Director Diaries

The Director Diaries

Shannon, from our National Representative Body*, sat down with Kay, our Assistant Director of Independent Advocacy, to find out more about her, what she does at Who Cares? Scotland and what her dreams are for the Care Experienced community.

Can you tell us about yourself?

I’m Kay, I’m the Assistant Director of Independent Advocacy and I started in June. I live in Orkney with my husband, my son who is just about to turn six and my three cats and two dogs. My cats are called Bear, Luna and Misha and my dogs are Monty and Mac.

What is your job?

Part of my job is helping Denny (who you read about in the last issue) so he can focus on

other bits of work. I help our advocates’ managers in the North, North East and South East parts of Scotland. I make sure our advocacy is the best in Scotland and let everyone know about it.

What made you decide to join Who Cares? Scotland?

I first heard about Who Cares? Scotland in my old job. I was at a committee meeting and we were listening to a Care Experienced young person and their advocate talk about their experiences. I thought “wow that advocacy worker and that young person have done so much in that one moment.” When I saw the job advert, I really liked the description. So, I researched Who Cares? Scotland and liked everything I found. I really wanted to be able to make a difference. So, I applied.

The Director Diaries

*The National Representative Body, is a group of Care Experienced people who were voted to be a part of it by our members. They are a mix of boys and girls, of all different ages and different care experiences. It is their job to act on behalf of you and our members at events and when speaking to people in power.

Do you have anything you’d like to say to our members?

I’m here to make sure Who Cares? Scotland is the best it can be for you and I am totally open to hearing how you think it’s going. If you think there is something I should be doing that I’m not doing, get in touch and let me know.

‘If the young person you’re reading this with, would like to send a message to Kay email membership@whocaresscotland.org.

What did you do before joining Who Cares? Scotland?

I have done quite a lot of different things like learning to be a solicitor (someone who helps people with the law). In Orkney, I focused on child and adult protection and became an expert in social work law. I helped with other things like fostering and adoption.

What would you like to achieve in your role?

I really want to make sure that all our advocacy workers feel really strongly supported. That they know a lot about what they are doing, they are working for an organisation that fully supports them in their development and they are confident that they are doing a really good job. I want to make sure that as an organisation we are keeping all our workers really happy and supported.

What are your hopes and aspirations for the Care Experienced community?

I really do hope for the aims of The Promise. I’m back and forth with my love hate relationship with it. I love everything that it calls for and I hate it because I worry that it will fail. I hope that all its promises will be kept.