Julia holds a BA (Hons) (First Class) in Social Policy and Psychology, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Children and Young People in Conflict with the Law from University of Strathclyde. In her role as Participation, Engagement and Policy Advisor Julia develops and delivers participatory work which spans policy influencing, practice development, and research. At CYCJ Julia has previously led on the development of the Bairns’ Hoose Standards, child-friendly communications with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and co-led the development and publication of Reimagining Secure Care. She has also contributed to research projects with CYCJ including a Thematic Review of Biometric Data and the Nuffield-funded ‘Challenging Justice Inequalities’ project.
Julia leads on engagement in secure settings which involves the meaningful inclusion of children and young people in changes to legislation, policy, and practice. Her most recent projects in secure settings include the management and delivery of ‘Learning About Substance Use’ (funded by Corra Foundation’s YOYO fund), and leading CYCJ’s delivery of transition support for children and young people before and after moving from secure care to Young Offenders Institutions. In other work at CYCJ Julia has supported the design and delivery of the Developmental Wellbeing Approach, leads the Equality and Diversity working group, and has contributed to international knowledge exchange with Linnaeus University, Sweden and UiT The Arctic University of Norway.
Julia’s work frequently incorporates co-production and creative methods, with a focus on building trauma-responsive spaces for children and young people to safely engage in policy, practice development, and research.
Julia holds training certification in trauma-skilled practice, Overdose Prevention, Intervention and Naloxone, Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and Therapeutic Horticulture.