SCRA's Board

Chair - Carole Wilkinson (appointed 2010)
Carole Wilkinson recently retired from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), where she had held the post of Chief Executive since its creation in 2001. At the SSSC she was responsible for introducing the registration and regulation of the social services workforce and setting the required qualifications. This included raising the standards and expectations of staff in residential child care and early years services. Prior to taking up post at the SSSC, having held a number of senior posts in local authorities, where she was responsible for managing a range of children's services and overseeing child protection work, she became Director of Social Work in Falkirk. She recently chaired the group set up by Scottish Government to examine residential child care, was a member of Barnardo's Scottish Committee for a number of years and in 2001 was elected President of the Association of Directors of Social Work (ADSW).

 

Deputy Chair - Malcolm Dickson (appointed 2008, appointed Deputy Chair 2010)

Malcolm R. Dickson was a police officer for 30 years after graduating from the University of St. Andrews in 1977. He served with Lothian and Borders Police in every rank from Constable to Deputy Chief Constable covering a wide range of operational and strategic roles. He was responsible for commanding the policing of many major events in Edinburgh, including the Millennium street party, royalty and state visits and numerous demonstrations including those related to the G8 Summit at Gleneagles in 2005, as well as the introduction of many policing innovations. As a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland from 2000, he was involved with Criminal Justice Reform improving services for victims, liquor licensing reform, the creation of media relations guidance and the privatisation of prisoner escort and court custody management from January 2006 to July 2007. He was the Assistant Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland and made a significant contribution to the momentum for police reform.

Board Member - Margaret Wells (appointed 2004, re-appointed 2008)

Margaret Wells was Director of Housing and Social Work in Aberdeenshire and worked within social work services for 24 years in the East of Scotland. Between 2002 and 2004, Margaret worked as Director of Partnership Development and Child Health Commissioner for Lothian NHS Board. She was President of the Association of Directors of Social Work in the year 2000, social work advisor to COSLA and was a member of the Mental Health Reference Group and Ministerial Joint Future Group. Currently she works independently as a management and care consultant.

Board Member - Andrew Miller (appointed 2008)

A former Shadow Education Convenor of West Lothian Council, Councillor Andrew Miller was elected Executive Councillor for Education in June 2007. His current council position involves the development and scrutiny of policy with a focus on Children's Services. As such, he is an active member of the CoSLA Education, Children & Young People Executive, West Lothian's Head Teacher Appointment Panel and the Placing in Schools Appeals.

Board Member - Louise MacDonald (appointed 2010)

Louise Macdonald is Chief Executive of Young Scot, the National Youth Information Agency for Scotland since December 2007, prior to which, she was Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Director of Communications for the organisation. She began her professional career as a journalist with local and national media in Scotland and the UK, before embarking on a career in the statutory and voluntary sector, including posts with Family Mediation Scotland and Community Learning Scotland.

Board Member - Bernadette Docherty (appointed 2010)

Bernadette Docherty has retired recently from the post of Corporate Director Social Services for North Ayrshire Council. She was President of the Association of Directors of Social Work (ADSW) in 2007-08 and, prior to that, was convenor of the Association's Children and Families Standing Committee.

Board Member - Joseph Hughes (appointed 2010)

Joseph Hughes has been a qualified solicitor since 1984, he set up his own legal practice in 1986 and is now Managing Partner of J C Hughes, Glasgow. He was previously a Reporter to the Law Society (2002-2007).

Principal Reporter/Chief Executive Officer - Neil Hunter
Neil Hunter became Principal Reporter/Chief Executive of the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration in April 2011. Neil has held previous operational and strategic posts across Social Work and Health Care Services in Glasgow/Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Until December 2010 Neil was the Director of West Glasgow Community Health and Care Partnership (CHCP). For 5 years prior to that he was led the Addictions Partnership for the City of Glasgow. Both of these posts were joint NHS/Local Authority appointments.

Neil’s work experience with children and young people goes back to the early 1990’s when he was involved in the management of support services for young homeless people in Glasgow and later established one of Scotland’s first substance misuse services for children and young people in Springburn, North Glasgow.

Neil’s background is in the social sciences, where he holds a first degree from the University of Glasgow, Masters Degree from Glasgow Caledonian University and a post graduate qualification in Advanced Social Work Studies from Strathclyde University. Neil lives in Glasgow and has one daughter, age 13.