Disability Consultant | Certified Autism Specialist
ABOUT ​
THE PARKES CENTRE offers a group of professional disability services to support individuals, couples, and businesses. This service exists to help individuals to formally identify suspected neurodiversity, to counsel individuals/couples experiencing disability related trauma, and to improve workplace environments for disabled workers. The Centre is founded on a comprehensive range of specialist training and experience. The lead consultant and operator of THE PARKES CENTRE is Jacqueline Parkes BSc Cert Mgmt (HSC) AHGI Q.Inst.Pa.
ABOUT JACQUELINE
​Jacqueline is passionate about disability. Her professional practice is infused with compassion, respect, and sensitivity based on her life as a carer of nearly 20 years to close loved ones with ASD and other disabilities. She is the successful author of 'HOPE: An Inspiring Story of Healing in a Marriage Affected by Asperger's Syndrome.' Jacqueline's commitment to disabled people, particularly those who are neurodivergent, also extends to her volunteer work as the Disability Visibility Group Lead with Social Housing Action Campaign.
Jacqueline's ASD work is undergirded and reinforced by her rich, wide-ranging background in health and social care. She obtained a Professional Certificate of Management in Health and Social Care alongside her Bachelor of Science degree. She has over 20 years' experience as a complaints advocate for disabled and non-disabled individuals in primary/secondary care, dentistry, maternity, education and housing. In addition, Jacqueline has worked extensively in healthcare settings and is an AMSPAR-Certified medical secretary. ​
​
​
1. ADULT ASD DIAGNOSIS
In addition to being qualified as a Certified Autism Specialist with the IBCESS University, Jacqueline has intimate understanding of both the experience of those with ASD and of those who support them, and the varied ways in which ASD impacts daily living. With effective execution of appropriate diagnostic tools and up-to-date academic insight, Jacqueline expertly combines her in-depth personal knowledge of ASD with her professional work and training, giving her a holistic, trusted approach to diagnosis.
2. TRAUMA INFORMED COUNSELLING
Jacqueline is a member of the Human Givens Institute, a therapeutic organisation regulated by the Professional Standards Authority. She has a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, an IAO Accredited & CPD Certified Psychology Diploma, and an IAO Accredited Life Coaching Diploma. Jacqueline has over 7 years' experience providing coaching and counselling to individuals and couples. Since 2019, she has specialised in disability-related counselling. Jacqueline offers a unique therapeutic practice which seamlessly combines the use of CBT and human givens approaches underpinned by trauma informed care.
3. DISABILITY CONSULTANCY
​​
Jacqueline is an award-winning qualified professional paralegal practitioner with the Institute of Paralegals and she is regulated by the Professional Paralegal Register. Jacqueline is now recognised by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, which has recently acquired both of these organisations.
Jacqueline has extensive experience as a legal representative for employees in a high number of disability discrimination employment cases. As such, Jacqueline is best placed to advise employers on how to prevent such complaints, and on how to foster a positive, disability inclusive workplace for the benefit of all staff. She has supported clients during grievances, disciplinaries, appeals, Employment Tribunal cases and Nursing and Midwifery Council Fitness to Practice proceedings resulting in multiple successful outcomes. During her career, Jacqueline has also been a trustee with the Public Interest Law Centre (2021-2023) where she fulfilled all governance duties while having a lead role in the shaping of the centre's HR practices.
​
Jacqueline is an accredited trainer with the CPD Accreditation Group.