Mark Reid – Director / Service Manager

Firstly, let me thank you for accessing our website and reading about the services which Open Choice Independence Ltd offer to young people and adults across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

My experience in these fields of work began at the age of 14 with my Fathers mental health. At 17 I was working with 13 to 16 year old offenders and other young people with learning difficulties and autism. My work then took me into mental health hospitals/centres and other agencies on a free lance basis for a number of years, mainly in and around the North West of England, constantly working with young people and adults across the whole spectrum of the care industry, who where often in crisis situations.

I have previous experience in carrying case loads of young people and therefore relate to and understand the demanding roles of social workers. I believe I have created a service where all service users feel at ease and in control of their own lives, their rights and their possibilities.

My training and qualifications range from a Diploma in Counselling; The management of challenging behaviour studio's 1, 2 and 3; Child protection; Children's Acts; Children's homes, Full care orders and Foster carers; Criminal Justice; Crown and magistrate courts; Police stations and pace; YOI's; Mental Health Acts, Anti psychotic breaks; Self harm; Clinical depression; Schizophrenia; Hospital Sections, Consultants and physcologists; Drug and alcohol misuse and re integration with other cultures.

My CV is available for Placement/Commissioning teams. A little personal information about myself.

I have climbed ‘ Mount Snowdon ' the largest mountain in Wales from three sides and absailed ‘Devils Kitchen' the largest gorge in North Wales whilst at military boarding school in Anglesey . A number of years later I was one of a two man team which sailed a 36ft yacht for 18 days around the British coast line. I achieved black belt level of Shotokan Karate at age 14 in which I have recently retrained and refreshed. I am a song writer and member of the “Guild of International Songwriters Association” and have recorded my first of four albums.

I am currently studying and training to become a scuba diver. I have had a long interest and hobby in photography. In the near future I would like to pursue mountain leader instructor qualifications. Sport, music and photography are my past time interests.

“A leader's job is to look into the future and see things not as they are, but what they can become.”

Ms Dawn Bishop – Project Manager

My career in working with vulnerable people began when I was 19 years old. I spent 11 years working in the homeless section of a housing department for a local authority. This is where I gained experience of providing advice and support to people in need, a working knowledge of the benefits system, housing management and maintenance.

Staying in the housing field I moved on to a position of housing worker for young people leaving care. As well as carrying my own case load I located accommodation for many young people and supported them in maintaining it. My knowledge and experience increased whilst working in this post advocating on the young peoples behalf; dealing with housing crisis on a daily basis; providing support in court and joint working with many other agencies and professionals.

My training and qualifications include NVQ 5 in Management; NVQ 3 in caring for children and young people; child protection; first aid; housing and homeless law; The Children's Act; The Leaving Care Act; housing welfare benefits; Advocacy; health and safety and drug and self harm awareness.

During my free time I am kept busy with my two teenage daughters and restoring my 1975 VW Beetle. During our summers I enjoy collecting parts for my car at the VW car rallies.