Our Team

Brian qualified as a Registered Nurse (Mental Health) in 1993. He worked for a number of years in the care of the elderly, both in England and Northern Ireland. Brian then moved to the voluntary sector and Praxis Care in 1997. From 2003 Brian managed the mental health scheme in Lurgan. He was appointed Assistant Director of Operations in 2008.

Since 2010, Brian has been Head of Quality & Governance. He works as part of a team which has responsibilities for the organisation’s policies and procedures, audit, safeguarding, risk management, co-ordination of the annual ISO9001:2015 assessment, as well as data protection, research, health & safety and fire safety.

Jamie has been an IT Professional for over 30 years, working in Start-up, Local Government, NHS, and Private as well as the 3rd Sector and is currently a Prince2 Practitioner. He is passionate about the user experience has been responsible for Organisations Technology and Security for 17 years. He led the IT Integration of two £250M+ businesses with several other acquisitions. In Praxis he has created a single desktop virtual environment across 100+ sites for 2000+ staff. Just being curious how things worked led him into IT but has acquired various skills from property renovation to building race cars in his personal life.

Mandy qualified as a social worker in 1985 and has worked in hospital, childcare and adolescent mental health arenas. The majority of her practice experience has been in the Voluntary Sector where she has been both a practitioner and manager of residential child care services and has also worked directly with adolescent survivors/perpetrators of sexual abuse. Mandy has extensive experience in the field of learning and Development working as a Consultant/Trainer in the Private Sector before moving to Praxis Care in 2001 firstly as a Training Manager and in her current role as Head of Learning and Development.

Nikki joined Praxis Care in November 2019 as Head of HR Operations and Services. She started her career in HR at entry level, coupled with part time study for a CIPD qualification. She has a real passion for HR and supporting people of the organisation.

Prior to joining Praxis Care, she worked within BPO Outsourcing/Contact Centres for over 14 years’ supporting large scale commercial organisations in growth and takeover processes. Most recently, she was responsible for a business set up in partnership with INVESTNI.

Anne qualified as a Chartered Certified accountant in 2014. Anne completed her training in a global marketing company in England. Previous to joining Praxis Care in February 2021, Anne worked in a global manufacturing company.

Paula joined Praxis Care in January 2020 as Recruitment Manager, stepping into the Head of Recruitment role in October of that year.
A seasoned recruitment professional, with 13 years’ experience gained across a number of sectors, she has both a recruitment agency and in-house setting backgrounds. Paula was keen to join an organisation where the impact of her day to day role would benefit not just her team and the wider organisation, but also could contribute to providing individuals with the best quality of life.

Hugh is a professionally qualified Health & Safety/Fire Safety practitioner with extensive experience within the Health & Safety, Fire Safety, and Employer/Public Liability claims sectors. His career began initially within a large UK Government department, and thereafter within the construction sector, the education sector and, since January 2010, within the health and social care sector with Praxis Care. Hugh holds a master’s degree in Health & Safety/Environmental Law from the University of Salford and is a member of the Health & Safety Lawyers Association, the Institute of Fire Safety Managers and the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management.

Deirdre Carr joined Praxis Care as Regional Director of Care for Northern Ireland in March 2020. A qualified social worker, Deirdre has worked directly with service users in older people and dementia services, mental health services, learning and physical disability services, children’s services and addiction services for over 20 years. After working for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust at the start of her career, Deirdre moved to management of a bespoke dementia service with Fold Housing Association, and then to senior management with responsibility for Residential Care & Support Services, Day Care Services and Joint Managed Partnerships. Deirdre brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the organisation.

Aine joined Praxis Care in 1995 as a Team Leader in Newry before becoming Manager in Banbridge in 1999 both services providing supported accommodation for service users with mental ill health. In 2017, Aine was appointed as Head of Operations covering multiple services within the Southern Trust and Rainbow Lodge in Ballymena. She has a wealth of experience spanning over 25 years of service to Praxis Care.

Carmel’s social work career began with the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. She gained extensive experience working in the community, a variety of criminal justice settings and multi-disciplinary specialist units. This involved, in some programmes, work with individuals with learning disabilities and mental health issues. Carmel joined Praxis Care in 2007 initially appointed as a Training Manager and then promoted in 2011 as Head of Operations for North Down & Ards. Carmel is passionate in supporting vulnerable individuals in their own homes and the wider community.

Rosemary joined Praxis Care in 2015. She is a Registered Mental health Nurse with a Certificate in Management Studies (CMS) and a Diploma in Management Studies (DMS). With over 25 years of experience in social care and health across sectors including: NHS, Housing Groups, Charity & Voluntary, Rosemary is well equipped in delivering excellent quality care. Additionally, she is an M.H.F.A. (Mental Health First Aid) instructor and has delivered mental health training to various groups with the emphasis on decreasing stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health. She is passionate about delivering the best quality care in supporting individuals to live their life to the fullest.

