Debbie Havill

Social Worker/DDP Practitioner (Parents/Carers)

Debbie has over 30 years’ experience working as an adoption social worker, specialising in post adoption support with adoptive families. Having used DDP principles in her practice since 2004, Debbie is now a certified DDP Practitioner (parents and carers) and works independently, providing DDP informed therapeutic support to parents and carers. Debbie is an experienced trainer. She is trained in Theraplay, Sensory Processing and Integration, and Non-Violent Resistance. Debbie specialises in working with adoptive parents and other caregivers, supporting them with the issues that parenting traumatised children raises; enabling them to be therapeutic in their parenting and better able to support any therapy that their children are receiving.

Specialism

Adoption And Fostering, Adult Therapy

Locations Covered

Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset

As you may be aware, on the 14th April 2025 the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) announced changes to the Fair Access limit with a reduction of funding to £3000 and the discontinuation of the separate Fair Access Limit for specialist assessments.

We are currently working really hard to amend quotes for ongoing therapy work to fit within the new Fair Access Limit and working closely with Adopt South West and other local RAAs. We are also working closely with other specialist adoption support providers and therapeutic organisations including DDP connects and Theraplay UK to explore how we can continue to deliver specialist therapies within this limit.

If you are waiting for a new package of therapy please look out for correspondence from ASW or your regional adoption support agency, as they will need to regain your consent for the amended therapy contract.

If you are concerned about the impact of the delay on your family or have questions about the therapy or assessment you are waiting for please get in touch with Ellen or Jen and we will do our best to support you.

We will be contributing to a wider response to this and the following is a link to a petition requesting government action – Petition · Action Against ASGSF Changes (Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund) – United Kingdom · Change.org