Meet the Team

Our Staff

All Stranraer Skills Station staff are specially selected via our Robust Recruitment and Section process, which is values-based and promotes an opportunity for all candidates’ Individual Skills, Talents, Experiences, and Knowledge to be shared.

Staff is also subject to an Enhanced PVG scheme registration through Disclosure Scotland, and Suitable References are always taken up.

All our Care and Support Staff and Management teams are Registered with SSSC in the relevant parts of the register.

All staff employed, experience our Induction Processes, Mentoring and Work Shadowing, Regular Support with an Identified Mentor, and their Line Manager; with ongoing statutory and mandatory training.

Additional training is sourced; Reflective of the Needs of our Service Users to ensure our care and support are Person-Centered; for example, Epilepsy Awareness, Stressed and Distressed Behaviour, and Good Conversations which include Outcomes Awareness.

We want all our Staff to Thrive and we Actively Encourage and Identify staff skills and provide opportunities for additional experience as Mentors, Coaches, and Champions.

As well as training our staff, we offer a range of training options which can be delivered out with Our Own Organisation, we support fellow Care Providers and Family Carers.

Our Training Program for all Staff includes:

  • Health and Safety
  • Fire Awareness
  • Food Hygiene
  • Moving and Handling; Theory and Practical
  • Medication Awareness
  • Adult Support and Protection
  • Continence Awareness Training
  • Infection Control
  • First Aid
  • Diversity and Equality
  • Dementia
  • Death, Dying, and Bereavement & Induction
  • Challenging Behaviour

Volunteers

Volunteers are Actively Encouraged and Supported as a member of our team.

They are subject to Enhanced Disclosure and Trained in the same way as a staff member.

Volunteers can benefit from this role in numerous ways: gaining confidence; making a difference in people’s lives; meeting new people; being part of the team; learning new skills; taking on new challenges and hopefully having fun.

Management Team

Our Management Team have collectively over 60 years’ experience in Health and Social Care in a variety of settings, all fully qualified and are all registered with the Scottish Social Service Council.

Elaine McCourtney

Director
Elaine has been working in Health and Social Care for over 20 years, during which time she has managed HMO Properties, and Care at Home and Support Services, both for mature Adults and Adults with Learning Disabilities and additional needs.

Prior to working with Adults, Elaine worked for 10 years in Special Educational Needs, supporting Nursery, Primary, and Secondary school-aged children.

Elaine was seconded out of the services for almost two years to support all care providers in Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership, as Independent Sector Lead, Scottish Care.  Elaine found this role extremely Beneficial and made Numerous Key Links with various partners.

Her other key focus is the Development and Empowerment of her almost 100 Staff.  She excels in the development of Services Policies and has a Hands-On Service Delivery that is responsive to the needs of its Service Users, including the Desire to Live their Life as They Want to.

She enjoys developing Stranraer Skills Station into a service that is Responsive to the Needs of Others, to ensure everyone can live the life they want to as independently as possible, with a High Standard of Care at all Times.

Her interests out of work, are walks with her beagle (Zico), short breaks with her husband (John), listening to music, holidays, and creating memories with her friends and family.

  • What is your hidden talent? – “I play the cello”
  • What is the longest and best flight that you have taken? – “Barbados”
  • What is the best concert that you have attended? – “Bon Jovi at the O2 in London”
  • What celebrity would you rate as your perfect ten? – “Gerard Butler”
  • What is the best place that you have visited and enjoyed a mojito? – “Little Havana in Miami”
  • What is your favourite telephone message you receive? – “Fancy going out for dinner”

Gillian Templeton

Director
Gillian joined forces with a colleague, Elaine McCourtney to establish the Stranraer Skills Station in July 2010, having worked together for a number of years prior before collaborating on the creation of Stranraer Skills Station.

Gillian has worked in Education and Management roles in Health and Social Care, proud to have not only Developed Services but also expanded the company from one to Four Facilities within Stranraer and the surrounding areas.

