Valerie Hogan

CEO

Valerie Hogan is a dedicated and innovative leader in the field of social care, bringing a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to creative, collaborative, and strengths-based approaches in working with children and families. With a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care and a Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy, Valerie possesses a unique blend of academic excellence and practical expertise.

Valerie’s foundational experience in youth justice work profoundly shaped their approach to social care, emphasising the importance of trauma-informed care and the need for individualised, empathetic support.

In 2019, Valerie joined EPlus as a manager, and quickly demonstrated her capabilities in strategic planning, budget management, and program design and delivery. Appointed CEO of EPlus in September 2023, Valerie continues to drive the organisation forward, fostering a culture of transparency, strong governance, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Rebecca O'Dea

Senior Social Care Manager

Meet Rebecca, the Area Manager for Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, and Cork regions. Since 2014, she has been dedicated to EPlus, playing a key role in its growth by supporting many young people and families. Rebecca holds degrees in Social Care and Counselling, as well as a Diploma in Supervision Theory and Practice, which equip her for effective operational planning and policy development. Passionate about empowering families and young people, she is committed to creating impactful programs and policies that make a real difference.

Orla Dowling

Senior Social Care Manager

Orla is a passionate Social Care Manager with over 12 years of experience working in the child protection and family support sector. She lectures Part-Time in Tus lecturing on the Social care and Early years level 7 & 8 courses.
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Orla brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the role of Head of Safeguarding and Training & Development. With a strong background in social care, Orla possesses a deep understanding of safeguarding principles and best practices.

Aileen Carey

Social Care Manager/Safeguarding Officer

Aileen holds a BA Honours in Social Care Practice from AIT. She worked as a case worker at Empowerment Plus for three years before becoming Deputy Manager for the Midlands in 2022. After returning from maternity leave in July 2023, she began her role as Interim Mid-West & Kerry Manager in September 2023. Aileen's professional interests include advocacy and community, and she values making a difference in people's lives with the support of a dedicated team.

Aoife Maguire

Social Care Manager

Aoife joined EPlus in 2014 as a case worker and soon moved to the management team. She is now the Area Manager for Louth and Meath. Aoife graduated from Maynooth University with an honours degree in Social Science and holds a diploma in childcare studies and Special Needs Education. With 12 years of extensive experience in the Social Care Sector, she is passionate about empowering and supporting young people and families to reach their goals.

Eleanor Stafford

Social Care Manager

Eleanor joined EPlus in 2010 as a case worker and became part of the management team in 2016. She oversees the Dublin South West and Kildare West Wicklow areas, managing a diverse caseload, including children in care and at-risk families. Eleanor holds an honours degree in Social Science from Dublin Business School and an MA in Human Rights and Social Policy from Maynooth University. She is passionate about supporting young people transitioning out of care and those who have experienced domestic violence.

Damian Carty

Social Care Manager

Damian has been with EPlus for 11 years, starting as the Area Manager in Kildare West Wicklow before moving to the Midlands Area, and now covering Dublin North City. He enjoys providing support and advocacy for service users and the team. His main interests include experiential learning and supported family contact. Damian is committed to improving the outcomes and quality of life for the individuals and families he works with daily.

Kate Baxter

Social Care Manager

Kate graduated from DKIT with an honours degree in Community Youth Work in 2016. She joined EPlus the same year as a case worker and moved to the management team in 2018. Now the area manager for Dublin South Central, Dublin South East, and Wicklow, Kate is dedicated to helping young people find their voice and reach their full potential. She is passionate about supporting relationships between young people and their families and values working with a supportive and collaborative team.

Ailbhe Hetherton

Social Care Manager

Ailbhe completed her honours degree at the Institute of Technology Sligo and started as a caseworker at EPlus in 2015, joining the management team in 2018. Now the case manager for Dublin North, Cavan Monaghan, and Donegal areas, she enjoys supporting families and staff through various activities and workshops. Ailbhe values the positive impact of different projects on families and the unique ways support is delivered.

Donna Garry

Team Leader

Donna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social and Community Development from Blanchardstown IT (now known as TUS), where she studied from 2012 to 2015. She later pursued a Higher Diploma in Arts in Applied Social Studies (Professional Social Care) at Carlow IT, completing her level 8 qualification part-time in 2018.

Donna began her journey with EPlus as an outreach worker in 2017, a role she excelled in until 2021. Her dedication and expertise led to her promotion to team leader in September 2021. In her current role, Donna continues to demonstrate her commitment to supporting children, young people, and families, ensuring they receive the highest quality of care and guidance.

Amy Bermingham

Office Administrator

Amy joined EPlus in March 2022, and ever since, Amy has dedicated her time in guiding every team member into the organisation while maintaining an excellent relationship with them. No task or request is too small for her to take on, her goal is to make everyone’s working life within Empowerment Plus as enjoyable as her own.

She is responsible for the organisation’s recruitment; She also carries out varies tasks in her administration role dealing with any adhoc requests from senior management & the CEO of the organisation.