Our Staff
Chief Executive: Cathy Macnaughton
I qualified as a social worker in 1975 and since then have worked in a variety of jobs mostly in children and families work in the statutory sector. Before coming to MCFB in November 2006 I worked with the Scottish Social Services Council. I have always been committed to ongoing learning, gaining my Practice Teaching Award in 1991 and continuing to be active as a practice teacher. I also have post-graduate qualifications in child protection studies and in social services leadership. Working with MCFB combines my passions for creative work with marginalised children and their families, continuous learning and social justice.
Service & Learning Manager: Steve Gowenlock
I have worked as a social worker in several agencies since qualifying with the CQSW from Edinburgh University in 1988. These include Barnardo's, Children 1st and a small community based family centre in a peripheral housing estate in Edinburgh. The focus of all my practice has been on direct therapeutic input with children, including individual work, work with families and group work. Since 1998 I have been employed by MCFB. My work here has continued to develop the above interests and skills but within a cross-cultural and community development based perspective. A central role here has been developing learning opportunities for social work students and supervising and managing students on placement. I completed the University of Dundee's Certificate in Child Protection studies in 2001.
Early Years Manager: Marise Gowenlock
I have worked as the Manager of the Early Years Service from its inception as Leith Sure Start Project in January 2001. I enjoy the challenge of seeking to support families with very young children at an early point in the relationship between parent and infant, and to do so in a spirit of mutual learning. I find this area of work fascinating and hope that through my experience and practice teaching I can communicate this to others.
My previous social work experience includes both voluntary and public sector posts in residential work with young people with learning disabilities, looked after children and young homeless people; mental health work with adults; working in a residential school; and supported accommodation for young care-leavers.
Service & Learning Manager – NEWT:
Danny Ferguson
I started working for MCFB in August 2004 having worked in a local authority children and families team for two years. I completed the postgraduate MSW degree at Edinburgh University, having attained an MA in Mental Philosophy in 1994. Recently, I completed the Graduate Certificate in Child Care and Protection at Dundee University and I also have a practice teaching award. My work for MCFB focuses on practice teaching and facilitating practice learning groups for social work students, as well as working directly with children and families on an individual and group basis. I also work on behalf of NEWT, and facilitate student placements there, as part of our partnership working arrangement.
Service & Learning Manager: Sheila Cooper
Sheila joined MCFB in 2002. She is a qualified social worker, practice teacher and aromatherapist with an additional qualification in Child Protection. Her role encompasses student supervision, facilitating student groups, practice assessing for practice teachers and work with the University of Edinburgh on the Practice Assessment Panel. She brings to the post considerable social work experience with children and families in both the statutory and voluntary sector, as well as hospital social work. Sheila has a particular interest in working with students who have additional learning needs.
Service & Learning Manager – Leith SWC: Janice Gammie
I qualified as a social worker in June 1996. My work has been primarily with children and families for various local authorities. I also have experience of recruiting and supporting foster carers and tutoring social work students. I have been practice teaching students since 2004 and hold the PQ1 award, the certificate in child protection studies and the practice teaching award.
I am committed to working in an anti-oppressive way and believe strongly that everyone deserves “unconditional positive regard”. I am committed to the development of both social work as a profession and of professional social workers. Because of this, I think it is essential that social workers are able to explain and justify their practice and decisions. My current post as a senior social worker is a joint position between the City of Edinburgh Council and Multi-Cultural Family Base. In addition to operational management responsibilities and direct practice teaching, it also involves management of all the link work for students between the two agencies.
Service & Learning Manager – VAF Project: Dina Sidhva
I have worked in MCFB since September 2005. I am a qualified social worker and practice teacher, with a special interest in research. During my time at MCFB, I have been involved in practice teaching, and in developing a two-year project: “BME Young People Speaking Out”; I also mentor learners on the Widening Access Pilot project, support MCFB's work with Swietlica, and am involved in the pilot Polish Family Project, for individuals and families affected by domestic violence and alcohol misuse. I share the work done on all these projects at national and international conferences and through various reports/articles, with the aim of ‘giving a voice’ to MCFB service users. I bring to my post the values, knowledge and skills that I have honed through my experience of working as a social work academic, researcher and practitioner both in India and Scotland: working and learning together, trust, transparency, and solidarity.
