Why Join CRANN?

My name is Brian Hogge. I have been working in Childcare for about 10 years, all of which has been with the CRANN Group. I started my career on a Community Employment Scheme, but it didn’t take long for to see my super skills of working with kids was identified and I was taken on in a full-time capacity.

I wasn’t fully qualified at the time, but with the help of the CRANN Group, I completed my QQI Level 5 Early Childhood Care & Education and I’m now studying for my QQI Level 6 Early Childhood Care & Education. I have worked in many of the Childcare Services under the Management of CRANN, from Le Chéile in Simonstown to First Steps in Dunshaughlin. While I have worked with all age groups in Childcare, but my true passion is in the areas of the Outdoor Preschool and the Afterschool Service at our centre in Daoine Óga in Navan.

As a man, why did I choose childcare? Well I think it chose me! When my life was at a turning point, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do and I saw a list of adult training courses at night. One of the courses was Childcare and I thought I would be good at that, as I have a big family with lots of nieces and nephews.

I was out of work for a few years, until I got an interview for the C.E. Scheme with Ballivor Community Childcare under the management of CRANN. I was lucky that there was one woman on the interview panel, who was very progressive and thought I would do a good job and I haven’t looked back since.

I am now an Early Years Leader in the Outdoor Preschool and a Leader of the School Aged Childcare Service, but I don’t think that this would have been possible without the CRANN Group. I could not see myself in any other job, as I love it so much.

Hi there, my name is Karen Smith and I am the Assistant Manager and Afterschool Co-ordinator in Giggles Childcare Service, Ballivor, Co. Meath. I started my journey with the CRANN Group on a Community Employment Scheme back in December of 2015, when I was in the process of studying for a QQI Level 5 in Youth Work - which I successfully completed in September 2016. I took on the role of Trainee Childcare Assistant on the CE scheme, which is something I hadn’t thought of doing before, because my work at that time mostly involved working with older children.

During my first year on the scheme, the opportunities for training were endless. I engaged in many courses, such as; HACCP, Behaviour Management, First Aid, Child Protection, Fire Safety and Manual Handling to name but a few! I was also given the opportunity to work in other ELC and SAC Services under the management of the CRANN Group. With the introduction of mandatory regulations in 2016, requiring that all employees counted in ratio must have a minimum QQI Level 5 in Early Childhood Care and Education, and knowing the support that was behind me, I commenced my training in 2017. It took just over a year for me to complete all modules and by October 2018, I graduated with a lovely ceremony thrown for us by the CRANN Group in March of 2019.

During this time, I was also given the opportunity to take on the role of Acting Assistant Manager in Giggles and was successful in obtaining a full time role after 6 months. Having caught the “education bug,” I decided to participate in the QQI Level 6 in Early Childhood Care and Education in the same year. I completed Level 6 in November 2019 and graduated in February 2020. If it was not for the support and encouragement of all my peers and staff under the CRANN Group, including our CEO Marie, I would not be where I am today! In fact, it is because of this never ending feeling of support and reassurance that I receive from the CRANN Group, that I am now in my second semester in Blanchardstown IT studying for my Degree.

I was delighted to be successful in my application to participate in the CRANN’s In-house Bursary Fund, which funds 85% of my Degree course fees and facilitates paid leave for study/exam days. I love my job here at Giggles. It is a very rewarding job and I would encourage anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in Childcare, to consider coming to work for CRANN. I hope to be here for a good many more years to come!

My name is Trudie Moore and I am the Early Years Manager of Coiscéimeanna ELC and SAC Service in Trim, Co. Meath (a Member of CRANN). I have been the Manager since June 2016, but my journey with CRANN didn’t start there! In May 2009, I graduated from Dublin Institute of Technology with a BA Honours Degree in Early Childhood Education. Not long after completing my degree I was offered a position as a Room Leader in Daoine Óga Childcare Centre, Navan (a Member of CRANN) when it was opening its doors in August 2009. During my time there, I worked with children aged 4 months up to 12 years and developed my understanding of child development and developing child led curriculums and plans to carry out with the children. I engaged in numerous trainings such as Fire Safety, Manual Handling, Child Protection, First Aid and Síolta training, in-service training days etc.. In 2010, my first opportunity to progress opened when I took on the temporary role of Supervisor, while the Supervisor was on Maternity leave. This opportunity opened up a new range of experiences for me; working with staff, carrying out support and supervision, delegating tasks among the team and booking children into the service.

In 2012, I decided to take a career break and travel to Canada for a year. This decision was supported by CRANN who assured me that my position within the organisation would be secured until my return the following year. In May 2015, when I returned from maternity leave after having my beautiful son, an Assistant Manager’s role became available in another CRANN managed service - Le Chéile ELC & SAC in Simonstown, Navan. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity to progress my career further under the CRANN umbrella. I was successful in obtaining the position and transferred over. While working in Le Chéile, my experience reached even greater heights as I was; working with parents, upskilling my technology skills, using Excel and Microsoft Word and working closely with the manager of the service overseeing the day to day running of the service. During this time, the service was in the process of going through the Síolta validation and I was very lucky to be part of the team and to be able to give my input into the development of the online portfolio for the service. In December 2016, we were extremely proud to receive the highest grade possible; “Level 4, Siolta Award” and although I had already moved to Coiscéimeanna at this stage, I was welcomed back by the team to receive the award!

When the Early Years Manager position became available at Coiscéimeanna in June 2016, I was hesitant to move from a service where I was so settled, but I felt from the combined experience and training received while working with CRANN member services to-date, I was confident that I was ready to progress further within the organisation and can honestly say it was the best move I ever made! Since 2016, I have gained so much experience and knowledge regarding the management of the service. This progression has been made a lot easier from the daily support I receive from the CRANN Shared Business Services which includes; management Support from the CEO, advice and guidance from the HR Manager, mentoring and coaching and support in recruitment from the Quality Officer, administrative control by the Finance and Payroll Department and the Maintenance team are always at hand to respond to any repairs needed. In addition, I am part of a network of Managers, all of whom are employed by organisations under the CRANN umbrella, which provides a fantastic space to share experiences and learn from each other. I have good communication skills and developed strong positive relationships with all staff working within the service and with the families who attend the service.

Since 2018, Trim has being working towards the Siolta Validation and I have been developing the online portfolio and working with all staff to implement the Síolta curriculum into their plans. I have engaged in numerous trainings organised by CRANN e.g. Meitheal training, QQI Level 4 Health and Safety in the Workplace, Restorical Practice, HR Workshops, in-house IT Systems to name but a few. In addition, in 2020 when we closed our doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our team pulled together and made the experience as positive as we could with the support of the CRANN team. We engaged in countless online CPD training, I completed a QQI Level 5 in Infection Control, HACCAP and I graduated from the LINC Programme with first class honours. We maintained strong relationships with all the families via the Childs Path App during the lockdown and Zoom became our new best friend! I have also gained knowledge and experience using the PIP, NCS scheme and being involved with the regulatory inspections within the service. I oversee that regulations are being followed and all healthy and safety guidelines are being adhered to. Both the management team and I oversee that all policies and procedures are being followed within the rooms and the children’s needs are being catered for. Like with all senior roles, some days have been more challenging than others, but with easy access to the support of the CEO, HR Manager, the Quality Officer, the Maintenance Team, the Transort Department, other Early Years Managers and the fantastic team behind me, we work together to ensure the delivery of a quality childcare service. I have loved every minute of my work and I proud of my career progression to-date. With the support of my family and their help in minding my son, it has afforded me the opportunity to progress in my career within the CRANN.