STEWARTS CARE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Care - Residents
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive / Provider Representative
Job Titles:
- Clinical Director of Health and Social Care Professionals and Research Office
Derek first trained as a nurse with Stewarts Care over 45 years ago in 1974. Upon completing his training, he wanted to return home to Galway to work directly with patients, so he took a position with the Brothers of Charity in 1980. He worked as a frontline nurse for many years but later moved in to administration and management. Throughout his many years working with the Brothers of Charity, Derek always maintained a close relationship with Stewarts Care.
Job Titles:
- Head of People and Culture
Joan Maguire, who is celebrating her 48th birthday this year, arrived at Stewarts Care when she was five years old. Over the past forty-three years, Joan has been involved in all aspects of Stewarts Care life. It is clear from speaking with Gerard O'Brien, a staff member in The Beehive Restaurant, that Joan impresses everyone she meets. It is little wonder that everyone has "a soft spot for Joan" as her bubbly character is infectious.
As a current member of the Special Olympics swim team, she displays a great interest and enthusiasm for positive involvement in sporting activities. She is a regular user of the gym, a member of the local walking club and a participant in aqua aerobics. While hailing from the Lily-White county, she is a true blue at heart and her hero Dean Rock (Fundraising Manager at Stewarts) inspires her to be the' best she can be'. Her annual trips to Croke Park are occasions which she looks forward to and enjoys in the good company of her friends.
Aside from her busy sporting schedule, Joan is a shop assistant in the local flower shop, Clarkeville and assists in the Stewarts Sport Centre. Joan leads a busy and fulfilled life at Stewarts Care driven by her own sense of purpose, her lively personality and a positive outlook.
Kathleen O'Brien is a Senior Nurse at Stewarts Care. As well as caring for service users she also has a role in preparing service users for long term independent living and integration within the community of Palmerstown.
Kathleen tells us about her work with Richard who came to Stewarts Care at the age of 15. Kathleen describes him as one of the most "amazing and wonderful characters" that has become involved with so many people at Stewarts Care.
He is a very independent character who likes to make decisions for himself and enjoys getting involved in all activities. Richard is renowned for being Stewarts Care "Sports Personality of the Year". He is involved in all sports including swimming, basketball, bowling and even the walking club!
Richard has great support from both the Stewarts Care staff and his family. When he participates in the Special Olympics in Santry, his relatives are always there to support and cheer for him.
Aside from his sporting passion, Richard loves music. Every second weekend he is accompanied to the city centre to attend gigs in Whelan's pub on Wexford street. Richard loves to be part of the action no matter what he is involved in.
Kathleen, along with the rest of the staff at Stewarts Care, clearly all really enjoy Richard's lively company. "You come in in the morning and you meet Richard, and instantly he puts you in a great mood for the rest of the day" Kathleen explains.
Job Titles:
- Director of Corporate Services
Yesterday, we caught up with Louise Butler who is currently ‘Person in Charge' in Stewarts Care. Today we wanted to talk to her about Margaret O'Grady - better known as ‘Mags'!
Martin McGee, service user at Stewarts Care, is a man of many talents. He is 32 years of age and has been attending Stewarts Care as a day service user from an early age.
Martin attends Mill Lane daily which is a training centre at Stewarts Care that carry out a wide range of activity including creative arts, the performing arts, horticulture and pottery. There Martin has developed a true passion for working with textiles and one of his ongoing projects has been to knit hats for premature babies which he supplies to the Coombe Hospital. Mick Kelly who is a staff member at Mill Lane and who has been working with Martin since his preschool days talks enthusiastically about this project.
"Martin has a real talent for textiles. This project of supplying hats for premature babies at the Coombe is really very important to him."
His creative talents also include his love of wood and sticks and he is always creating structures and creative art projects. One of his creations was a ‘gate' made out of sticks which won a prize at the ‘Tinahely Agriculture Show.' Spurred on by the prize, he has now moved on to currently making his own self-contained hut from wood out in the garden in Mill Lane.
As well as his creative enterprises, he is also a lover of horses and rides horses every Wednesday in Kilcloon with Stewarts Care.
As if all of this was not enough, he is a competitive bowler and plays in regular bowling competitions. He is hoping to get a new bowling ball for Christmas, Martin tells us. Also a wrestling fanatic and a Liverpool supporter, it would seem there is no end to his activities and interests.
Martin lives at home with all his family and comes to Mill Lane at Stewarts Care every day to follow all his creative pursuits and passions.
"He loves chat and you can have a great conversation with him. He has a great sense of humour. In the future, he hopes to live independently."
Given all his pursuits and endeavours, there is no doubt he will.
Job Titles:
- Head of Quality and Compliance
Job Titles:
- Director of Care - Day Services