Staff stories

Hear from our team about what it's like to work at Kare.

Dorina Ntim – Social Care Assistant, Residential

A typical day as a Social Care Assistant begins with a staff handover, where important updates and plans for the service users are shared. From there, I support the individuals in their daily activities, whether that’s helping with personal tasks, engaging in hobbies, or accompanying them to appointments or outings. Alongside providing hands-on care, I also handle essential responsibilities such as completing paperwork, updating computer records, and managing medication. Each day is varied and focused on ensuring the needs and goals of the service users are met while creating a positive and supportive environment. I was inspired to work in Kare with people with disabilities because I have always been an outgoing, people-focused person who thrives on making meaningful connections. I love helping others and supporting them in achieving their full potential, no matter the challenges they face. Seeing the positive impact I can have on someone’s life, empowering them to overcome barriers and grow in confidence, is deeply fulfilling and drives my passion for this rewarding work. My favourite part of the job is being able to help promote a person’s life and support them in reaching their full potential. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the positive impact my care has on their independence, confidence, and overall happiness. Whether it’s helping them achieve a goal, experience new opportunities, or simply enjoy their day, knowing that I’ve contributed to improving their quality of life makes this work so meaningful and rewarding. One of the most meaningful moments during my time in care was supporting a service user on a holiday. Being able to share in their excitement and witness them enjoy time away from their residential setting in a sense of “normality” was truly special. It was incredibly rewarding to see the joy and relaxation the experience brought them, as well as the confidence and independence they gained from trying something new. Moments like these remind me of the positive impact I can have in creating lasting memories and enriching the lives of those I support. Kare provides an inclusive and supportive workplace by promoting an environment where every staff member feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute. Teams are built on collaboration, open communication, and mutual respect, ensuring that diverse perspectives and ideas are welcomed. Regular training and professional development opportunities promote growth and understanding of inclusive practices. The focus on person-centered care extends to the staff, creating a workplace culture that prioritises well-being, teamwork, and shared goals. This supportive environment not only enhances the quality of care but also ensures staff feel appreciated and motivated in their roles. What sets Kare apart as an employer is its strong focus on compassion, teamwork, and personal growth. Kare organisations prioritise creating a positive and inclusive environment where employees feel valued and supported in their roles. They offer meaningful work that makes a real difference in people’s lives, alongside opportunities for professional development through training and upskilling. Kare employers often provide flexibility to accommodate staff needs and ensure a healthy work-life balance. The sense of purpose, connection, and the opportunity to be part of a dedicated team committed to empowering others truly differentiates Kare as a fulfilling and unique employer.

Mark Scanlon – Planner, Outreach

I've worked with Kare for 13 years in various roles and positions. I completed a three-month work placement in Kare during my college degree, which opened my eyes to a potential career path in the disability sector. I loved the work environment with Kare and the ethos in supporting service users. I was keen to gain employment with Kare and work in a job role where I could make a difference in people’s life by supporting service users to fulfil their potential. I think that any support staff working in Kare would say that there are no typical days in work due to the varying supports we provide to service users, particularly in Outreach. This is a very positive thing in my view, in terms of everyday being different and new opportunities and challenges arising. The constant theme in how we support service users is that we support them to move towards the vision that they have for their own lives. In keeping with this, each day I work with service users in helping them set goals, identify areas of needs and put plans in place to help them move towards achieving these. Some days I meet service users and work with them in person and other days I work on their plans in the background and completing all relevant documents and reports through Kare's internal systems. My favourite part of the job is getting to know service users and supporting them to build a life of their choice. I get great satisfaction in supporting service users who want to challenge themselves and are ambitious in setting new goals to enhance their lives. There have been many meaningful moments that I have got to share with service users over the years, but one that stands out specifically is supporting a service user through the process of moving out of homeless accommodation into now living in his own brand new apartment. This process took a number of years and was driven by the service user’s ambition to live comfortably in his own space. Support was needed across many different areas of life for the service user to achieve this goal but with a lot of determination and perseverance he got there in the end. I got a lot of satisfaction from seeing him achieve such a meaningful and life changing goal. Kare supports an inclusive and supportive environment by following best practice in staff wellbeing as well as training and development. Kare promotes an ethos of diversity, respect and equal opportunity in the workplace and I have always found Kare to be encouraging and supportive in terms of training and development and supporting you to progress in your career path. Over the years I have found Kare to be supportive and flexible in terms of accommodating staff with changes in family, life or personal circumstances. Kare provides supports and structures to employees to help them thrive in their job roles and also encourages career path progression through training and external education programmes. In my opinion this helps staff work at their best in supporting service users on a day to day basis. Over the years in Kare I have completed many CPD courses that have enhanced my ability to carry out my job. Kare value continuous education and upskilling of staff and by completing various external courses with support from Kare I have been able to grow my skillset and take on more roles and responsibilities in Kare. I would encourage someone considering a role in Kare to definitely go for it. Kare provides a supportive and positive environment for staff to carry out their day-to-day work and provide a pathway for career progression so that staff can continue to grow and develop in their roles. Staff welfare and wellbeing is a big priority for Kare, and help is provided for staff at all times but particularly when challenges pop up in family and everyday life. Kare is a place where you can continue to grow and develop in your career and are encouraged to use your individual skills and talents in your job role.

