I qualified as a social worker in 1983 in Aberdeen, Scotland following a number of previous occupations including, lifeguard, community worker, youth worker and group worker, in settings across the UK and also in Ghana and Zambia.
In my early social work career my main area of interest and practice was in the development of community based alternatives to custody/secure accommodation for young people/young adults in trouble.
I was a founder member of the Association for Juvenile Justice (now NAYJ) and contributed to many of their training events and conferences. I also pursued post qualifying training and gained qualifications in practice teaching, family work and group work.
I was a ...