ARC SCOTLAND - Key Persons
I joined ARC just over a year ago as a Freelance Assessor for the Social Service and Health Care Awards at SCQF level 6 and level 7.
I have been involved in SVQ's since the early 90's and have seen how these have developed and refined over the years.
My background, since leaving school, has always been in care and throughout the years I feel I have gained a great amount of experience in recognising good quality care.
I am passionate about guiding and supporting candidates to achieve their award and to encourage them to realise their own potential.
I enjoy working with ARC as their reputation is excellent and I have found that they are friendly, supportive and nothing is ever too much trouble.
Job Titles:
- Assessor & Internal Verifier
I joined ARC Scotland as an Assessor/Internal Verifier.
I have worked in the Social Care Sector since 1991 both as a Manager and Practitioner in both voluntary and statutory sectors providing guidance and support to children and family services, youth justice and residential care.
Over the years I have gained vital experience within the social care sector, building knowledge and skills thus transitioning into an experienced trainer. I have recently joined the ARC team as an Assessor/ Internal verifier.
I have responsibility for all of ARC's involvement work with people with additional support needs, including the National Involvement Network and local involvement networks across Scotland. I also manage our work supporting local stakeholders to work and learn together to improve lives for disabled people in their community, through our Provider Forums across Scotland. I directly facilitate the Edinburgh & Lothians Involvement Network and NIN Planning Group, and the Scottish Borders Provider Forum and Provider Forum Chairs Group.
I am a general admin assistant. I make photocopies of portfolios for candidates, do shredding. I photocopy reports, filling and also input information into our evaluation database.
I joined ARC Scotland in 2010 to support the development of the workforce in achieving appropriate regulated qualifications to enhance competence and confidence of those delivering support.
I have worked in the Social Care Sector since 1986 and has a wealth of experience of supporting people within the voluntary, statutory, health and private sector.
I am passionate about the work of ARC Scotland which underpins the principles of supporting individuals to have a say in all decisions that affect their lives and advancing knowledge, policy and practice in health and social care.
I am responsible for the management and oversight of the SVQ Assessment Centre providing regulated qualifications and for the delivery of mandatory and specialist training to the social care workforce.
Job Titles:
- Projects and Inclusive Learning Administrator
I am the administrator for the projects team and the inclusive learning team. I manage all the specialist training bookings. I also attend the Edinburgh Involvement Network meetings and the National Involvement Network meetings.
Job Titles:
- Freelance Assessor & Verifier
I joined ARC Scotland as a Freelance Assessor and Verifier for all Care Awards and CSLM Level 10 qualification.
I have been involved with SVQ Qualifications since the qualifications initially came out in 1992 when I worked for Strathclyde Regional Council.
Job Titles:
- Freelance Assessor / Verifier & Trainer
I joined ARC Scotland as a Freelance Assessor/Verifier and Trainer.
I have worked in a variety of settings in health and social care for over 34 years, working with children in Edinburgh in schools with children with particular needs, I managed adult residential and visiting support services providing care and support to people with learning disabilities and with people who had mental ill-health.
I managed services for Ark Housing Association, The Action Group, and later spent five years with ELCAP, during this time I also became the joint lead IV.
I worked with Scottish Borders Council Social Work training department for 9 years delivering training to staff in all areas of the department and as an Assessor and Internal Verifier for candidates undertaking their SVQ in Health and Social Care.
I have been delivering training for ARC Scotland for the last 8 years and also as an Assessor and I.V.
I lead the ARC Scotland team and report to the Board of ARC. I am responsible for making sure that ARC Scotland delivers our vision, mission and aims for people in Scotland.
Job Titles:
- Freelance Assessor & Verifier
I joined ARC Scotland as a freelance Assessor/Verifier supporting candidates to achieve all levels of Care Awards and also CSLM Level 10.
I began my working life in Royal Edinburgh Hospital working night shift since my children were young.
Since then I have worked in the Social Care Sector within various Health and Private Sectors.
Having most recently managed a service for Enable Scotland for twenty years supporting ladies who had various degrees of Physical and Learning Disabilities. During this time I undertook my assessor award and at the same time developed and supported my staff team to achieve their required SVQ Awards.
I joined ARC Scotland in 2006 as a freelance assessor and in 2008 undertook verifier award. I am very passionate about SVQ's to the extent that I would say that I look upon it as one of my hobbies.
I have never regretted joining ARC and I continue to enjoy supporting candidates to achieve their chosen awards with very positive outcomes.
Job Titles:
- Development Worker
- Development Worker / Freelance Assessor
Julie joined ARC Scotland in September 2015. As a part-time development worker she facilitates three Provider Forums in Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland. Julie also supports two self advocate groups in Aberdeenshire - the Aberdeenshire Involvement Network and Aa'body Matters. Amongst other things, these groups are working with the Police to help launch the Keep Safe Scheme in Aberdeenshire.
Julie graduated from Aberdeen University with a Psychology Honours degree in 2003. She then began her career in the voluntary sector as a support worker for Sense Scotland. Julie quickly progressed to team leader and in 2009 became locality manager for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. In Julie's managerial role she still ensured she did regular support shifts with service users as this was where she started her career and making a difference to people's lives will always be close to her heart. Julie still does relief shifts to sustain her working relationship with service users and carry on her practice-based experience.
