Brief Biographical background:-

I qualified as a Youth & Community Worker at the University of Durham in 1976, as a social worker in 1986 at Newcastle, Counselling Skills certificate in 1993 from The Glasgow Institute, and Certificate in Education at Carlisle College in 2003. I am also an Accredited Practitioner of the Institute for Outdoor Learning and obtained a Certificate in Therapeutic Application of Wilderness & Adventure Experience [IDHP] in 2008.

Since 1974 I have accumulated extensive experience and knowledge of working with disaffected young people both in and out of the care system, and in particular, dealing with issues and consequences for victims of earlier childhood abuse - sexual, physical and emotional. Many of the clients I have worked with have exhibited behavioural patterns labelled as anti-social; self-harming; aggressive; anti-authority; and 'out of control'.

Over the years I have guest lectured at Salford University Dip.S.W. course, given seminars in Oslo, Stockholm, Chicago, Vancouver and Victoria B. C., Turkey, Moscow, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Germany on self-harming behaviour through self-cutting, on issues and consequences of childhood sexual abuse, child protection, dealing with aggression and challenging behaviour, utilising adventure activities for therapeutic programs, and keeping self and colleagues safe from false allegations. I have also run 'in house' training courses for social workers, teachers, health workers and in particular, residential child care workers.

I have worked extensively in the residential child care sector (both statutory and private) and have served on the Lothian Children's Panel in Scotland. Over this period, I have chaired case reviews, multi agency conferences, child protection meetings, child abuse investigations, allegations, and complaints against adults-staff-family members and peers.

Throughout my lengthy career, I have utilised adventurous activities for experiential education, therapeutic recovery programs, team building and individual staff development, and facilitating other practitioners how to utilise their own skills and qualities within the adventure medium for the betterment of themselves as practitioners and for their clients paying due regard to challenging behaviour and the phenomenon of false allegations being made.

My training involvement includes organising and tutoring 3 & 5 day courses for professionals in the child care field, looking at abuse, attachment& separation, self-harming behaviour, family 'trauma' work, residential 'issues' for both client and staff, and understanding and coping with self-destructive and/or sexually aggressive behaviour. All participants at seminars, courses and lectures receive comprehensive handouts.

I am a non-political and non-discriminatory practitioner.
Current Enhanced CRB Police Check in place.

Download CV