Service & Learning Manager, Harmeny Partnership:
Lorraine Grady
I qualified as a social worker in 1998. In 2000 I gained an MSc in Social Work from Glasgow Caledonian University. I have also completed post graduate awards in Child Care & Protection from Dundee University and Practice Teaching. I have been with MCFB since August 2007 and have responsibility for the partnership arrangement between MCFB and Harmeny School where I assess student practice and facilitate student groups. I have worked in both statutory and voluntary agencies and bring a wealth of experience to the post. My main areas of interest are Residential Child Care and Children's Rights, my current post enables me to continue to develop my knowledge base while supporting social work students both at MCFB and Harmeny School.
Office Manager: Sarah Malone (maternity leave) /
Kirsty McCran (temporary)
Kirsty has recently joined MCFB as a temporary Office Manager for one year. Her role covers a wide range of administrative and personnel matters from human resources to health and safety to updating the website. Her last place of work was with Young Scot whom she was with for 25 years!
Finance Manager: John Boughey
John joined MCFB in September 2002. He is a qualified ACMA, having spent the previous 28 years with Scottish & Newcastle, latterly as Group Management Accountant. In his role as Finance Manager for MCFB John is responsible for all Budget preparation and the presentation of Management Accounts to the Board on a quarterly basis. He has overall responsibility for the maintenance of financial records and oversees reports to funders, assisting with funding applications and control of Student Fees.
Art Therapist: Sue du Porto
I qualified as an art therapist from Queen Margaret University in July 2003. As part of the MSC course in Art Therapy I did a two year placement with MCFB.
Following qualification, I have provided art therapy sessions with MCFB on a voluntary and sessional basis and since January 2006 in a paid capacity. Currently I work one day a week with children, young people and adults, both individually and in group settings.
I am committed to making art therapy more accessible to a wide range of people.
In addition I qualified as a social worker in 1988 and have also completed post graduate awards in Counselling and Practice Teaching. My main area of expertise is in adoption and fostering.
Project Leader Widening Access / Project Worker EAL: Wimoluxana (Boon) Drysdale
Boon joined MCFB in 2002 as a Project Worker (Family Support). She came to the post with a Community Education qualification and brought with her substantial and varied experience gained through working with the City of Edinburgh Council. Boon was seconded by MCFB to study for a social work qualification and qualified in June 2006. She now works as a Project Worker for the EAL partnership project. She also acts as a link supervisor to social work and community education students at MCFB. Boon is qualified to work as an Interpreter and Translator and has experience in public translations.
Group Worker: Bina Chaudhry
I have been with the MCFB since qualifying as a social worker in 2005. I initially helped to provide a group work service as a student in 2003 and have continued to develop a keen interest in the ‘group experience’ as an inclusive, anti-oppressive and democratic setting for change. Our groups provide a unique multicultural experience for social work students to develop and strengthen their practice. My role as a group worker is to try and enable members of the group to feel secure, worthy of respect and consideration through acceptance. “All people need to feel accepted, as a person feels accepted, their self-esteem rises”.
Early Years Project Worker: Jackie Graham
As a qualified nursery nurse, I have worked in a wide range of childcare settings in both the voluntary and statutory sectors. I have also been involved in training, lecturing and the assessment of nursery nurse students.I became part of MCFB in 2006 when Leith Sure Start Project became part of the Early Years provision here at MCFB. My role at present is to support families through both individual and group work. I take the lead role in the group work provision and provide three supported parent and child sessions throughout the week. I also provide support and supervision as a link worker to social work students on placement at MCFB. I am currently working towards my PDA Management qualification in Childcare and Education.
Bilingual Play Assistant: Kasia Sitko
Bilingual Play Assistant: Li Ping Wen
Finance Administrator: Yun Zhang
Yun joined MCFB in 2002 as the Finance Administrator. She is a part-qualified accountant and still studying towards the full qualification of ACCA. Her role covers a wide range of financial matters including preparing accounts in the SAGE accounts system and balance sheets for the individual projects. She is interested in continuing to develop her accounting knowledge, gaining the AAT final in June 2007 and also upgrading her knowledge of SAGE.
Student Administrator: Patti Porch
I joined MCFB in August 1998. I was employed initially as Administrative Assistant dealing with Finance and General Administrative Duties. Now as Student Administrator I deal with all administrative duties relating to students from their date of starting until when they finish their placements.
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