CCPS Staff

Catherine Anderson

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Catherine joined CCPS in August 2025 as part of the communications team.

She has spent most of her career working in charity communications, with a focus on human rights and social justice issues. In a previous role, she worked with the Good Law Project, coordinating communications across a number of campaigns focussing on women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights and the environment.

Prior to this, she spent time in London and Geneva working in communications roles for several human rights organisations focussing on legal advocacy in western Asia and the Middle East. She has also spent time working in the media, first as a freelance journalist and subsequently as a sub-editor.

Rachel Cackett

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Rachel has been CEO of the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland since July 2022, leading the work of the organisation to represent not-for-profit providers nationally.   

Much of her work to date has focused on realising the Fair Work agenda and influencing much needed sector reform.  

She has been part of Scottish social justice organisations for over 20 years and has a particular interest in working in membership organisations to develop a collective voice to influence.  

Nadine Cassidy

ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCE OFFICER

Nadine joined CCPS in 2019 as part of the admin team and has a focus on finances. She feels privileged to be able to support the work of her colleagues across the organisation in improving not-for-profit social care.  

Nadine has worked in the third sector for over 15 years. She was previously an Advocacy Worker supporting parents of children with exceptional healthcare needs and is particularly passionate about disability issues.  

Alison Christie

HEAD OF POLICY

Alison brings over 10 years of experience at CCPS, including two years as Policy Manager, where she has built significant expertise in social care policy, legislation, and sector leadership. Her work has centred on workforce development, fair work and influencing commissioning and procurement policy to support sustainable, high-quality not-for-profit social care provision.

She is focused on securing better pay, terms, and conditions for the workforce and championing the essential contribution of the sector in supporting people and communities. Through strategic policy development, collaboration and advocacy, Alison works to advance equitable and sustainable approaches that strengthen providers, support the workforce, and improve outcomes for people who access care and support.

Rebecca French

POLICY OFFICER - CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Rebecca joined the CCPS policy team in July 2025. Her role has a particular focus on supporting members that provide services to children and young people, championing issues in the key policy areas of family support, child poverty and sector sustainability.

In another role, she campaigns to improve access to maternal mental health services and is a Trustee of an organisation supporting women and children experiencing domestic violence, forced marriage and honour based abuse.

She has previously worked within the violence against women and girls sector, and was based in Brussels, working in a range of communications roles with global and European institutions and agencies.

Caroline Scott

RESOURCES MANAGER

Caroline has worked for CCPS since May 2010 and heads up our administrative function.  

She is responsible for providing HR, governance, financial and secretarial support to the senior management team and other colleagues. She also services the board and supports the treasurer. 

Before joining CCPS, Caroline had nine years’ experience working in museums, heritage and the arts.  

Eilidh Shearer

POLICY OFFICER – WORKFORCE, COMMISSIONING & PROCUREMENT

Eilidh is a Policy Officer at CCPS, specialising in workforce, commissioning and procurement policy. Eilidh undertakes research and data analysis, policy development and advocacy to support reforms across social care. 

Prior to joining CCPS, Eilidh worked in policy and engagement in the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Directorate in the Scottish Government. Eilidh also has experience in the third sector, providing trauma-enhanced support to families and care experienced young people.

Chris Small

HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT

Chris leads our communications work, with responsibility for CCPS’s campaigns, member engagement, parliamentary brief and brand.

Chris started his career as a journalist at the Scotsman newspapers before taking on various communications roles, including at the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, the University of Edinburgh and the Times Educational Supplement Scotland.  

Prior to joining CCPS he was Communications Manager at national charity Children in Scotland, where he led their rebrand and communications influencing work.

Karen Smith

HEAD OF OPERATIONS

Karen joined CCPS in September 2025 as Head of Operations, bringing 20 years of experience in organisational support and development across the third sector.

Karen previously worked with the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, Forces Children Scotland, the MS Society and Macmillan Cancer Support in a variety of roles focused on organisational resilience, system change, and staff wellbeing.

Alistair Taylor

POLICY OFFICER - COMMISSIONING & PROCUREMENT

Alistair joined CCPS in August 2025 as a Policy Officer. He is part of the team focusing on Commissioning and Procurement, the Workforce and Children & Young People.

His policy remit is ethical commissioning and procurement – an approach which values equity and quality in services, not just cost. He also works on embedding Fair Work principles in the sector to ensure that social care workers are valued.

Prior to CCPS, Alistair worked for several years at the Scottish Parliament in a range of policy, research, casework, and communications roles with various MSPs and offices.

Alice Tooms-Moore

PARLIAMENTARY OFFICER

Alice joined CCPS in April 2026 as Parliamentary Officer. Her role focuses on ensuring the voices and experiences of CCPS members are heard in Holyrood, influencing decision-makers and shaping the policy agenda.

Alice has worked across Scottish and UK policy and influencing roles. Before joining CCPS, she worked on children in care policy at Action for Children UK, gaining insight into the importance of third sector care providers.

Prior to this, she spent five years in policy advocacy at Shelter Scotland where she influenced Scottish housing and homelessness policy.

Louise Wylie

POLICY OFFICER - HOUSING

Louise joined the Housing Support Enabling Unit in August 2025. Her role focuses on supporting housing support providers, including on issues related to Housing Benefit, Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans, and social care charging.

Louise previously worked in political monitoring for health, social care and human rights clients. She also has experience in travel and business data journalism.