Our staff, many of whom have been part of our team for many years, say it best when it comes to describing why St. Catherine’s is a great place to work.
I joined St Catherine in 2001 and have worked in both respite and residential centres as a social care worker. In 2009 I completed my BA (Hons) in Professional Social Care Practice. Currently I am employed as a Deputy Respite Service manager in Brambles respite unit. I have had the opportunity to join so many children on their journey to adulthood, and even after 23 years every name evokes a memory, and it is these memories that remind me why I come to work every day. The role of Deputy Respite Service manager has given me more opportunities to make a bigger difference to the children we support by making their visit to Brambles special, a home away from home. I am extremely lucky to work with dedicated and caring people who too share this vision. One of the most valuable lessons I have learnt whilst working in St Catherine’s is that nothing is impossible, when you have the right people by your side.
Caroline Dunne
Deputy Respite Services Manager
Brambles Respite Centre
I work as a Social Care Worker in Brambles where we provide respite to children. I joined in 2022 and SCA have great staff teams and make new staff feel very welcome when starting out. My favourite part of the job is supporting the children in their activities and seeing their growth. I would recommend SCA to anyone looking to support people with disabilities.
Anna Nolan
Social Care Worker
Brambles Respite Services
My name is Catherine Merriman I now work at the reception area at St Catherine’s Association for the past four years prior to this I have worked in the respite houses going back a while now, and before I joined SCA I worked in the school and also on the buses which I really enjoyed. My first experience of SCA was my mother taking me over here as a child when there was only six children here herself and a few other mother’s volunteered this was fifty years ago, from that came to where SCA and the Special School are now. I really enjoy my job here at reception I meet so many wonderful people each day and I get to see all the very special children come through the doors each day, it is full of laughter and love of the children who grace us with their presence each day. It is always a great way to start my working day at SCA.
Catherine Merriman
Reception
St Catherine’s Association
I have worked in St. Catherine’s for the past four and a half years and find it a great place to work. It’s a very welcoming environment and has a great team that are actively committed to improving the day to day lives of the people in our care. St. Catherine’s continuously provide training and supports to further progress our practice.
Stephen Hempenstall
Social Care Worker
Adult Day Services
I originally joined as a Staff Nurse to cover maternity leave in Haughton House Respite. Over the following years my role has changed. I went from working in a classroom with five pupils and Haughton House, to working on the floor in the school looking after thirty pupils and still providing nursing cover in Haughton House. As the needs of SCA continually grew, I was promoted to Clinical Nurse Manager to assist in the clinical and professional leadership and development of the nursing team and the day-to-day management of the nursing staff in the school. With the increasing health needs of the children attending SCA, I was then asked to assist in the provision of training to staff for Epilepsy, Anaphylaxis, Enteral Feeding Intimate Care and Infection Control and carrying out assessments. I proceeded to get certificates in Train the Trainer courses allowing me to provide quality and up to date training for staff.
My role continued to expand to include Auditing and the development and implementing of healthcare policies and procedures and received a recent promotion to Clinical Nurse Manager 2. I find the culture of SCA is that of a caring one which provides education, friends and families for everyone we look after. The staff in SCA are very knowledgeable but also always willing to learn.