Family law team
Family barrister Kellie Salter completed her pupillage with 3PB in Bournemouth, having joined chambers in October 2022 from another set with offices on the South Coast of England. Kellie is now a member of the Family Law Group at 3PB with a busy practice focused on family law including care, private family and Court of Protection cases.
Kellie has a passion for working with parents with learning disabilities and a particular interest in cases where there is diminished or no mental capacity for participants. She is frequently commended by clients for her strong negotiation skills and tactics.
Kellie was nominated for the Western Circuit Advocacy prize and the Ede and Ravenscroft awards whilst completing the BPTC. She received a highest mark award for the Resolving Disputes Out of Court (REDOC) unit and takes pride in ensuring excellent client care. Whilst studying for her Bar qualifications, Kellie continued work full time as a Manager within Social Care services and has worked in various social work roles in Children’s and Adult’s social care for 20 years.
She received a major scholarship award from the Middle Temple (Diplock scholarship) which is given to non-law degree students to assist with their Bar training. Following her studies, Kellie also completed a commercial mediation course and volunteered with the PSU in Bournemouth.
Prior to becoming a pupil barrister, Kellie worked for Dorset Council leading a specialist team of social workers carrying out complex casework. She was manager of a social work team working with adults with learning disabilities based in Weymouth and Portland, conducting complex casework and chairing safeguarding meetings and Care and Treatment Reviews. These cases often involved sexual abuse allegations, child protection proceedings and required court attendance on behalf of the Council.
Earlier she had spent 13 years with Bournemouth Borough Council in a variety of social work roles. Latterly she worked as a manager of health and social care professionals working with adults with learning disabilities. Her work included time spent leading a specialist Asperger's team, managing a drug and alcohol service and a Mental Health Social Inclusion team. Kellie was a social worker within both Children's and Adult's Services; starting as an Education Social Worker, she undertook child protection work and then specialised as a social worker with adults with learning disabilities. This involved working with younger adults with Education, Health and Care Plans moving into Adults Services and she was involved with SEND tribunals. Kellie trained in ABE investigation work and attended Mental Health Review Tribunals for those with a forensic history. Kellie carried out assessment and planning with children and their parents to address poor school attendance and attended court in prosecutions of parents for failing to improve school attendance.
Outside work, Kellie can often be found outside – gardening and walking with friends and family.
Kellie is involved with a Maternal Mental Health group in Dorset which is focused on developing support services and a pathway for parents experiencing maternal separation. She is also a committee member of a Housing Trust which specialises in providing accommodation for people with learning disabilities and mental health needs.
FamilyKellie Salter has a busy private and public children practice and regularly acts for both applicants and respondents, including rule 16.4 Guardians and Grandparents. She has experience of working with cases involving:
Domestic Abuse Parents with mental health difficulties including personality disorder and offending history Parents with learning disabilities Substance misuse Relocation Special Guardianship Parental disputes involving children with special educational needsCases of note:
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole v M & Others [2023] EWFC 140Kellie will also undertake Court of Protection work and is familiar with such work from her background in Social Work and welcomes instructions in that regard.
Court of ProtectionKellie came to the bar following a 20-year career in Social Work, working in both Children’s and Adult’s services as a Social Worker but also in management roles. She has a particular interest in working with vulnerable clients, including older adults and adults with learning disabilities. She has held roles requiring her to make and oversee applications through the Court of Protection (COP) process on behalf of Local Authorities.
As a barrister, Kellie has undertaken inherent jurisdiction work for those aged under 18, property and affairs and health and welfare related COP applications. Having managed Social Work teams, she is keen to develop her practice in relation to decision-making as to aspects of individuals’ lives such as where clients should live or how they should best be supported within the realms of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Kellie’s background leads her to approach cases with sensitivity and a willingness to secure the best outcome for her client. She is skilled at being able to support clients to identify solutions at round table meetings so that matters can where possible be resolved between parties without requiring the intervention of the court.
Year of call: 2019