Caitriona Burke – Social Worker, HomeShare

I believe, as a Social Worker, that it’s vital to support and advocate for people who feel that they may not have a voice in our society. My mum had MS and she was diagnosed when I was 18. During the first few years, while we as a family noticed significant changes in her outwardly, she was still mobile and could talk so I often saw that people didn’t recognise that there was anything wrong with her and maybe looked at her movements and behaviours as something else. She eventually lost her ability to speak towards the end and her mobility also. At that point some people stopped looking at her as a person and began to look at her family for guidance as to what her needs and wishes were. It frustrated her and myself also as I could see that she knew exactly what she wanted but just couldn’t verbalise it to others. I think it was this point that made me want to work in disability services. I love getting to meet our service users, families & our Home Share hosts, both established & prospective. As a social worker we often meet people at their most vulnerable or at very tough times in their lives & it can take a lot for someone to put their trust in you when sharing their story. I feel very privileged when that happens. No day is ever the same as my role is quite varied! As Home Share Social Worker, I support our current hosts through visits and phone support and also meeting with prospective hosts who are interested in hosting our service users in their own home. There can be a lot of paperwork attached with the role. Therefore, my role is also administrative meaning that I may need to compile reports, conduct reviews with hosts and ensuring that vetting and training is up to date for them. I also attend meetings regularly with other members of the team. I am involved with the short breaks committee within Kare who meet regularly to assess referred service users to our respite services. I am also part of the National Home Share Network and we meet regularly to discuss how Home Share can be progressed in Ireland. Everyone’s opinions are valued within Kare. I have seen this utilised through employee surveys which I feel are important to gauge where staff are at. Good supports available to staff such EAP, mental health support, info sessions re pensions etc. There is always good communication from top management re what is going on in the organisation as a whole and recognising achievement of both service users and staff. There is also in house training to support staff to further develop their skillset to better support service users. Good support from management when I need to talk through anything related to work or personal life.

Cristina Luca – Accounts Assistant

I heard about Kare when doing an Advanced Certificate in Business course through KWETB in Newbridge. I always wondered what it would be like to work in Kare, so I kept an eye out for any job openings. I initially started in a part-time role through the Community Employment scheme and when a full-time position became available, I applied and was successful. I am working towards becoming a qualified accountant and Kare has helped me from the beginning with tuition fees, study and exam leave when needed. Part of my role at Kare is to offer admin support to staff working with service users and the fact that I can be there when needed, gives me a sense of accomplishment. Aside from accounting tasks, I would say approximately half of my working day is allocated towards admin support. A significant project I worked on involved supporting all Kare’s locations to move to a new petty cash system – it was a long process, but from the way it looks now, I believe it was successful. I believe Kare is a very good place to work for. It offers flexible work arrangements (where possible), chances to progress professionally and mostly, it gives me a sense of belonging. I think that work -life balance is what sets Kare apart as an employer. Kare is a place that fosters respect, collaboration and open communication. It offers opportunities to grow professionally and places a high value on diversity and inclusion.

CURRENT VACANCIES