Upon graduating from the University of Strathclyde with a BSc in Speech and Language Pathology in 2009 I began my professional career working for a Third Sector social care provider supporting children and adults with additional support needs. Here I quickly developed a passion for social care and the difference it makes to people and families as well as recognition of the realities and challenges of care delivery.
In the years since I have held frontline, managerial and strategic roles with a variety of organisations always with a focus on ensuring care evolves with changing contexts, is led by the people we support and delivered by a workforce which is skilled, supported and valued.
After initially combining the Independent Sector Lead role with my existing position as Head of Service within a Third Sector Care provider when I joined Scottish Care in 2022, in 2024 I took on the role of ISL with South Lanarkshire HSCP.
I consider myself a ‘people person’ and my current role in South Lanarkshire has afforded me the opportunity to develop relationships between, and work in partnership with, colleagues from across the social care sector to identify and address challenges collaboratively.
What are you currently working on
I have a particular interest in cross-sector engagement and support opportunities for this in my role in South Lanarkshire. Examples of this have included a Care at Home Medication Development Day and Workshop as well as an Adult Support and Protection Engagement Event for care homes. I champion meaningful engagement between the independent sector and other stakeholders locally to enable truly collaborative working and codesign, recognising the unique experiences and perspectives each group brings.
Following our local work to enhance medication support as part of care at home delivery I have supported the establishment of a National Collaborative Group, bringing together stakeholders from across the sector to consider current challenges and develop solutions to these.
I maintain a focus on Adult Support and Protection and sit on the Adult Protection Committee in South Lanarkshire. As with all engagement, my aim is to ensure the independent sector in South Lanarkshire are informed about, and have an opportunity to inform, this work locally.
Workforce is an area of interest to me and I have undertaken work to develop improved insight into the care at home workforce locally. A particular priority of this has been a focus on the sponsored workforce. Having carried out a workforce survey I have supported engagement at the International Employer Network as well as associated activities, including the recent displaced worker recruitment event.
I have recently taken up the role of independent sector representative on South Lanarkshire’s Integration Joint Board and seek to strengthen strategic representation of the independent sector at local level through participation in this and other local strategic forums.
Future Plans ,Areas of Work and Upcoming Events
Over the next year I will seek to strengthen strategic representation, acknowledging and highlighting the challenges of sustainability faced by the independent sector in South Lanarkshire and more widely.
I plan to expand my work to develop improved insight into the social care workforce locally by expanding my focus to include the care home workforce.
I seek to improve the representation of the independent sector in planning with my NHS colleagues locally by strengthening care home representation at relevant groups, as well as supporting independent sector involvement in local planning with HSCP colleagues, for example as part of winter planning and resilience, following successful work this year.