Sandra joined Praxis Care in May 2011 as Manager of the day-care facility in Kesh. She then successfully gained a permanent position in July 2019 as Head of Operations with operational responsibilities for the Fermanagh schemes. The schemes she currently manages are mental health scheme and floating support in Lisnaskea, residential, supported living in Kesh and Enniskillen and Day care opportunities in Kesh.

Prior to joining Praxis Care, Sandra also worked as a field social worker for adults with a physical Disability for a period of 5 years and one year as field social worker for adults diagnosed with a learning disability. Additionally, she has spent time as a social worker within the Mental Health field and elderly people team which developed her knowledge and skills in a range of areas within the care sector. With over 30 years’ experience in the care sector and day-care with the WHSCT she brings a wealth of experience to her current post.

Shirley Anne Hyslop has worked for Praxis Care since 2009 as a Manager and Head of Operations, Northern Ireland. Prior to that Shirley Anne spent her career working within not for profit organisations, working her way up from Support Worker to becoming a Service Manager team member. Throughout her career Shirley Anne has made it her primary focus to find creative and person centred ways to improve opportunities for people with Learning Disabilities and people with Mental Health and well–being needs. Shirley Anne currently sits on the Regional Personality Disorder Network and established the first KUF Kafe in the North in partnership with the NHSCT Personality Disorder Team.

David is a Chartered Architect with 30 years’ experience in private practice. Before joining Praxis Care, he successfully ran his own architectural business, specialising in large scale residential development and the conversion and restoration of listed buildings. He has designed some of the largest and most complex housing developments in Northern Ireland, including the re-development of Belvoir Park Hospital and the Harberton Park residential development in Belfast. He has also worked closely over the years with the R.U.A.S, having designed the Eikon Exhibition Centre and Balmoral Park developments.

Elaine McCrea qualified with a BSc Hons Degree in Social Work at the University of Ulster Magee Campus in 2001 and began her social work career working for the PBNI in 2001. In 2005, she took up the role of Lecturer in Social Work at NDAI of Further and Higher Education working in partnership with the University of Ulster to deliver the BSc Hons Degree in Social Work as well as additional academic and vocational health and social care qualifications. Elaine joined Praxis Care in 2011, initially as Manager of the ‘Moving Up Project’, but became an Assistant Director in 2015 and has worked in both the Development and Operations Departments. Elaine continues to promote individual skills development in both service users and staff at all levels within her operations role and is keen to ensure the properties Praxis Care operates services from meet the needs of services users and their dedicated staff teams.

Jenny joined Praxis Care during 2005 where she has worked as Supporting People Manager for a number of years and most recently as Head of Supporting People and OMS. Jenny has a degree and postgraduate in International Business Studies with Japanese language and Personnel Management. Having worked in Supporting People roles for 18 years her experience includes service expansion and reconfigurations, implementing SP’s quality agenda, representing Praxis Care at external forums and contract compliance. Jenny also leads the organisation in Service User Outcomes Management and in recent years has worked with the Head of IT to develop an IT based Outcomes system and a Service User Outcomes Tracking Progressive Web App.

Stanley is a qualified Mental Health Nurse, having graduated in 1995. He worked for a number of years in both Australia and in London’s Maudsley Hospital, mainly in acute mental health settings. He began working for Praxis Care in 2000 as a Team Leader and moved into management in 2003. He has managed several complex Praxis Care mental health and learning disability services over the years. He was recently appointed Acting Head of Operations for Portadown enhanced PBS service. During his time with Praxis Care, Stanley has been part of and managed significant change across the organisation. He has been involved in setting up and developing many services in his time with Praxis Care and is always looking to ensure service users receive the highest standards of support.

Amanda joined Praxis Care in 2018 as Head of Operations & Development at ROI West. She holds a BA in Business Studies with an Honours BA in Social Care. With over 15 years of Social Care experience, Amanda brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise. She has completed the Endeavour for Excellence course with Genio supporting individuals to achieve valued roles in their communities and also worked on de-congregation projects in the West of Ireland supporting individuals living in Institutions to move to homes of their own in communities of their chosing.

Fiona Duignan joined Praxis Care in January 2017, as Head of Development. She began her career as a Youth Worker, then moving to Dublin to work as Project Coordinator with a crime diversion programme in the North Inner City with the Belvedere Youth Club. She continued to work with young people at risk and moved on to become Programme Manager with Youth Advocate Programmes in North Inner City Dublin. In 2005 Fiona was promoted internally to Assistant National Director where her role was to expand provision of services nationally.

