Max Paterson - an appreciation

MAX Paterson was an innovative figure in the development of services for children in Scotland.

After the war, he completed his honours degree in psychology at Glasgow University and trained as a clinical psychologist developing a particular interest in psychotherapy. Since no formal training in psychotherapy was available he pursued his learning independently, complementing reading and personal analysis by working at the Davidson and Notre Dame Clinics in Glasgow. For ten years from 1952 he worked privately as a psychotherapist.

In 1962, he joined a group of psychologists, including Janet Hassan and Bob Vallance, developing a psychological service for the Approved (later List D) Schools under the aegis of the Scottish Education Department. They applied psychological knowledge and theory about child development and promoted opportunities for personal growth and development in children's lives. He had a passionate commitment to the welfare of children and an extraordinary ability to communicate with them and convey their experiences. Along with his psychological colleagues, he influenced the implementation of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 which introduced social-work departments and the innovative Children's Hearing system and made a profound impact on the ways in which troubled children in Scotland were treated. He became closely involved at Loaningdale School with the development of novel approaches to working with young people and used that experience when he was seconded in 1973 to be head at Wellington School. Among changes he introduced were the replacement of the concept of punishment with an expectation that young people could think about the impact of their behaviour and make amends, and the involvement of young people in decision-making; challenging the traditional assumption that all authority was vested in adults. Despite the furore surrounding the decision in 1975 not to renew his appointment, many of the "dangerously radical" policies he introduced became common practice in residential care.

In the 1970-80s, he was prominent in establishing the Scottish Pre-School Playgroups Association as a national movement. He recognised its early potential, helped articulate its underlying principles, and contributed to developing a confident lay leadership. He supported many other significant projects giving a voice to parents and young people, including Growing Up in Scotland. Following his involvement with List D schools, he was engaged in the provision of training for social workers, counsellors and art therapists. His diverse work as an organisational consultant was linked by a continuing concern with marginalised populations such as young adults with drug-related problems at the Church of Scotland's Spectrum House and, through SHIVA and Scotpep, with women working in the sex industry. He sustained his interest in therapeutic art and through a long association with the art therapist Joyce Laing, was connected with the Special Unit at Barlinnie Prison. Latterly, he resumed practice as a psychotherapist and provided supervision and individual consultancy and is remembered for his openness to new ideas, his consistency, reliability and respect for the capabilities of others.

He was a founder member of the Scottish Institute of Human Relations and led its group relations project in its early years and contributed throughout his life. The current chair, Eileen Francis, said: "The community development perspective was never far away from Max's psychodynamic understanding and he was able to connect person, organisation and system in a way that was significant for my concept of the role of SIHR in Scotland."

Max Paterson was a maverick in the best sense of that term: a determined individualist who kept questioning the current order. He was a radical thinker who continually surprised with his originality. It could be alarming to be on the receiving end of his intellect but this was combined with many acts of kindness and generosity. He made a powerful personal engagement with people which enabled their enhanced professional growth and he would have wished for no greater legacy than that the spirit of his working life should continue through those he influenced.

He was sustained in all of his activities by his family: his wife Jean, daughter Lesley, late son-in-law Clark, son David, daughter-in-law Marie and four grandchildren whose development gave him great delight. He loved the company of family and friends and relaxed by listening to jazz, watching rugby and drinking the occasional whisky.