After qualifying from Strathclyde University in 2009, I worked within a Youth Justice area team in the southside of Glasgow City Council where I developed experience of – and interest in – supporting young people who had displayed harmful sexual behaviour, creating community based responses to high risk situations, supporting transitions from secure care into the community and child protection / sexual exploitation in addition to developing Early and Effective Intervention practice within that locality. I also have experience of working in residential care, training and development and in supporting homeless and refugee groups.
I moved to CYCJ in July 2017 where I’m currently working on a number of topics including young people’s participation in youth justice services, community alternatives to custody and secure care, youth justice input within higher and further education and identifying examples of creative practice. I am looking forward to sharing my experience with practitioners, students and other stakeholders in order to improve youth justice practice and the adoption of the Whole Systems Approach throughout Scotland, whilst increasing my own knowledge in this field.