Senior Leadership Team
Violet Lennon
Regional Manger
East Residental Services
I have worked in the disability sector for over 20 years and hold a Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology from New York University. I began my career working with children with special needs in the United States. In 2007 I joined Cheshire Ireland and in 2016 I became a regional manager with responsibility for the community and residential services in Cheshire's Eastern/South Eastern region. Today my work is focused on the residential and respite services. I remain continually inspired by many of the clients I have met and worked with throughout the years.
Colin McIlrath
Regional Manager
West / North-West
I joined Cheshire Ireland in 2009 as Galway Services Manager, having previously worked in Homeless Services, Community Development and in Community Healthcare.
I moved to my current role in 2011 and I am responsible for the Operation of Residential and Community Services in Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway.
I love the variety of the job and getting to work with many different staff and service users to ensure that Cheshire continue to deliver supports that are based around what each individual service user needs in their everyday life.
Aoife Keogh
Regional Manager
South
I joined Cheshire Ireland in 2018 to take over the role of Regional Manager for the Southern Services. Before joining Cheshire I had more than 20 years’ experience in the sector. I find my motivation in my desire to ensure equal rights and quality of life for all, especially for those who avail of our services.
I hold an MA in ‘Education and Wellbeing of the Older Person’, I am a registered Nurse in Intellectual Disability. I also hold qualifications in Project Management and Healthcare Management. In my work in Cheshire Ireland I lead, manage and support the regional team to provide high quality, safe, person centred services for all people whom we support.
Aisling Brennan
Regional Manager
East / South-East Community Services
I graduated from the Dublin Institute of Technology in 2006 with a BA in Social Care. I started working in a children’s’ residential service with St. John of God as a Social Care Worker and became the Person in Charge when it was registered with HIQA in 2014. During my time there I was also involved in running an afterschool clubs program and the Children’s Respite Service. I moved to Stewarts Care in 2017 where I was initially a Person in Charge of 2 designated centres and later took on the role of Programme Manager in their Adult Residential Services.
I started in Cheshire in January 2020 as Regional Manager of the Eastern and South Eastern Community Services where individuals are supported in bespoke services over a large geographical spread.
John Weldon
Head of Learning & Development
Having worked in Adult Education and Development for 15 years, I joined Cheshire Ireland in 2014 as the Service Manager for the newly established Cheshire Service in Waterford and during my time there I learned so much from the support team and the service users in our growing and diverse service. I moved to become the Head of Learning & Development when Cheshire created the role in 2012.
My primary function in this role has been to determine the training our care teams need to carry out their work safely and professionally, and to ensure that this is provided and completed as necessary.
We live in challenging but exciting times, and I look forward in the years ahead to exploring ways to provide development opportunities, both personal and professional, for everyone who works in Cheshire Ireland. I enjoy working for Cheshire Ireland. I believe in the values we espouse, and am often humbled by the courage, resilience and patience of those who use our services, and by the generosity and compassion of those who support them.
I have completed a B.A., B.D., M.Ed. and am an accredited Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming and in Instructional Design.
Denise Leonard
Acting Head of Clinical Services
I joined Cheshire Ireland in 2011 as the Service Manager for Cheshire’s Limerick Services. I moved to the Clinical Services Team in 2014 as the Clinical Partner for the Southern Region. Since January 2020 I have taken on the position of Acting Head of Clinical Services. I qualified as a General and Sick Children’s Nurse in 1993 and have practiced across the age spectrum specialising in Neo-natal Intensive Care, Community Paediatrics as well as Advanced Nursing Practice and Nurse Prescribing in Primary Care.
My primary function within Cheshire Ireland is to lead the Clinical Services Team. There are currently six Clinical Partners in the team and together we provide clinical oversight and support to the nursing and care teams within all the Cheshire services. I am responsible for leading the ongoing development and evaluation of clinical governance structures and the care management skills and competence in all service teams, to ensure best practice in the assessment of need and the delivery of care. I work closely with the other managers in the Senior Management Team to develop policies, practices, procedures, governance and structures to effectively manage clinical practice and clinical risk in the organisation.
I have really enjoyed all of the roles I have held in Cheshire Ireland as each one has given me a greater insight into the challenges faced by those living with a disability and how best we can support them in over-coming these challenges to live their best possible life. I have also come to know many service users and staff within Cheshire Ireland who have taught me a lot about compassion, empathy, patience and perseverance.
Jason Cooling O' Regan
National Health & Safety Risk Manager
In 2016 I took up the role of National Health and Safety Risk Manager and I am also a member of the Senior Management Team. I have over 20 years’ experience as a Safety Professional and a Risk Manager in Ireland, UK and the USA. I have experience in environmental health, food safety, fire safety, security as well as managing and maintaining loss control programs.
My key role in Cheshire Ireland is to oversee the Health and Safety and Risk Management function. An essential part of my role is to co-ordinate Health and Safety and Risk management activities. I am accountable for the organisational achievement of conformance and performance with internal and external compliance. I drive the core programmes of work in safety and risk management, including: operational effectiveness, audit, health and safety, incidents, serious incidents and staff and service user safety.
I hold a National Certificate in Legal Studies, an Honors degree in Business and Law, a MSc. in Environmental Health and Safety Risk Management and MSc. in Project Management.
Niall Myers
National Adult Safeguarding Lead
I joined Cheshire Ireland in 2016 as the National Adult Safeguarding Lead and as a member of the Senior Management Team. I am a Senior Social Worker with over 15 years of experience in health and social care, both in Ireland and the UK. I have worked in a variety of different settings and with a diverse and broad client group, equipping me with experience in Medical and Community Social Work, Safeguarding, Assisted-Decision Making, as well as supporting people in complex circumstances.
Central to my role is supporting Cheshire Ireland services to achieve best safeguarding practice by working with them to manage complex scenarios, to ensure that concerns of abuse are responded to appropriately and according to national policy and regulation, and that safeguarding measures and strategies are meaningful and effective. The values and principles of Human Rights strongly underpin my work and I am particularly interested in promoting these across the organisation.
I hold an Honours Degree in Social Science and a Masters in Social Work.
Majella Grainger
Housing Manager
With more than 12 years’ experience as an Architectural Technician with specific experience in housing, I joined Cheshire in 2013, as a community transition coordinator until 2015 when I moved to the national housing team. In 2017 took up the role of Housing Manager and am a member of the Senior Management team. I have worked in Ireland in private practice and in Scotland for one of the UK’s largest housing developers.
I oversee Cheshire Ireland’s Social Housing stock in terms of housing management, repairs and compliance. I represent Cheshire Ireland on several national working groups such as the Housing and Disability Steering Group Committees; the Approved Housing Body Forum, and the Time to Move on from Congregated Settings Working Group.
I hold qualifications in Architectural Technology/Construction Studies and a BSS in Housing and Community Studies from UCD.