Meet Áine, Employee Development Manager at Lily’s Place and OT Assistant at Langside School

Find out more about Áine’s role at Diverse Abilities:

To sum myself up in three words is really tricky! I’d say passionate, adaptable, and a softie.

I’ve recently started a new role as Employee Development Manager. I’m working alongside the amazing Lily’s team to improve what we offer. I’m spending time on the floor with the staff and children, as well as in the office developing new ways of working. We have lots of ideas and activities which are going to be implemented and it’s an exciting time. There’s lots of extra training coming up to empower our staff and be the best we can.

Before coming to DA, I worked in various schools for children with complex needs and was also a nanny for a family who had a child with complex needs attending Langside, but sadly passed away very young. After this, I felt I needed a break from working with children, I really struggled with her passing. I joined DA and worked at the first bungalow for Supported Living on Ringwood Road, supporting two young men in their own home. I was there for under a year when I realised my heart lay in working with children. I saw a job as Lead Support at Smithers (now Lily’s Place) so I applied and was successful.

I’m also a moving and handling trainer at Langside, so I support staff to train and then observe to keep high standards. I work with our OT to provide all sorts of care to the children. This may be ensuring children are sat well in their chairs or troubleshooting problems as they come up. This also includes a lot of looking at children’s behaviours and the sensory input they may need to help them to succeed in school.

As for the future, I just want to help staff be the best versions of themselves and share their knowledge and experience, allowing our families to have a break and the children to come and feel happy, to be safe, and most of all to have fun.

My advice for new staff would be to throw yourself into the job and embrace all the new experiences, it will be worth it for both you and the individual you’re supporting.