Service Manager (Community Payback & Wood Operations) Neighbourhoods, Regeneration & Sustainability, Glasgow City Council
Mark was a tradesman for over 30 years in the building and construction industry. Encountering the justice system for the first time in his life, Mark received 210 unpaid work hours as part of a Community Payback Order in early 2023.
“I really didn’t know what to expect but was made to feel comfortable at the placement and actually enjoyed the work that we were doing. I had been involved in the construction industry for over 30 years, managing my own contracts and squads and while this was a completely different environment to that, as I worked through my hours, I began to feel like it’s a job that would suit my skills and experience. The supervisors began tasking me with a mentor type role when I was at placement, showing new clients how to build planters and I’d often give them advice when chatting away in general throughout the day. When I heard that jobs were coming up within the service, I didn’t think I would be allowed to apply for one.”
Towards, the end of Mark’s order, Community Payback Officer vacancies arose, and jobs were advertised. Mark initially thinking that the fact he was on order would prohibit any chance he had of applying for a post had mentioned to his supervising Payback Officer that it would be a job he would love to apply for. Encouraged to apply and not allow the opportunity to pass by. Mark attended interview while still having a few hours of his unpaid work remaining and started his role as a Community Payback Officer in October 2023.
Being able to relay and tie in his experiences from the building trade with the now lived experience of being in a service user position was a real positive for me when recruiting. Mark was able to bring his skills and knowledge of training, developing and nurturing apprentices, and use this to shape his engagement and supervision of unpaid work clients. Being able to identify with clients that you have been in their shoes (or safety boots in our setting!) lays solid foundations to build relationships and enhance the unpaid work experience.