Head of Service for Dorset Combined Youth Justice Service

AYM South West Regional Representative

I started my working life at the Oxford Night Shelter, before moving to Sheffield for my social work training. Arguably my time at the Night Shelter was more of a learning experience! I worked as a Probation Officer in London during the 1990s, at Camberwell Green and then at Wormwood Scrubs, on the Lifer Wing.

After our first child was born, we moved to West Dorset so we could work part-time and share the childcare. The view from my office window changed from looking out on a prison exercise yard to watching the boats in Weymouth marina. With the Probation ethos changing from its social work origins to ‘challenging offending behaviour’ I moved into youth justice in 2007, with Dorset YOT.

In 2014 I was appointed as service manager for both Dorset YOT and Bournemouth & Poole YOS, leading the two services through a merger, forming our current combined service in 2015. Working in youth justice continues to be stimulating, challenging and rewarding, not always in equal measures, with our successes always based on the strength of our relationships and partnerships.