List of Publications | Latest Content | What's Important | Frequently Asked Questions

Biography: Mary Castles, Executive Director, Housing and Social Work Services

Mary Castles is Executive Director of Housing and Social Work Services in North Lanarkshire Council.

 

Mary started her career in Local Government in 1979 as a Rent Collector with Monklands District Council and progressed gradually through various departments whilst undertaking a course of study at the same time.

 

Mary attained the Scottish National Certificate in Housing Administration in 1983, achieving first prize for Scotland. She then studied for Part 1 of the Diploma in Housing Studies by correspondence course then attended Glasgow University for a further two years and was awarded the Diploma with Distinction and achieved second prize in 1987.

 

In 1990, Mary moved from the District Council to Strathclyde Regional Council as an Executive Officer for Community Development and in 1991 was promoted to the post of Sub Regional Officer for Lanark Division with responsibility for the Almada Street complex, Registration Services, planning and implementation of Council policy, Area Regeneration, Decentralisation and Elections.

 

In 1995, Mary gained the post of Assistant Chief Executive with North Lanarkshire Council and her responsibilities included strategic planning, promoting social inclusion, area regeneration, corporate communications, emergency planning, best value and performance and modernising government. Mary continued her studies while in post gaining a SVQ level 4 for French at night school and attaining the Diploma in Social Policy through the Open University in December 2002 with Distinction.

 

In November 2004, her designation was changed to Assistant Chief Executive (Community Regeneration) to allow her to focus on the implementation of the Regeneration Strategy for North Lanarkshire together with responsibility for Community Planning, the implementation of the new Anti Social Behaviour Act and the provision of integrated Children's Services.

 

North Lanarkshire Council agreed a change management programme Service and People First in November 2006 which created 5 new Executive Director posts. Mary was appointed to Executive Director of Housing and Social Work Services in February 2007 and took up her new post in April.

A to Z of Content | Help | Site Map