Ruth Dalzell has social work skills in field work, family placements and youth justice gained during 12 years of direct social work practice with children and families and has considerable experience in individual and group work with children, young people and adults. At National Children's Bureau for nine years she instigated, managed and delivered practice development projects, consultancy, policy activity, conferences, seminars and training courses and developed a well-regarded network for children's services managers and planners. Ruth has published widely on practice development issues for children's services. She now works as a consultant.