Maureen Phillip

How did you first hear about/get involved with PAMIS?
I started my journey with PAMIS about 14 years ago working on a research project that explored how family carers identified changes in the emotional well-being of their daughters/sons. This was a wonderful inspiring project that introduced me to the amazing families that work with PAMIS. I worked on that project in the White Top Research Unit at PAMIS. When the project ended I decided I would like to continue to work with the families supported by PAMIS and I then became the Tayside Family Support Service Director with PAMIS.

What inspired you to work with PAMIS?
I was inspired by people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their families.

What is your role?
I support families and services across Tayside.

What are your areas of expertise?
Like the families I work with, over the years I have become an expert by experience in many areas related to profound and multiple learning disabilities and still continue to be taught so much by people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. One area I have particularly gained a lot of experience in is multi-sensory storytelling. I believe passionately that stories connect individuals and communities as well as being an excellent means of understanding and communicating with individuals, they are invaluable as training and development resources.

What does working at PAMIS mean to you?
Working at Pamis means I am part of an amazing, innovative and caring organisation that supports people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their families and means I can wake up every morning doing a job I love.

What is a typical day for you? Day to day functions?
No two days are same therefore there is no typical day. PAMIS is a responsive service so you can have your week organised and then something happens that can mean your planning goes out the window! A typical day can see me in Angus, Dundee and Perth all in one day. The day can include family visits, school and day service reviews, strategic planning meetings, national meetings in Edinburgh or Glasgow as well as project planning meetings, training, funding applications, student placements to organise and articles to write.

Tell us something we wouldn’t guess about you?
I love Shamanic theatre.

Why do you think it’s important for people to know about PAMIS and the services they provide?
I think it is important for people to know about PAMIS and the services they provide as families will have access to relevant research, information, advice and support that will help them to improve the lives of the people they care for.

What is your motto, or favourite quote?
The story is told eye to eye, mind to mind, heart to heart.