Casey Beard

"I feel that my personality traits match me. They fit with the work I do as. I am a coordinator I have to be very organised to make sure all my casework is completed. I am a positive person who like to pull people together and motivate them. I always work to deadlines and get things completed on time. I consider myself as an influencer. I am able to work on my own or in a team in my job role you mostly have to work on your own but sometimes you are required to work as a team this is when you work together with an examiner if it’s a larger case. I have trained various examiners in the team so I am good at explaining things and can recognise how someone learns best. I have trainer traits. I am a good listener as people come to me for help with casework if they are unsure. And being in this position I am helping people improve and gain new skills. "

"I examine and analyse drugs and drug paraphernalia evidence from crime scenes. I am a reporting officer and expert witness I report my findings and give evidence in court. I help the criminal justice system. I enjoy the fact that I am helping the justice system. I like the teams I work with and I am constantly learning new skills regularly so I am always learning. The starting salary is that of a forensic analyst which is around £17,500 but a drugs practitioner starting salary is around £19,500."

"I got inspired to go into forensics after watching CSI on the tv. I decided I wanted to be a crime scene investigator. I then researched how to get into this career. I worked hard and completed my A levels to get into university with the help of my chemistry and biology teachers who also encouraged me to get into university. I went to the university of Lincoln and completed my forensic science degree. At university the career paths to get into the crime scene investigator career was either via laboratory route or police route I chose the laboratory route. I had no idea this would lead to my current job role that I have I never thought I would become a forensic scientist in the drugs team. But here I am I moved from various laboratory roles and got into my current one "

"I do yoga and meditation in my spare time to relax and unwind it is really helpful and good for distressing from long or high pressures days. I also volunteer as a Stem ambassador when I can."

"I spend time organising my workload for the day what best to do first which can be done later. I reply to any customer emails and answer any telephone queries. I then work through my casework for that day analysing things using scientific machines such as a GCMS or FTIR. I write up reports to send out to our customers. I also check other peoples work and help out the examiners if needed as a role model/trainer "

"I took the university route. I did The following A-levels: ICT, psychology, biology and chemistry. I have a Forensic science degree (BSc). I worked as a forensic laboratory technician for a water company. I then worked as a forensic laboratory assistant for a forensic toxicology company. I worked as a submissions officer for one of the main forensic companies and then finally became a trainee forensic analyst and finally a forensic scientist/drugs forensic practitioner. "