Age: 46
Job title: Services manager
Employer: Fathers Direct, a charity which is the UK's information centre on fatherhood
Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire,
(but includes travel nationwide)
Salary: 40,000
Duties
My main role is to help local agencies working with families to develop services that support fathers' relationships with their children effectively. This involves helping managers and key staff to develop strategies to reach out to and support fathers. It also involves offering training programmes to provide staff with the skills, knowledge and confidence to engage with fathers.
I deliver these services myself, but also manage a team of experienced trainers and consultants offering a range of courses on working with fathers and male carers.
I also manage a DfES-funded project to develop national fatherhood quality standards. As part of this project in 2004 I co-authored a practical Guide on Working with Fathers, with my colleague Adrienne Burgess. In 2005 we launched the Fatherhood Quality Mark (FQM).
Along with a team of assessors I evaluate whether local agencies such as children's centres, maternity services and nurseries fulfil the criteria in the FQM, and offer support for agencies to work towards it. Another aspect of this is giving input to other initiatives seeking to define and develop good practice, such as quality assurance schemes and national occupational standards. I also evaluate local projects and pilots, including the YMCA's Dads and Lads Programme.
Likes/dislikes
I love working alongside individuals who are committed to helping families achieve their potential. They are a privilege to work with and many are very committed to involving fathers. It is great hearing about all the good work going on out there, and satisfying to be part of creating services that work for everyone in the family. It is also fascinating seeing people rethink their views on men, and relations between men, women and children.
I dislike the travelling involved in running the training and going to meetings in London, which takes me away from home too much. I am amazed at how supportive people are for my work, but sometimes it gets wearing when yet another person assumes we are a fathers' rights group, like Fathers4Justice, rather than the child-centred organisation we are. Fathers Direct does not pretend all dads are great. Our starting point is that what they do matters to children.
Best achievements
I am proud of setting up NEWPIN's Fathers Centre in London which is a community-based service for fathers and their families, offering support and parenting groups, advice and counselling, drop-in sessions and befriending. I am also very proud of helping to set up Fathers Direct.
Training There are no formal requirements for this job and it's a bit of a one-off.
However, it's important to have solid experience, working directly with families, and fathers in those families; to have experience and training in delivering training consultancy and evaluation; and to be able to manage complex relationships with a range of agencies.
Career path
I worked as a civil servant on economic policy from 1982 to 1987, then made a big career change, to work in a project with teenagers leaving care.
After social work training, I worked as a local authority social worker until 1996, in a drugs team and in an HIV team. Then I moved to a small charity to work with lone-parent families offering counselling and advocacy. In 1997 I founded and managed NEWPIN's Fathers Centre in London.
Subsequently I helped set up Fathers Direct.
Career progression
I am a senior manager in a small team of eight and report to the chief executive. I work alongside two colleagues who are also delivering services to children and families' agencies.
Advice
You need to be self-motivated, good at working away on your own projects.
You also need to be good at creating and sustaining relationships with people in many different contexts and agencies. You do not need to be a man to do this job, but it is crucial to understand about the roles and identities of men and women in society.
Interests/hobbies
I like to spend time with my partner and children. I also enjoy walking, going to films, playing piano, singing in a chamber choir, reading novels, gardening, eating with friends and playing tennis.
Further information:
* For information about the Diploma in Child Care and Education: www.cache.org.uk
* For similar job opportunities with Primary Care Trusts: www.primarycare jobs.co.uk
* For Fathers Direct: www.fathersdirect. com
