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.

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.

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. Hugh is currently employed with the Praxis Care Property Division specialising as Head of Property (Fire Safety).

Angela (Ange) Cruz is an experienced marketing and communications professional with a focus on the non-profit sector. Originally from Canada, she has worked in public, private and charity sectors in Canada, Guatemala, the United States, England and China. Before moving to Belfast and joining Praxis Care’s marketing and communications department in 2020, she was Director of Marketing and Communications at ELG, a paediatric therapy and special education social enterprise based in Shanghai.

She loves that her job is sharing stories of the fantastic work of her colleagues and achievements of the people they support. She also enjoys facilitating internal communications so staff can share updates, resources, challenges and wins.

Working for Praxis Care and meeting the diverse range of people we work alongside across all jurisdictions has been the highlight of her career.

Nicola has over 25 years’ experience working in Learning, HR and Organisational Development across various sectors, as both consultant and in-house expert. Having enjoyed values-driven roles in not-for-profit organisations spanning health and social care, education and cultural heritage, taking up the Head of Learning & Development role in Praxis in April 2023 was a natural next step.

Passionate about leveraging staff skills and potential to support people within services, organisational development and growth, Nicola sees Learning & Development as an integral tool in helping to drive quality, innovation and improvement.

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.

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.

After qualifying as a registered nurse in learning disabilities (RNMH) Vanessa continued her studies at Queens University completing BSc Hons in Health Studies and an Advanced Diploma in Leadership and Management at the University of Ulster. She has worked for Praxis Care for 25 years and has a wealth of experience supporting adults living in nursing, residential and supported living services. She has particular interest in positive behaviour support (PBS) and has worked for many years supporting adults with behaviours of concern to improve their quality of life and engage in day time opportunities. She is currently head of operations for the PBS service in Portadown and Ards mental health service.

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.

Eioghnn joined Praxis Care in December 2021.
He has worked in health & social care services for 13 years, starting as a support worker in homeless support services working primarily with young people and adults affected by substance dependency and leaving the care system. Eioghnn then worked in Scotland supporting individual and families affected by heroin use and mental ill health, before returning to Northern Ireland to work with individuals in a dual-purpose mental health and learning disability service. Eioghnn then moved into service management for a large housing association managing learning disability supported living services. Next, he moved to open and develop new, bespoke range of services for adults with complex needs for a large all-Ireland based charity with a focus on individual person-centred planned housing and support.
Eioghnn particularly enjoys establishing and developing quality individualised services for people, often challenging status-quo in favour of truly outcomes-based results for the people we support – make services fit people, not people fit into a service.
Eioghnn undertook social work training and has gained QCF Level 5 Leadership in Health & Social Care (adults management and adults residential).

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.

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 is currently Head of Operations for Lisburn Supported Living LD enhanced PBS service. During his time with Praxis Care, Stanley has been part of and managed significant changes at many levels 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.

Nikki Taylor is a long-time Praxis Care employee, progressing in her career from a support worker in 2003 to team leader in 2008. She was promoted to service manager of a support living service in Newtownards for five years. In June 2021, she was appointed Head of Operations for Children’s Services in Northern Ireland.

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. Rosarie was appointed to Regional Director of Care for ROI in April 2023.

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.
Lisa was appointed to Regional Director of Care for ROI in June 2023.

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.

Martina joined Praxis Care in October 2017 as Manager for Leitrim Services and became Head of Operations for Wexford in December 2020 and moved back the West of Ireland covering Sligo, Mayo and Leitrim in May 2021.
Previously, Martina had spent a number of years with a service provider in Omagh, Northern Ireland holding a number of management roles. Prior to this she completed her Social Work degree and a masters in Counselling and Therapeutic Communication.
Martina has been working in the intellectual disability and autism sector for over 17 years. She has participated in summer schemes for children with disabilities, worked as a play therapist and worked in respite and supported living services whilst completing her studies.
Martina is an advocate for the voices of the people we support being heard and put the individual at the centre of her work and the services they live in.

Tara joined Praxis Care in May 2021 as a manager for one of the services in Wexford and became Head of Operations for Wexford in October 2021.
Tara holds a BA in Applied Social Studies in Social Care and a level 7 in the management of Human Services. She is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist with the American Academy of Brain Injury Specialists since 2011.
Tara has vast experience in the management of quality, person-centred services, having worked in the social care sector supporting adults with acquired brain injuries, disabilities and complex needs for over 14 years across residential, day and community services.

David joined Praxis Care as Scheme Manager for Greenville Residential in Cork in 2020. David has taken up the position of Temporary Head of Operations for Cork in late 2021. David holds a BA in Applied Social Studies, and a QQI Level 6 award in People Management.

Aisling graduated with a BA Hons in Social Work in 2008.
Aisling spent 4 years as a Team Leader working with children with intellectual disabilities and complex medical needs and 1 year as a Child Protection Social Worker.
Aisling joined Praxis Care in 2013 and spent one and a half years as a Team Leader, 6 years as a Manager in various services and in December 2020 she progressed to Head of Operations and remains in this post as present.

Joe Beggan is a Chartered Building Engineer & Building Surveyor with over 30 years relevant experience. Joe was previously employed as Head of Technical with Kingspan Insulation and Technical Service Engineer with Flogas (DCC Energy) . In recent years, Joe operated his own practice as a planning ,design and surveying consultant. He is a Chartered member of SCIS, CIOB & CABE, an Associate Engineer with Engineers Ireland and a registered BER assessor.

Noeleen joined Praxis care in September 2018 as manager of Cornerstones and The Avenue in Ardee. Prior to this Noeleen worked for over twenty years with adults and children with intellectual disabilities, complex needs and autism across a range of service including residential and respite, in both a social care worker and manger capacity. Noeleen holds a BA in Social Care and a QQI Level 6 in people management. Noeleen moved into the Head of Operations role in May 2023.

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

Salma has worked in a variety of roles with children, as an NNEB qualified support worker and with adults with disabilities as a care support worker, co-ordinator, registered manager, operations manager and now Head of Operations. Salma also has an interest in dementia to where she is accredited by the Alzheimer’s society as a dementia trainer for trainer. She previously deputised for the Chief Executive to support with business continuity.

Her passion for supporting people began when she was an informal carer for many years to her mother and father in law. This developed into supporting people to live their best lives, ensuring they are in receipt of quality services that are effective, co-produced, caring and user led. This passion also extends to the staff that Salma supports, coach and mentor to ensure they have the appropriate training, skills, and confidence to deliver care to the highest standard. Salma believes the quality of staff reflects the quality of service we can offer.

Having worked for charitable organisations and domiciliary care organisations Salma is aware of the need to be proactive in identifying needs and developing services to meet those needs and have a record of setting up new services which are still being delivered. One of her proudest achievements was taking an organisation from “required improvement “and breaches to an organisation with two “goods” whilst increasing the number of hours delivered by over a third. Salma also won the Midlands Business and Community Charity Carer of the Year awards in 2017 and as Registered Manager achieved an “excellent” in 2014.

Salma says, “I am now excited to work with Praxis and all my colleagues to help maintain the high standards already being achieved and to develop services throughout England.”

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.