• 2Aug 2010

  Frank Russel (Head of Quality)

  How did you get you job?

  I had been working with Scottish Courts Service for seven and a half years when a secondment opportunity appeared offering an opportunity to work with Victim Support Scotland as lead officer in rolling the Witness Service out across Scotland following three pilots in Ayr, Hamilton and Kirkcaldy. After the three year secondment Victim Support Scotland offered me a job.

  What does your role involve?

  My role has moved on since I came to Victim Support in June 2000. I am now Head of Quality. I work closely with the policy, research and learning and development people aligning standards across operational services. I am basically a functional manager at a strategic level. I am a member of the Voluntary Sector Network (VSN) and that is a very useful and supportive forum lead by Quality Scotland

  Did you choose the voluntary sector or did it choose you?

  I made a conscious choice, but it was supposed to be a learning opportunity. I never intended it to be long term. I soon found out the voluntary sector is more about passion than tasks and roles. Sure, you must have goals and outcomes but it’s deeper than that much, much deeper. I have worked in the private sector and the public sector but I should have been in the voluntary sector long before I was.

  What’s good about your job?....and bad?

  The people I work with are amazing. Every day is a day in class as my skills are tested each time I come through the door. I have developed senses that I did not have or need in the public and private sector. Crime is complex, charity law is complex and communication is complex, put them together and you have a job of substantial challenge. Sometimes you feel, even after all you have done, it’s a system you are fighting and not support you are providing.

  What would make your job easier?

  I don’t think you can do that in the voluntary sector because when things ease up we just try harder and constantly stretch ourselves to the max. If volunteers are doing it for nothing how can we not give 150% as paid staff?

  Most important lesson learned?

  We can’t do this on our own and we don’t have to. There are a number of voluntary organisations out there and we all need to get that connection aligned, not only for the people we serve but in the interest of the public pound. It’s got to be good service and good value and joined up working in the  voluntary sector is the place for that to happen.

  Is this a job for life?

  There is no such thing these days. But the sector is the place for me without a doubt. I love it.

  Who would be your ideal boss?

  Shackleton, he failed a lot but was an inspirational leader.

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