During her work at Sense Scotland Julie completed her Level 4 SVQ in Health and Social Care and Leadership and Management in Care qualifications. Julie is also an SVQ assessor and can communicate to a basic level in British Sign Language.
I began my career at the Church of Scotland, Board of Social Responsibility and worked there for 10 years. After progressing my career within the Church of Scotland I then moved to further my career with Midlothian Council and thereafter Crown Castle International where I became a Site Share Executive. I remained in this position for 3 years before leaving to have a family. After a break I returned to work part time with Jo Jingles as a music/dance teacher organising classes throughout Midlothian. Alongside this I also worked at Dobbies Garden Centre as a Cash Office Assistant and later moving to a Team Leader role on a full time basis within the Customer Service Department at Head Office. I joined the ARC Scotland Team as a Training Administrator to support the Administration and Training Managers in all aspects of ARC Scotland's training activities. I am privileged to work for ARC Scotland and be part of a Team who can make a difference to improve the quality of life for people who have a learning disability, or other support needs by assisting those who deliver the support.
I provide support to the Training team and Training Manager in all aspects of ARC Scotland's training activities. I strive to ensure that the administration of our SVQ awards to organisations throughout Scotland runs efficiently.
Job Titles:
- SVQ Assessor & Internal Verifier
I joined ARC Scotland as an SVQ Assessor and Internal Verifier for Social Services & Healthcare Level 2, 3 & 4 and Social Services (Children & Young People) Level 2, 3 & 4.
Throughout my career in the social services sector, I have held management positions in residential school settings, adult care settings and childcare settings. Throughout this time, I have assessed and verified SVQ's within the care provider organisation, as a full time SVQ Assessor and Internal Verifier with a training provider and as a Freelance SVQ Assessor and Internal Verifier.
Job Titles:
- Freelance Assessor & Verifier
I joined ARC Scotland as a Freelance Assessor and Verifier 15 years ago.
I joined ARC Scotland in May 2020 as Deputy Training Manager. I started my journey in Health and Social Care in 1991 working for ELCAP, while there I worked in most areas within Health and Social Care, managing adult services, children's services and visiting support. In 2004 I moved to run a small charity in Edinburgh supporting adults with tailored 1:1 services enabling them to be active participants in their communities. In 2009 I moved abroad and worked in the Philippines supporting children and adults on the Tondo dumpsites, I also worked in the prisons supporting British nationals. In 2011, I ventured to Nigeria, where my focus was on working in an orphanage and supporting staff to develop an understanding of child centred practice. I returned to Scotland in 2012 but still spend a lot of time in South East Asia. It was on my return to Scotland that I started my work with ARC, I enjoyed working freelance for ARC as this still allowed me to travel when needed. I have now started in my new role as deputy training manager and look forward to continuing my work for ARC and to the opportunities this will bring.
My role involves assisting with the management of delivering regulated Scottish vocational qualifications (SVQs) to health and social care and children and young people practitioners. I also assess and internally verify these qualifications.
Job Titles:
- Policy and Development Worker
I co-facilitate the Scottish Transitions Forum. We bring people together for events and training. A big focus of my work is working alongside local authorities to improve transitions for young people in their areas.
I am part of the projects team within ARC Scotland. I help facilitate Provider Forums across Tayside and Fife. I also work closely with the Dundee Involvement Network.
Job Titles:
- Policy and Development Worker
I work on the Scottish Transitions Forum primarily working with a group of young people called the Divergent Influencers ensuring disabled and autistic voices are heard when it comes to transition. I also work alongside professionals, software developers, academics, policy makers, Local authorities, Scottish Government and Parliament and other third sector organisations to make sure growing up for young disabled, autistic and other young people with additional support needs is the best it can be.
Job Titles:
- Assessor & Internal Verifier
After graduating with a degree in Linguistics, Stanislaw's 15 years of experience in voluntary care sector included practitioner and manager roles in organisations such as L'Arche and Quarriers. He managed established care home services as well as development of new supported living projects for people with learning disabilities and mental health needs. More recently he managed transitions from hospital care to community-based support.
Stanislaw is passionate about supporting individuals to achieve their potential. His experience as a manager as well as an assessor and verifier allowed him to use this passion in various teams he worked with. He joined ARC Scotland in 2016, attracted by the organisation's values and an impressive track record of supporting voluntary sector's improvement and education. He supports candidates and organisations as an assessor and an internal verifier.
Job Titles:
- Policy and Development Worker
I work on the SOLD Network, aiming to prevent and reduce offending, and improve supports in the justice system for people with communication support needs.
Job Titles:
- Policy and Development Worker
I co-facilitate the Scottish Transitions Forum, bringing people together to improve the experiences of young people with additional needs aged 14-25 who are making the transition to young adult life. I am particularly interested in ensuring parents, carers and families of young people have the information and support they need throughout the transitions process, and that their voices are heard in policy and practice development.