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New Staff - Jessica Scott - Family Support Bereavement and Support Service Worker

Before coming to Willow Burn my working background was in the Prison Service and in Young People’s Substance Misuse. I graduated with a degree in Applied Psychology in 2003 from the University of Durham and went into the Prison Service with the aim of working with vulnerable people with complex needs. This led me to work with Probation in Resettlement then a role with Dangerous and Severely Personality Disordered Prisoners on a purpose built unit. Here, I developed a special interest in Substance Misuse and the role it had to play in people’s lives. I joined the 4Real Team (County Durham Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service) in 2009 working with under 18’s in Alcohol Intervention.

When the opportunity to work with Willow Burn Family Support Service presented itself, I was motivated by a positive personal experience of bereavement counselling and a drive to make a positive contribution to those in need of this service. Coming from a background of developing and promoting new services, I am in a privileged position to ensure the people of Derwentside know what an amazing service Willow Burn offers not only in the Hospice but also in the community.