The guiding principles of Renfrewshire Council are social inclusion, sustainable development and modernising government 
Social Work
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Peter MacLeod - Director of Social Work
The director of social work is responsible for providing strategic leadership, direction and vision in the delivery of social work services. He also provides advice to the Council on social work duties and responsibilities and fulfills the statutory function of the chief social work officer.
The director of social work's role is to ensure the development of policy on social work services and the efficient operation of these services.
He also contributes to the development of council wide policies and initiatives and maintain good working relationships with other councils and organisations.
The director of social work's role is to ensure the development of policy on social work services and the efficient operation of these services.
He also contributes to the development of council wide policies and initiatives and maintain good working relationships with other councils and organisations.
The department is organised into three divisions: and services are delivered through three area teams in Paisley, Renfrew and Johnstone, and through a range of specialist facilities throughout Renfrewshire.
Dorothy Hawthorn - Head of Child Care and Criminal Justice
The head of child care and criminal justice is responsible for the strategic development and direction of social work child care and criminal justice services. For child care, this includes child protection activity, adoption and fostering, children’s services planning and youth crime.
For criminal justice social work services, she also provides strategic leadership for the development of initiatives on anti social behaviour and the development of the Criminal Justice Authority.
For criminal justice social work services, she also provides strategic leadership for the development of initiatives on anti social behaviour and the development of the Criminal Justice Authority.
She also has responsibility for the three social work area teams based at Paisley, Renfrew and Johnstone and the social work department training team.
Due to the development of joint working with NHS Glasgow and Clyde, the head of child care and criminal justice is also responsible for the development of children's services within the Renfrewshire Community Health Partnership (CHP).
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John Paterson - Head of Community Care
The head of community care is responsible for the Council’s community care services including social work services for:
- older people
- people with dementia
- adults with physical disabilities
- people with mental health problems
- people with learning disabilities
His role is to ensure these services are effective, efficient, high quality and meet the needs of people in Renfrewshire.
The head of community care also plays a lead role in improving partnership working with health and housing services to ensure that services are delivered in a streamlined and joined-up fashion.
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Laura Friel - Head of Resources and Support Services
The head of resources and support services is responsible for:
- departmental revenue and capital resources
- best value and other efficiency initiatives
- asset management
- performance management
- business support services
- Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
- risk management
- health and safety
- transport
Working with officers from other departments of the Council she participates in the development of corporate initiatives. As a member of the directorate within social work, she also has a key role to play in developing the strategic direction of the department.
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