Our Team

Directors

Simplicitas

PASSION FOR LIFE

Our Team consists of 61 dedicated professionals who each contribute their unique part to the Simplicitas experience. Over 25% of our staff team has been part of the organisation for over 10 years. Founded in 2007, Simplicitas is led by two Directors, Stephen Talbot, and Janet Rich. In 2025 we said farewell to founding Director Liz Lyden, retiring after 50 years of service to Social Care in Ireland and the UK. Each person in Simplicitas is hand picked to be part of the team, and we pride ourselves on the quality of our people, who share our passion for the work they do.

Stephen Talbot

DIRECTOR

Stephen Talbotbrings 25 years of management and business experience to Simplicitas, joining the organisation as a Director in 2011. Stephen has a particular interest in Vocational Development, leading on Activity Club & Project Development, as well as running group work & holidays. With additional expertise in building design and disability access, Stephen holds a rights-based vision of inclusion for people with disabilities, with equality and acceptance at its heart. Stephen has a strong focus on developing staff as well as clients, and is a well-respected member of the local community, enhancing the access and opportunities available through the organisation to those whom it serves.

Janet Rich

DIRECTOR

Janet Rich has a background in child and adolescent therapeutic work preceding her move into adult disability services in 2007 when Simplicitas was established. Janet has also worked on policy issues in the UK, towards better lives for children in, and leaving, care campaigning for Care Leaver rights and service improvements. She facilitated the direct engagement of children leaving care with Government Ministers, and sat as a Trustee for The Care Leavers Foundation for 19 years, and on the development group for the National Institute for Excellence developing Standards for Looked After Children as well as leading representative bodies for Residential Care.

Thoughts from our Support Workers

When team members have freedom, autonomy and choices they are best able to truly create an environment of freedom, autonomy and choice for their clients, within the constraints of any risks and vulnerabilities. This is what I understand by a person centred organisaiton, and this is what I experience every day in my work with Simplicitas.

There is an emphasis on staff training which enables us not just to understand and support our clients to reach their maximum potential, but which challenges us to look at ourselves and continue to grow, develop support workers, and as individuals, and stay fresh and excited about our work.

As a Social Enterprise, Simplicitas invests in the ongoing development of the organisaiton, and in its people. This is apparent in everything that we do here. Every day brings new challenges, new learning and new possibilities. I love my job. I love coming to work.

At Simplicitas, we are all joined in our common humanity. Fulfilment is not just for our clients, it exists in the staff team too, and is demonstrated in the common respect and satisfaction which is evident everywhere in the organisation. Everyone is equally valuable, and everyone can change to take control of their own lives.

Our Therapeutic Support Workers see Simplicitas as a career for life. 70% of our staff have been with us for more than 5 years, 11% for more than 10.

“I have been working here for 11 years. I can’t see me ever working anywhere else. Every day brings something different. I have never had a day when I don’t want to come into work.”

This is a job like no other in Social Care in Ireland. The job can be demanding; the expectation on staff to give 100% of their energy and commitment is high, but this brings commensurate rewards, and immense job satisfaction. I never thought I could be as happy and fulfilled in a job.

At Simplicitas you will be challenged to reflect and be thoughtful in all that you do, and above all to think about what life is like for the people you are supporting, and how it might feel to live their lives. The training we receive is outstanding. Transactional Analysis helps us to understand every aspect of our clients’ communications and responses, and to reflect on our own contribution to the dynamic between two people