Mhairi Martin
Troon
Summary
I am an experienced professional with 15 years of expertise in anti-discriminatory practice, adept at working with a diverse service user groups from both my time in the voluntary and statutory sectors. Through my background working with those who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, homelessness, poverty, substance abuse, and those with disabilities etc, has heightened my awareness of inequality and discrimination.
I demonstrate strong advocacy skills for those I support and work with, and am highly adaptable; quickly mastering new working methods, databases and possess excellent problem-solving and analysis capabilities.
I am a confident and driven individual who will exceed the duties outlined within the job description. I am proficient in report writing and skilled in coordinating, facilitating, and project managing tasks, group work, and activities. I have exceptional people skills in engaging with service users, colleagues, and multi-agency partners.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Unpaid Work Supervisor (Casual)
East Refrewshire Council
Barrhead
09.2023 - Current
- Supervising up to 10 individuals who are subject to unpaid work as part of their Community Payback Order either out and about in the community or within our allocated workshop.
- Advise of and demonstrate tasks; utilising woodwork machinery and gardening equipment, ensuring these are carried out safely and within satisfactory perimeters.
- Ensure standards of conduct and work are maintained.
- Gained experience of offending behaviour and the importance of modelling pro-social behaviour.
- Involved in community initiatives to drive social justice awareness and promote change.
- Report to the court in terms of attitudes, attendance and behaviour.
Specialist Court Advocacy Worker
DASAT; West Lothian Council
Livingston
01.2022 - Current
- Deliver court advocacy services through offering support and undertaking safety planning to individuals experiencing domestic and sexual abuse through the various stages of the Scottish criminal court system.
- Gained a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of court proceedings and legal jargon.
- Scheduling, invoicing and utilising translation services.
- Referring to, researching for and participating in various case conferences, such as; MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference), MATAC (Multi Agency Task and Coordination) and DSDAS (Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland.
- Utilising a range of databases and Microsoft office packages for record keeping, case notes and court reports.
- Chaired and undertook meeting minutes at team meetings on a rotational basis.
- Built and managed influential and advocacy relationships with other statutory and voluntary services, police and the courts.
- Assisted in the creation and promotion of a weekly drop in service.
- Responsible for providing financing reports for DES (Delivering Equally Safe) funding inclusive of qualitive and quantitative data.
Family Aid Worker
South Ayrshire Council
Ayr
10.2012 - 01.2022
- Provided ongoing support and intervention to children and young people subject to child protection, statutory or looked after and accommodated measures, and their families, inclusive of pre-birth referrals.
- Individual work with children and young people to gather their views.
- Assessing for and supervising family time contacts, including parental presentation and interactions to minimise any potential risk to the child / young person.
- Developed communication and networking skills to ensure multi-agency practice.
- Assist with applying for benefits and funding for children, young people, their families.
- Arranged and facilitated various group work to benefit children, young people, carers and parents.
Hostel Officer (Sessional)
South Ayrshire Council
Ayr & Troon
10.2011 - 10.2017
- Coworking with the Housing Options Team, Prisons and Police to book-in new residents subject of homelessness.
- Conducted needs assessments and signposting to relevant statutory and voluntary services
- Provided tailored housing advice, information and support in terms of housing applications and relocations.
- Facilitated resident meetings within the hostels, leading to better communication and understanding between tenants and the housing department.
- Mediated disputes between tenants, resulting in a peaceful living environment.
- Developed strong partnerships within the health and social care partnership to assist vulnerable tenants effectively.
- Improved housing standards with regular property inspections and coordination with council maintenance.
- Provided advice on welfare benefits facilitating increased financial stability for residents.
Education
Diploma of Higher Education - Social Care (Scotland)
The Open University
Milton Keynes 08.2017 - 08.2019
Certificate of Higher Education - Social Care
Edinburgh Telford College
Edinburgh 08.2009 - 07.2010
SVQ Level 5 - Social Care
Edinburgh Telford College
Edinburgh 08.2008 - 06.2009
Skills
- Anti-discriminatory practice with 15 years of experience working with a multitude of service user groups from both the voluntary and statutory sectors
- Advocacy skills with an awareness of inequality and discrimination
- Report writing skills for court, meetings and funding applications
- Adaptable worker who picks up new ways of working quickly
- Problem solving and analysis skills
- Motivated character, who works well both independently using my own initiative and as part of a team
- Ability to coordinate, facilitate and project manage tasks, group work and activities
- Great people skills in terms of service users, colleagues and multi-agency partnerships
Affiliations
- Snowboarding.
- Motorbiking.
- Hiking (Munros).
- Reading fiction.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Unpaid Work Supervisor (Casual)
East Refrewshire Council
09.2023 - Current
Specialist Court Advocacy Worker
DASAT; West Lothian Council
01.2022 - Current
Diploma of Higher Education - Social Care (Scotland)
The Open University
08.2017 - 08.2019
Family Aid Worker
South Ayrshire Council
10.2012 - 01.2022
Hostel Officer (Sessional)
South Ayrshire Council
10.2011 - 10.2017
Certificate of Higher Education - Social Care
Edinburgh Telford College
08.2009 - 07.2010
SVQ Level 5 - Social Care
Edinburgh Telford College
08.2008 - 06.2009
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