QCF level 5 in Health and Social Care, Certificate in Counselling and a Business Management HND Safeguarding Leadership Kirstie has been working with children and young people in social care for the past 23 years, starting her career at a very young age as a volunteer in a school for differently abled young people in Gloucestershire. Kirstie went on to work with Shelter and Glofysh supporting homeless young people aged 16 - 25 with housing advice and support. Later, Kirstie worked with young adults who had been made homeless and supported them to gain qualifications and employment whilst living in supported accommodation. Kirstie went on to manage some of the highest levels of supported accommodation in Gloucester over a six year period. This housing accommodated homeless and disadvantaged young people from under-resourced areas within the city. Kirstie became a team manager, transitioning into an operations manager within a year, successfully developing supported housing placements across the South West. Kirstie then started to support struggling therapeutic childrens' homes, offering a consultancy service to create recovery plans which ensure standards are raised so gradings of 'good' and 'outstanding' can be achieved. Kirstie strongly believes being part of the lives of these young people is a privileged position, and that every child and young person must be given the best opportunities in life, no matter where their starting point.