Our Management Team

After more than thirty years of working with various companies; from learning my trade as an auditor with a Chartered Accountants practice in Glasgow, to eventually working as the CFO for the government of Ras al Khaimah (RAKEZ) in the United Arab Emirates, I have come full circle and returned to sunny Scotland.

I always had a passion for travel, spending time in Belgium and Hungary with a previous employer and so when the opportunity arose to move to Dubai in 2001 I grabbed it. Who could resist sun, sea and lots of sand!

During my time with SSAT (a UK education Trust operating in the Middle East), I identified with the need to balance both the requirements of running a successful organisation whilst still contributing to the local community. This commitment moved with me to RAKEZ where our Corporate & Social Responsibility efforts supported feeding programs, community recreation facilities and shoe box campaigns for migrant workers.

After reaching the pinnacle of my career, my motivation now is to use my skills to help support charitable organisations to grow and flourish and to have the satisfaction of working with and training the next generation. Being ‘hands on’ and involved on a day to day basis is important to me.

Living in the Middle East certainly focussed my attention on the needs of others and individual responsibility in helping people to reach their potential. Along with my wife we also rescued animals, something that I had never previously considered, and brought our cat Vesper back with us.

My return to the UK was driven by the desire to spend more time with my elderly parents and especially my father who had a heart attack. Also my wife’s mother is elderly and blind and so we wanted to be here to offer support. In addition re-connecting with my wider circle of family and friends and involving myself in the Strathaven community, especially during the Covid lock-down period delivering food and checking on neighbours has been very rewarding.

As I mentioned above, I love to travel (plane, boat, train!) and along the way I enjoy eating and drinking local cuisine.  To relax I read spy novels, play Scrabble (badly) and tennis – weather permitting!

Qualifications: SVQ in Health and Social Care and Honours Degree in English and Politics.

Length of experience: 29 years’ experience

Positions held Last 3 posts: Support Worker with Key, then Team Leader, moving into an Assistant Development Manager role after that.

Professional / special interests: I love music and going to see bands live as well as walking and reading.

Specific area of focus/interest within Cosgrove:

Supporting the people we support, their families and carers, as well as staff members to participate and have a voice in the operation of the organisation.

I particularly love seeing how valued supported people feel through engaging with our recruitment/interview process and the increase in self esteem that accompanies this.

One fun fact: I was the first female member of my school’s Former Pupil Association – previously the school was an all-boys school which amalgamated with our all-girls school!

I have been working in Human Resources for over 23 years.  Having graduated from Strathclyde University with a BA (Hons) in Human Resource Management I have thoroughly enjoyed, and still continue to enjoy working with people, developing and retaining talent and fostering a positive workplace culture.

I have worked in a variety of private sector organisations within Banking & Finance, Engineering, Property and the Start Up environment before moving to roles within the third sector.  My last position as HR Business Partner Scotland was for a charity dedicated to providing support and advice to anyone experiencing challenges with drugs, alcohol or mental health.  With each and every role I have learnt so much, there is never a dull moment in the world of HR!

I have a passion for values led cultures, working for an organisation that aligns with my values is crucial to me, and personally there is no better job satisfaction than being part of something that brings positive change and makes a difference in the local community.

Outside of work I am a busy mum to two wonderful girls, both of whom swim competitively so I am often found poolside somewhere around Glasgow.  I also try to find time for running and as a family we enjoy sailing (when the weather permits!)

Qualifications: BA in Community Education and SVQ in Management.

Length of experience: 27 years’ experience

Positions held Last 3 posts: Sessional and support worker before going travelling and then in 2000 Manager of Child Services and from 2016 manager in adult services/supported employment whilst overseeing the running of the retail aspect.(no longer-Pauline now) Transition added in 2017.

Professional / special interests: Singing in Choirs and played piano to Grade 5 level. Love live gigs and baking.

Specific area of focus/interest within Cosgrove: Interested in staff development and autism work.

One fun fact: Recently did 60 miles cycle with minimal training and get up a lot of Sundays at 7am to cycle up the Mearns Road!

My name is Heather Rankin and I am the Operational Manager for the Children & Young People Service  I’ve supported children, young people and their families for over 14 years working local authorities and organisations in various roles however, I have been at Cosgrove for just over 11 years.

I’m passionate about creating spaces where every young person feels safe, supported and celebrated for who they are. I value open communication and I’m always available to listen so I can work together with families to create the best possible outcome for each individual child or young person. As a parent myself, I know how deeply important it is that your child feels happy and safe as when a child feels safe and supported, they thrive. Our team is the backbone of everything we do so I am dedicated to enhancing our team’s well-being to creating a positive and supportive work environment.

I love animals and fun fact about me, before I found my way into this career path, I actually worked with horses – which taught me a lot about patience, trust, and the power of non-verbal communication!

My name is Clive Gerrelli, and I am the Operational Manager for the Adult Outreach Service. I have worked in Health and Social Care for 30 years, holding various roles in local authorities and organisations. However, I have been with Cosgrove for just over 21 years.

I am passionate about the individuals we support and dedicated to helping our team create a safe and welcoming environment. My goal is to empower individuals to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, promote their independence, and enable them to achieve their personal goals.

I firmly believe that everyone we support deserves the opportunity to learn and develop new skills. I want them to feel empowered to accomplish anything, regardless of their disabilities. I truly believe that anything is possible.

Teamwork is essential for fostering a positive working environment. I strive to cultivate a supportive atmosphere by encouraging open communication and actively listening to others.

I am married to Vivienne, and we have two adult children. We recently welcomed a lively collie into our family. We enjoy caring for our grandchildren and travelling the world while spending time with our family.

A fun fact about me is that in my younger days, I was a member of St. John Ambulance, the Nautical Training Corps, Police Cadets, and Army Cadets. The skills I learned from these organisations instilled in me the importance of teamwork, communication, well-being, and trust. These experiences have supported me throughout my career and helped me reach my current position.

My background started very different from Social Care I came from a Retail Management background, however very much a people person role.

I decided to take a huge step and change my career to something I have always been passionate about – helping people.

I worked as a carer in a Nursing home caring for a mixture of individuals with complex needs with Dementia.

I started training early in my new career as I was keen to progress within the Social care sector. I completed an Open University course on An Introduction to Health and Social Care and then went on to my SVQ level 3. I then stepped up to a Senior Carer within my role and then was asked to take on the role of CHAPS (Care Home Assistant Practitioner) which was a very clinical role to support the Nurses I worked with. This role included a very intense clinical course.

I recently stared with Cosgrove which is a different side to Social Care but absolutely love it. It gives me satisfaction to see people living in their own homes and living the best life that they can.