Her vision was to not only provide First-Class Care and Support to the more vulnerable members of the community but also to create almost 100 new jobs in their local area of high unemployment and she is now recognised as not only a Professional Business Manager but a Valued Community Leader.

  • What would you name your boat if you owned one? – “The Sun Seeker”
  • As a youngster, what did you want to be when you grew up? – “An Air Hostess” (I loved the Uniforms)
  • What is your hidden talent? – ” I am a great Mixologist”
  • What song makes you cry? – “Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” from the movie “Titanic”.  I cry when I remember the old couple, cuddling in bed, as the ship sinks!”
  • What is the best concert you have attended? – “Robbie Williams at Glasgow’s Barrowlands in 1997”
  • You are 20 years old again, which period of history would you like to live in? – “Redo the 1970s”

Anne Gibson

Operations Manager for Adults with Additional Needs

A qualified Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, Anne enjoyed a number of years as a Service Coordinator in both the West of Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway regions.

Her enthusiasm, attention to detail, and caring disposition were noted by Stranraer Skills Station and they eventually managed to secure her services in 2016 when she joined as Team Leader.

Three years later, a further promotion to the Senior Management role of Operations Manager for Learning Disabilities, Day Care, and Support Services; she truly is a vital cog in the wheel in the Stranraer outfit.

Success and Self-Development continue with qualifications in Health and Social Care Leadership and Management Level 4; Safe Handling of Medicines; Dementia; Principles of End of Life Care; Manual Handling; Train the Trainer.

Originally from Ireland, before moving to Glasgow where she gained a Bachelor of Arts at University, where she also met her husband, Christopher; they now live in Stranraer with their two daughters and dog, Archie.

  • Name your six fantasy dinner guests? – “Stephen Fry, Billy Connolly, Graham Norton, Miriam Margolyes, Kevin Bridges, and Adele”
  • Which fashion trend should be brought back? – “80′ Leg Warmers”
  • Besides war and diplomacy, what would be the best way for countries to settle disputes? – “Let the women sort it out”
  • What is the best concert that you have attended? – “Prince in London”
  • What is the weirdest food you have eaten? – “Alligator and Zebra”
  • What is your favourite movie of all time? – “Gone with the Wind”

Fiona Camlin

Operations Manager for Care at Home and Older Adults Day Care

Fiona has been employed with Stranraer Skills Station for five years, starting as a Social Care Assistant and she quickly advanced to Company Administrator/Medication Officer.

Further promotions followed to the posts of Office Manager/Welfare Officer, and Human Resources Manager before progressing to Operations Manager in 2023.

Since working for the company, she has undertaken additional training to support my roles, those include Level 3 Certificate in The Safe Handling of Medication; Dementia Care; Parkinson’s Awareness; SVQ 3 in Health and Social Care; Mental Health Awareness for Managers; Health and Wellbeing for Managers; Risk Assessment Training; Fiona also has an HND in Administration and Information Management.

Fiona has become a vital player in the management team and really enjoys her work, as every day brings up new challenges and opportunities with “no two days being the same”.

She lives with her partner, her two sons, her cats and the dog, Luna; her interests include going on long walks with my dog, listening to music and attending as many live gigs as possible, reading and socialising with my family and friends.

  • What is your favourite personal activity, when work is over? – Walking my dog, Luna!
  • Where is the best place you have visited, to enjoy a mojito? – The Gold Coast of Australia
  • What is the best concert/event that you have attended? – Biffy Clyro at Glasgow Green
  • What celebrity would you rate as a perfect 10? – Jensen Ackles
  • What is your favorite telephone message you receive? – Your tea’s in the oven for you coming home!
  • Name you six fantasy dinner guests? – Jenson Ackles, Dave Grohl, Ozzy Osborne, Lemmy Kilmister, Jane McDonald and Lorraine Kelly