CCPS Staff
Intro text lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent a elit metus. Mauris quam diam, semper vitae venenatis quis, tincidunt vel mi. Maecenas auctor sit amet turpis vel commodo. For details of how to contact CCPS staff, please go to the Contacts page.
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Yvette Burgess
DIRECTOR, HOUSING SUPPORT ENABLING UNIT
Yvette’s background is in housing management in the social rented sector, having worked in London and Bristol for housing associations and for a London borough.
She moved back to Scotland in 1999 to establish The Access Point in Edinburgh – a joint health, housing and social work service for people facing rough sleeping. In 2004 she joined CCPS to set up the Housing Support Enabling Unit (HSEU) and has led that service ever since. The HSEU is jointly hosted by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) and is funded through the Scottish Government’s Better Homes Division.
In her free time, Yvette enjoys beach days with her greyhound, hillwalking and playing trombone in a big band.
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 worked in 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.
Before joining CCPS she was the Scotland Director for the Samaritans, championing the work of their volunteer movement. This followed 12 years heading up the RCN’s policy unit, supporting their Scottish members, and campaigning roles with both the RVS and Shelter.
Rachel has a particular interest in politics, exploring wild landscapes with her family and dogs, swimming as meditation and sitting around outdoor fires looking at the stars (though does none of these things as much as she’d like!).
Nadine Cassidy
ADMINISTRATIVE 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. In 2015 she completed a Postgraduate Certificate in counselling studies at Edinburgh University to strengthen her skills.
Outside of work Nadine enjoys music and walks with her family.
Alison Christie
POLICY PROGRAMMES LEAD (WORKFORCE)
Alison joined CCPS as a Policy and Development Officer in 2016 and took up the position of Policy Programme Lead in April 2021.
She has a background in healthcare, changing careers in 2014 following a period of study at the University of Strathclyde.
Alison has worked in a policy role since 2014, previously in drug and alcohol policy.
Catherine Garrod
PROGRAMME MANAGER, COMMISSIONING & PROCUREMENT PROGRAMME
Catherine has worked for CCPS since 2012, delivering a variety of change projects to improve social care policy and implementation at national and local level.
For six years she led on self-directed support implementation to strengthen third sector providers’ and local authorities’ move to a more personalised and outcomes-based model of provision.
Catherine now manages our Commissioning & Procurement programme, working with Scottish Government, third sector providers and others on promoting the ethical commissioning and procurement principles and progress towards a more collaborative, outcomes-based model of commissioning.
Catherine previously worked for the Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living managing a disability information and advice service. She is passionate about improving social care policy and implementation, enabling rights for individuals and sustainability of third sector organisations. She enjoys working in collaboration with others to bring about change and find solutions to complex problems.
Jen Goff
POLICY AND PROJECTS OFFICER – NATIONAL SOCIAL CARE RESILIENCE AND REFORM
Jen joined CCPS in July 2023 in a new policy role focused on national social care resilience and reform.
Jen has worked in Scotland's third sector for more than a decade, starting out in frontline work supporting people with experience of injecting substance use. They later moved into sexual health and HIV support evaluation research.
More recently, they had the privilege of nurturing a team of community researchers to carry out participatory action research. In 2021, they retrained as a Person-Centred Experiential Psychotherapist focused on LGBTQIA+, relationally diverse and kink communities. In harmony with their role at CCPS, Jen is deeply grateful to have found a space where they can now meaningfully support both those providing and accessing third sector social care support.
Kyle Hylan-Corcoran
POLICY AND PROJECTS OFFICER – WORKFORCE
Kyle joined CCPS in July 2023 as part of the Workforce Development Team. He is currently involved in several working groups and projects related to workforce recruitment and training.
Prior to joining CCPS, Kyle received an MSc. Programme in Public Policy and Management from the University of Glasgow and a BA in Political Science/Justice and Law from American University in Washington, D.C. Kyle has also completed the University of Edinburgh’s Parliamentary Placement Programme, which culminated in an internship with Tom Arthur MSP in his Holyrood office.
Kyle is excited to deliver meaningful work to help CCPS members and the people they support.
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Kristy Lambert
POLICY AND PROJECTS OFFICER – WORKFORCE
Kristy joined CCPS in August 2023 as part of the Workforce Development team, supporting voluntary sector social service providers to improve the experiences and outcomes of the workforce and people who use services.
She previously worked in a policy role supporting the fundraising workforce within the voluntary sector. Prior to this, Kristy co-founded a policy initiative which campaigns for improved contraceptive care in Scotland, and has experience of supporting the public affairs efforts of a national mental health charity. She also received an undergraduate degree in Social Policy and Sociology at the University of Edinburgh.
Kristy is passionate about empowering the workforce, ensuring that all have a voice and platform through which they can effect positive change as a collective.
Olivia Mann
POLICY AND PROJECTS OFFICER (COMMISSIONING & PROCUREMENT)
Olivia joined CCPS in July 2023 and has been supporting the team in various ongoing projects within the Commissioning and Procurement programme, promoting change across the social care sector and policy implementation.
She has previously worked on co-producing and commissioning person-centred social care initiatives with local authorities in England and has a background in social policy and national level social research.
Olivia is keen to continue the programme’s work in promoting the ethical commissioning principles to ensure that people and outcomes remain at the heart of social care.
Emma Mathews
HSEU POLICY AND INFORMATION OFFICER
Emma joined HSEU in July 2022. Her role involves supporting housing support providers to understand policy developments and put forward their views and interests.