Fiona continued her work with Barnardo’s as Project Coordinator with the Family Welfare Conference Project and in 2008 Fiona took on a role of Policy & Project Manager at Inclusion Ireland for over 8 years.

Lisa joined Praxis Care as a Support Worker in the first residential service in the Republic of Ireland in 2006. She holds a Degree in Applied Social Services in Social Care and a FETAC Level 7 Leadership & Management in Health & Social Care. Since joining in the organisation she has been promoted to Head of Operations in the North East of Ireland. She commenced the role of Head of Operations in May 2016.

Rosarie joined Praxis Care as Team Leader for the first residential service in the Republic of Ireland in 2006. Since then she has grown within the organisation to her current role as Head of Operations in the North East of Ireland. She holds a BA (hons) English & Sociology, Diploma in Child Psychology, Higher Diploma Youth & Community Work and FETAC Level 7 Leadership & Management in Health & Social Care.

Rosaleen commenced with Praxis Care in 2006, she was involved in the development of the first Praxis Care service in the Republic of Ireland, a service she went on to manage in 2008. She has been working with Praxis Care for over 13 years and her current role is Head of Operation ROI Midlands, appointed in 2015.

Rosaleen holds a BA Hons in Nursing, a Diploma in Higher Education in Nursing and a Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety (NISO Foundation Programme). She gained many years’ experience in general nursing in Scotland, Australia and Ireland before moving into the area of intellectual disability.

Mark graduated in Building Management in 1995 and has worked in the construction industry for 23 years before joining Praxis Care in January 2018. During this time he has undertaken a number of different roles from managing project delivery, programme planning and business development both in the UK and ROI. Mark’s role within Praxis Care is to maintain and manage existing housing stock, property acquisitions and to procure and manage new developments.

Kevin consults in establishing a Quality Management System, that enables Praxis Care to meet all statutory and regulatory requirements in Ireland.
This system to date, has yielded considerable improvement in regulatory compliance in our Residential services measured against HIQA inspections, and will now be targeted against the interim standards in Day Services aligning Praxis to New Directions.

Previous to joining Praxis Care Kevin worked as a General Manager in the HSE for Disability Services CH01 overseeing Governance responsibility for all regulatory compliance.

Ruth began her career as a registered general nurse in both the acute hospital and long term residential sectors. She gained experience of dementia support, health care, and learning disabilities through employment as a nurse before moving into social care in 2002.

Ruth has been employed with Praxis Care since 2013. She has managed the Praxis Care children’s short breaks service in Leicestershire which supports children with severe learning disabilities, challenging behaviours and complex health needs. She successfully managed a period of significant change within the service bringing together the amalgamation of two sites under one management whilst improving service delivery and quality.

Ruth was appointed as Head of Operations, England in 2017. She is keen to see Praxis Care develop new services for a wide range of service user groups across England and believes in inclusion and promoting independence through appropriate and responsive packages of support

Emma qualified as a Registered Nurse (Learning Disabilities) in 1996 and also has a Diploma of Professional Practice in Palliative Care.

In 1999, Emma took the role of Nurse Manager across specialist PMLD services and developed nursing services in Kidderminster for the NHS. The service transitioned to Praxis Care in 2006 and, thus, Emma joined the Praxis Care team.

Emma was appointed Head of Operations, England – Midlands and North in 2021.

Emma is passionate about ensuring services deliver high-quality, person-centred care and support for individuals with complex needs and is strongly committed to progressing and developing services to achieve positive, meaningful and fulfilling outcomes for individuals throughout their journey with Praxis Care.

Chelsea has 12 years of experience within the private and social housing sector, working with large blue chip organisations to revolutionise the property management experience. Chelsea’s specialism is property law, and has accreditations with the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Institute of Residential Property Management. In addition, Chelsea has a strong asset and maintenance focus, and has managed extensive high value portfolios throughout her career.

Julie has worked for Praxis Care since 2016 as Head of Operations on the Isle of Man. She brings over 20 years of experience across the statutory and voluntary sectors in the Health and Social Care sector in both the UK and IOM.

Combined with her experience in the field Julie has completed her NVQ Level 4 in Leadership and Management and continued her professional development through achieving her Certificate in Professional Practice (MSc) and is currently in the process of completing CMI Level 7.

Chelsea has 12 years of experience within the private and social housing sector, working with large blue chip organisations to revolutionise the property management experience. Chelsea’s specialism is property law, and has accreditations with the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Institute of Residential Property Management. In addition, Chelsea has a strong asset and maintenance focus, and has managed extensive high value portfolios throughout her career.