A small consultancy with a clear way of working
Resolution Ready is the independent practice of James Anderson, based in the north east and working nationally with local authorities, charities and community organisations. James launched Resolution Ready in early 2025, on a simple belief that when people feel properly heard they make better decisions.
The name reflects that belief. Resolution is what becomes possible when people are listened to, in complaints, in governance, in safeguarding and in everyday practice. Ready is the state James helps organisations reach, prepared to listen, structured in their thinking and confident in how they respond.
Our theory of change
When people feel listened to they can reflect, and once they can reflect they can engage with structure, and structure is what allows a confident response. That is the cycle our work follows, and it runs in the same order every time.
We start with the people involved, because what staff and families say is usually where the real issue sits. Reflection comes next, making sense of what we have heard before deciding anything. Structure follows, so decisions rest on more than instinct. The response comes last, and by then the group has done the thinking to support it.
The same cycle shapes every piece of work, whether it is a complaint review, a facilitation session or training for trustees.
Listen: start with the people involved
We hear from staff, families and partners before anything else.
Reflect: look beneath the surface
We make sense of what we have heard and name what is really going on.
Structure: bring shape to the decision
We add the structure your team needs to make clear, safe, well-evidenced decisions.
Respond: support timely and fair action
We help you decide what happens next, with steps that follow from what you have learned.
Our team
James Anderson
James is an independent consultant with over twenty-five years in children's services, specialising in statutory Children Act 1989 complaints, independent investigations, safeguarding scrutiny and review panel chairing. He has completed more than 75 statutory investigations and chairs stage 3 review panels for local authorities across England.
James is a trustee of Kids and of Article 39, and a member and hearing chair of the Football Association's Safeguarding Review Panel. He is a Chartered Manager and Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and is writing a book on the statutory complaints framework.
Rowena Barnard
Rowena is our senior operations coordinator, providing day to day support and coordination across the business.
Associates
We work with a small number of trusted colleagues, brought in on selected pieces of work so the right experience is matched to each project. If you are an experienced practitioner and would be interested in working with us, get in touch.
That is how we work. The first conversation is always free.