Affinity Fostering

Andy joined Affinity in 2017, having been around fostering since he was a child when his family privately fostered. Andy has experience as a Detective in the Metropolitan Police, a Batchelor's degree in Business and a Master’s Degree in Business (Exec MBA). Andy is passionate about focussing on the people that make Affinity a success, and ensuring we live by our Mission and Value statements to achieve the best outcomes for our young people.

Lesley is our Registered Manager, Complaints Officer and Designated Safeguarding Officer. Joined Affinity many years ago as a Senior Superivising Social Worker., successfully implemented practice improvements to the Affinity team and oversaw the Social Work team in her previous role as Practice Manager, but has risen to Registered Manager since 2023. In this role, Lesley esnures the Affinity culture remains people and young people’s outcomes focussed. Lesley has a wealth of experience in fostering and person-centred counselling working with vulnerable adults. Lesley embodies the Affinity ethos. “I am passionate about children achieving the best outcomes and we are lucky to have such great Foster Carers who all go the extra mile, which is evident when we see the outcomes for our looked after young people.”

Karen has been with Affinity since the beginning, and has seen Affinity grow and evolve through the over 10 years working in Affinity’s management team, whilst ensuring we have all the details covered! Karen is a qualified Paralegal and brings this expertise into her many functions within Affinity. The self-confessed “spreadsheet queen” was highly praised for her organisational attributes recently by Ofsted. Karen’s work in Intuitive Care implementation, and ongonig Quality Assurance and Human Resources ensure Affinity continue to provide the best service to local authorities, staff and foster carers. Karen also oversees our referrals from Local Authorities, ensuring young people are closely matched with our foster carers.

With over 20 years of experience in Finance, 16 of those being in fostering, Gayle provides the skills and assistance required to enable the smooth running of Affinity’s finances and accounts. As Finance Manager, along with all the Team, Gayle is responsible for providing a high level of warm, friendly, quality support. “Finance is often an area that causes concerns to Foster Carers and/or Local Authority Social Workers, but I am here to help.”

Laura joined the Affinity Team in 2021 as our Practice Manager, and works very closely with Lesley and Vicky. Laura has many years experience in the fostering space, and is also our Panel Advisor. Laura is also DSGO accredited, and works incredibly hard to ensure we live by our mission and value statments.

Vicky, like Karen, has been with Affinity since the beginning, and her drive and passion has seen her evolve so she is now in the final year of her 5 year Master’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and Counselling, having successfully passed Master level FHEQ level 7 modules in Adult Counselling Skills and Child Development, Child Mental Health Counselling Skills. Vicky leads our Therapeutic Service model and works closely with our management team, Supervising Social Workers, Foster Carers and young people.