On 16 May 2020, my dad Alex McLean passed away suddenly in Monklands Hospital. 


Alex was born and raised on the East End of Glasgow, where the small charity "With Kids" is based. 



With Kids offers a range of therapeutic services to children, parents & carers. This includes therapy aimed at helping children work through difficult emotions - plus a variety of family, group and parent/carer activities and sessions. 



Their approach is flexible and aims to listen to the needs of the individual and respond accordingly. At the core of their ethos is the belief that all individuals, given the right support, know the best solutions to their difficulties. 

I think my dad would have appreciated this as it reflects his approach to his career in Social Work. 

Alex gained his certificate of qualification in Social Work from Jordanhill College in 1992 after graduating with Honours from the Open University.  



He began his Social Work career as part of the Youth Team in Castlemilk in 1992 and later joined the Child Protection team in Ruchazie, moving with that team to Easterhouse when the teams were merged and later moving to the Justice team in that area. In 2003 Alex joined the Youth Justice team in Bellshill before being seconded to Learning & Development for North Lan as a Practice Teacher in 2008. 



Alex returned to Bellshill Child Care team in 2010 before taking early retirement in 2017. 

I am so proud of him and his strong commitment to empowering families and communities, including his own.

A kind, caring and thoughtful man, he always gave people the space to just be who they are. He was inclusive and fair. And always one for the underdog, probably because he was one himself, he spent many years as an active steward with Unison. He took me to my first picket line as a baby, and to the anti-war demos in Glasgow when I was a bit older. And when I grew up and started working for charities he always volunteered, helping out on event days and cheering for people at pit stops. He made sure to tell me the supporters and the members, and the people who used the services, were more important than the managers - and I should always make them feel valued!

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