Champions of Care- Helen Fagan

Our Champions of Care series highlights the vital work that our colleagues do.??

In November 2022, Helen Fagan, originally from Mayo, joined The ASI as Administration Team Lead in our National Office. Helen - who enjoys hill walking, travel, history, music and theatre – tells us about her role.??

What is the best or most rewarding part about your role??

Knowing that my work positively impacts others and receiving positive feedback that my efforts make a real difference to them gives me a fantastic sense of fulfilment. Resolving issues, responding to requests, developing solutions that simplify a process, or simply making someone's day a little brighter is enriching.?

Tell us about the Team you work with.?

In a word, they are amazing!?

Jason, Terry, or Sarah sincerely care about their work and about the organisation. As a team, we understand our goals and are committed. Our superpower is communicating openly and honestly, with respect, trust, and humour. We value each other.??

What is the most important skill you bring to ASI???

Enthusiasm.??

When I joined the team with a fresh perspective, I recognised areas that could be modified or made more effective. Changes in workplace procedures generally produce positive results and help promote a more positive work environment. Change is exciting to some, and it can feel unfamiliar, upsetting, or frightening for others.?

We sat together as a team, discussing my motivation for implementing the changes. We disassembled all the pros and cons, respecting the different viewpoints. This time was valuable as it helped us understand where we came from as individuals, what was important to us, and what we needed in our work. We successfully made the changes, which have led to a better workflow and allowed many more creative suggestions and new ideas.???

What is the best thing about working with ASI??

For me, it's working with people with values that are like mine. We are often the first point of contact for someone in a centre across the country; I enjoy the variety this brings, the awareness and understanding of what that person does within the origination.? This gives me a great sense of community.??

The ASI has flexible working opportunities and learning opportunities, which is positive. I enjoy being part of a progressive organisation while still paying attention to the human elements that allow us to drive the ASI cause.???

What would you say to someone who is considering joining the ASI??

We are purpose-driven in advocating for the rights and needs of all people with dementia and supporting their carers and families. With the prevalence of dementia worldwide, we have a lot of awareness to raise, and we need your help and skill set to contribute to the mission of ASI.??

We know our passion and actions make a difference in the lives of the families we support.??

There are many areas within The ASI where you can choose the skills you wish to develop and select appropriate work to fit in with the areas you would like to learn more about or improve on.??

?????? “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth,” Muhammad Ali.?

Questions and answers have been edited in parts. Our interview with Helen originally appeared in our 2023 Impact Report; read the full interview here.??