Manuel qualified in Germany as a social pedagogue specialising in experiential education and
international development and intercultural social work. He has had the opportunity to work with a variety of clients and age groups, e.g. street children in South America, homeless men and the elderly. After working in Scotland as a Children and Families social worker he joined the Jacaranda social pedagogy development team as an associate facilitator for social pedagogy training courses. He now plays an active role in the organisation; he is head of the Jacaranda Assessment Centre for the Crossfields Institute diplomas in social pedagogy. He is currently coordinating the first cohorts of learners on the Level 3 qualification who are having their prior learning recognised.

Manuel also helps to organise and run the Social Pedagogy Development Network and is a member of the Social Pedagogy Consortium and the Social Pedagogy Professional Association.