Gill Sommers has spent the last 22 years in further education and training. specialising in safeguarding, student support and SEN. As a former police officer, Gill has a wealth of experience in investigation and case law and a keen interest in how serious case reviews inform legislation and good practice.
Gill has a Master's Degree in Leadership and Management, a degree in post-compulsory education and is qualified to Level 5 in safeguarding. For the last four years she has supported a wide range of organisations as an independent safeguarding consultant.
Her last full-time role as Director of Students at an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ Further Education College involved taking the senior lead for safeguarding and student support across a number of campuses, ensuring that staff and volunteers were fully trained and prepared for working with young people and vulnerable adults.
Gill has since worked as an independent consultant, and has supported many independent training providers, schools, colleges and charities to develop robust safeguarding policies and procedures. She has also carried out a number of assignments for the Association of Colleges (AOC) focussing on SEN and safeguarding.