Kirsty brings over 22 years of dedicated experience and passion to this vital leadership position, marking more than two decades of commitment to our charity.

A Career Built on Commitment and Growth
Kirsty’s journey with ADS is a testament to her enduring dedication to substance misuse recovery and social work. Over the years, she has held a variety of key roles, including Senior Social Worker, Team Leader, Operations Manager, and since 2017, Principal Social Worker and Safeguarding Lead. In these roles, she has overseen governance and social work development programmes, ensuring high standards of care and professional growth within the organisation.

Her broad experience covers a wide spectrum of substance misuse-related services, including housing support, domestic violence interventions, and stimulant use recovery. Kirsty began her career in the prison service at Hull Prison and has played a vital role in supporting social work students and developing professional training programmes, reflecting her commitment to nurturing the next generation of social workers.

Passion for Quality and Person-Centred Care
Kirsty is excited to focus her efforts on quality and performance in her new role. She emphasises the importance of integrating substance misuse knowledge into social work training, highlighting how substance issues affect many sectors. Challenging common stereotypes, she reminds us:

“Service users represent everyday members of society: parents, grandparents, company bosses, employees, nurses, teachers, and essentially, people who are just like you and me.”

Her ongoing work supporting social work students through university placements and the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme ensures that future professionals are well-equipped to meet the challenges of substance misuse recovery.

Looking Ahead
As Director of Quality and Performance, Kirsty will lead efforts to enhance the effectiveness and impact of ADS’s services. Her deep-rooted experience and passion for quality care and safeguarding will be invaluable as the charity continues to grow and innovate.

Tim Young, Chief Executive of The Alcohol and Drug Service says:
“We warmly congratulate Kirsty on her well-deserved promotion. Having worked alongside her throughout her entire 22 years at ADS, I have seen firsthand her dedication and passion for improving lives. Kirsty’s commitment to quality and person-centred care has been instrumental in shaping our services, and I am confident she will continue to drive positive developments as our charity evolves. We are fortunate to have her in this key role, and I look forward to the exciting future ahead under her guidance.”