Our Staff
Chief Executive: 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 Service 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: 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 Master of Social Work degree at Edinburgh University in 2002, having previously attained a Master of Arts (Honours in Mental Philosophy) in 1994. Recently, I completed the 'Leadership in Practice Learning' award at Glasgow Caledonian University and have completed both the Graduate Certificate in Child Care and Protection and the practice teaching award. My work for MCFB focuses on practice teaching and working directly with children and families on an individual and group basis. I also work on behalf of one the local authority's children and family teams and facilitate student placements with their Early Intervention Team.
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, 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.
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 Banyan Project: 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. Boon works half-time as the Project Leader developing the Banyan Project supporting young people affected by domestic abuse. Boon is also involved in supporting the learning of BME adults and does some family work. She is also a qualified practice teacher.
Office Manager: Philippa Kemp
I joined MCFB in January 2012 as Office Manager. In this role I oversee the administrative and facilities side of the organisation dealing with everything from purchasing to filing systems to changing lightbulbs!?
4-2-7 Project Leader: 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 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 coordinator 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”. I also achieved my Practice Teaching award last year (2010), supporting social work students on their placements.
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.
Early Years Group Worker: Heather Tuffery
I qualified as an art therapist from Queen Margaret University, MSc Art Psychotherapy in July 2011, having had a three year placement at MCFB as part of my training. I am currently working as part of MCFB's Early Years Service as a group worker, facilitating two groups for parents and children and also as a volunteer art therapist. I am also currently working as a freelance art therapist and arts worker providing art therapy and running art projects with children and the elderly in community and care settings. I am committed to promoting and facilitating play and art making processes both as a group worker and an art therapist.
Volunteer Co-ordinator: Dipa Ward
Since completing my PGCE in Community Education in 1994, I have worked with various voluntary organisations in Edinburgh, including work with adults, children and young people from a wide variety of ages, backgrounds and cultures.
I have experience of organising and facilitating group work activities as well as offering one to one support. In my previous post at Saheliya I was also providing training on mental health issues to volunteers and students.
I also completed a Counselling Skills Certificate in 2008 at Saheliya.
My experience and interest has been primarily in the field of equalities and anti-discrimination, which I hope continues to inform the way that I work. I have just taken up post as Volunteer Co-ordinator in June 2011 and will be working with MCFB and three other projects in North East Edinburgh, to develop volunteering structures and opportunities, with a focus on hard to reach individuals and communities.
Bilingual Play Assistant: Dai Qian
I joined MCFB in August 2010 as a Mandarin-speaking Bi-Lingual Play worker. My main role is to support vulnerable Chinese families with early years children. It's not the first time I've worked in a voluntary sector agency, however, I'm really enjoying this work because it considers childrens' needs by taking into account their family context. As to my personal background, I completed an MSc in Education at the University of Edinburgh in 2009, and am currently working as a PhD research student on a project in Child and Adolescent Development at the same University.
Finance Administrator: Yun Zhang
Yun joined MCFB in 2002 as the Finance Administrator. In her role Yun deals with all aspects of MCFB's finance.
Yun is also responsible for MCFB's financial reporting and analysis, including budgets and forecasts, preparing and presenting to the Board and external Auditors. She has ACCA and AAT both full qualificationa and has been working with Sage for the past six years.
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.
4-2-7 Project Worker: Sylvia Hamilton
I first came to MCFB as student social worker in November 2010, and am delighted to have been here ever since. Since completing my studies in May 2011, I have carried out direct therapeutic work with children, primarily as a group worker.s
My current role involves working between the 4-2-7 and Nhamtok projects. The 4-2-7 Project aims to support children aged four to seven from diverse communities to successfully manage the transition to primary school. This involves groupwork in schools and other community venues, as well as individual support for children and their parents. The Nhamtok project provides support for BME girls aged 10-14 who are young carers, through weekly therapeutic group work. In both projects I work closely with student colleagues, where I have a role as Link Supervisor.
I have a strong commitment to inclusion, informed by my previous work experience as a learning assistant in both mainstream and special education, and as a support worker working with adults with complex physical disabilities and learning difficulties. My experiences of working cross-culturally at MCFB have led to a strong commitment to improving the life chances of BME children, and developing as an anti-racist practitioner.
4-2-7 Volunteer: Gosia Radecka
Details to follow.
Trainee Administrator: Adil Mahmood
I have recently joined the team at MCFB as Trainee Administrator. I have previous office experience and have worked as an assistant manager with several buisnesses. I have completed the CompTIA A+ course which increased my admin & IT skills. During my time at MCFB I'm hoping to make professional contacts and friends as well as gaining valuable experience and growing as a person. Hopefully my time at MCFB will help me work towards my future plan of training to become a counsellor for black and minority ethnic teenagers and men.
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