Geraldine Fowler is a home care professional with Hibernia.
She has nearly 30 years of experience in the care sector and joined the Hibernia team a year and a half ago.
Here she tells us about her career to date, what she loves about her job and why Hibernia is changing the home care industry in Ireland.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career to date.
I started off about 28 years ago. I returned from London and attended Whitehall College and studied the English version of the QQIs because that was what was available here at the time. During my career, I worked for four different companies and now I am with Hibernia.
How long have you been with Hibernia and how did you find out about the organisation?
I have been working with Hibernia for a year and a half. I had heard about Gillian Duggan (the Regional Director of Operations and Co-Founder) before and that she was starting her own business. She then reached out to me and asked if I was interested in working with her. I did an interview with her the following day and the rest is history.
What is a typical working day like for you at Hibernia?
I start at around 8am and work until 6pm. It is usually an eight to nine hour day. It is full-on personal care and all of my clients would be in end of life care. Mostly it is older clients, but recently there has been younger clients, too, sadly.
What do you like most about your job?
I love giving to people and caring. I adore my job, I always have. There are so many aspects to it. It can be difficult, it is a sad and difficult part of this role but it is an honour and privilege to aid people.
How is working with Hibernia different from other organisations?
It’s completely different. Hibernia cares for the carers as well as the client. If I have an issue, I can go to management. With other organisations, I would go to management and the matter would be ignored. There is more support for the carers and the salary is much better, too. I get a travel allowance, which I have never received before.
Because management comes from a caring background, they know what the job is like and what it entails day to day. Hibernia wants change, and wants the industry to be better. It’s great to be a part of that.