Prior to joining HSEU, Emma studied Social Policy and Politics, completing an undergraduate dissertation in 2022 focusing on community investment activity undertaken by Scottish housing associations. While Emma was a student, she also co-directed a student project focussed on action for housing justice in Edinburgh.
Emma now enjoys working with colleagues, providers, and other organisations across Scotland to promote housing support.
Laura Mulcahy
POLICY PROGRAMMES LEAD, CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Laura works with members of CCPS’s hosted unit, the Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Forum (CJVSF) and other stakeholders to improve policy and practice for people affected by Scotland’s justice system.
Prior to joining CCPS, she worked and volunteered with a range of organisations spanning different sectors and geographical areas. This led to an interest in the connections between local, national and international policy developments and the cross-cutting nature of many social, economic and environmental issues.
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Caroline Scott
RESOURCES MANAGER
Caroline has worked for CCPS since May 2010, when she started as an administrator and PA to the director. She has witnessed the organisation transform and expand in the intervening years.
She heads up our administrative function and 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.
Prior to Covid, the admin team managed the logistics of an extensive programme of in-person events (including two-day, residential conferences). They also managed all communications with CCPS members and external stakeholders until the arrival of our communications and engagement team in early 2023.
Before joining CCPS, Caroline had nine years of experience working in museums, heritage and the arts. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and kayaking and generally spending as much time outdoors as possible.
Eilidh Shearer
POLICY AND PROJECTS OFFICER– CRIMINAL JUSTICE VOLUNTARY SECTOR FORUM AND CCPS
Eilidh works in the Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Forum, which is hosted by CCPS, where she supports forum members to advocate for improvements in justice policy, legislation, and practice. Within CCPS, Eilidh carries out research and advocacy for wider social care reform.
Prior to joining CCPS, Eilidh worked in policy and engagement within the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Directorate in the Scottish Government. Eilidh also has experience in the third sector, supporting families and young people in difficult situations with the goals they identified; this included support around mental health, substance use, justice, and family relationships. Participation and amplifying the voices of people who have experienced services’ involvement in their lives has also been a focus in Eilidh’s career.
She is driven by the hope and confidence that we can build a more resilient social care sector which empowers people through meaningful relationships and community.
Chris Small
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT
Chris leads our communications work, with responsibility for CCPS’s 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 and the University of Edinburgh. He has also worked as web editor for the Scottish Parliament, reporter for the Times Educational Supplement Scotland and editor of arts and culture magazine Product, alongside many freelance writing and editing projects. Prior to joining CCPS he was Communications Manager at national charity Children in Scotland, where he led their rebrand and comms campaigning work.
In the early 1990s he was a college radio DJ in North America in the highly coveted 3-6am slot.
Ala Suboh
COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICER
Ala joined CCPS in February 2023 as part of the newly formed communications and engagement team.
She has over six years’ experience in project management within third sector organisations across different fields including education, disability rights, women’s empowerment and mental health services / research, and work with vulnerable communities in Palestine.
After pursuing a master’s degree in Developing and Evaluating Interventions at the University of Glasgow, she spent two years with NHS National Services Scotland as part of the Covid response and vaccination programme.
Ala has a passion for supporting communities and creating positive impacts where possible. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and cycling.
Anna Tully
COMMUNICATIONS & PARLIAMENTRY OFFICER
Anna joined CCPS in May 2023 as part of the newly created comms and engagement team, marking a shift in direction towards a more campaigning and public-facing role for the organisation.
She previously worked as a communications planning executive on Scottish Government marketing campaigns, with experience across various government portfolios.
Anna has a passion for making sure the voice of not-for-profit social care is heard.
Simon Webster
DIRECTOR OF POLICY PROGRAMMES
Simon took up the post of Director of Policy Programmes at CCPS in November 2022. Simon directs CCPS’s programmes on Commissioning and Procurement, Workforce, Children, and Digital. He is the CCPS member on the executive of the Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Forum.
Simon was the Research Consultant in the Scottish Government’s secretariat for Lord Scott’s Scottish Mental Health Law Review and was Secretary to the Rome Review of learning disability and autism in the Mental Health Act.
He has an interest in human rights, particularly disability rights and children’s rights. Simon has experience of third sector management, local authority policy, direct provision of third sector social care, and policy management at a public body.
Fraser White
BETTER FUTURES AND INFORMATION OFFICER (HSEU)
Fraser joined the Housing Support Enabling Unit in December 2021. His role is focused on managing and supporting use of Better Futures, Scotland’s only dedicated outcomes-monitoring and management tool for housing support providers.
Having previously worked in local authority and consultancy research roles, Fraser spent a decade balancing full-time parenting with self-employed projects in cultural and social sectors in Scotland before taking up post at HSEU. He is pleased his work contributes to HSEU objectives to help housing support providers and services deliver positive outcomes for people they support.
Megan Williams
POLICY PROGRAMME LEAD – DIGITAL AND CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE, CCPS
Megan took up her current role in July 2023.
Her work on digital and data for social care builds on her two years of prior experience on the CCPS Workforce Policy team, where she had a focus on workforce data. Megan has an interest in evaluation, measurement, and the puzzle of how to demonstrate social care’s impact without creating too many reporting requests for the people working in and leading our social care services.
She previously worked for a variety of third sector organisations on mental health, poverty, and girls’ education, in service delivery and programme management roles. She holds a Masters degree in Global Mental Health and has experience of the NHS on mental health strategy implementation. She is also a trained counsellor for Childline and has been taking young people’s calls with the helpline for two years.