestic abuse, trauma informed practice and working with dads and male carers.