The RockPool approach
As a new mum, Libby found herself locked out of the workforce and frustrated due to a lack of flexible job opportunities that accommodated her responsibilities to her young son.
With a background in aged care, she started advertising locally to help her older neighbours with practical jobs around the house, taking her son Pheonix with her. She saw how people would light up around him, and the seed of an idea began.
What’s in a name?
Searching for a business name for the concept, Libby found herself drawn to the idea of rock pools and the name RockPool. The goal is to cultivate vibrant intergenerational communities in local neighbourhoods, just like a small rock pool is home and host to entire ecosystems of diverse creatures. Sufficient on their own, but linked up and down the country.
And so, RockPool Collective was born.
Family friendly visits,
for the fun of it!
The RockPool approach is reframing the perception around care.
Our family friendly option allows our RockPool Reps to bring their children as and when they need to. This means we can provide flexible and meaningful job opportunities for young parents that works around kindy hours, school holidays, and the general chaos that is life with young kids.
Our members become active contributors to the community’s well-being and future, and get self-directed support while benefiting from the joy of being around kids.
Local parents can earn a flexible and meaningful income with their kids by their side.
Everyone wins.
A positive experience for all
Our mission is to bring the joy of children to the homes of kiwi seniors, enabling clients to engage and enjoy the company of the children as much or as little as they would like.
Here’s how we make it successful for everyone:
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Parents are responsible for their children at all times, clients are never expected to be responsible for the children.
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We match clients and team members based on mutual interests. For instance, clients can list their preference for certain aged kids to come along - e.g preschoolers.
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Both clients and team members agree to what type of support is required during the visit so everyone knows what to expect.
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RockPool provides free rental playpens, front packs and child carriers to team members who want them, which can be used to streamline the experience.
Meet our co-founders
Libby McCarthy
Prior to founding RockPool, Libby led tech and product for BelleVie Care, a UK home-care startup that won gold for most, ‘Outstanding Independent Home Care Provider’ and most ‘Innovative Technology Expertise’ in the UK.
Libby has over a decade of global experience leading product and partnerships for social enterprises such as Proximity Designs (Forbes top 100 global workplaces for innovators) in Myanmar and the Clinton Foundation in New York. In 2020 Libby was awarded the Skoll Scholarship for Social Entrepreneurship to complete a funded MBA at Oxford University where she studied social enterprise in aged care.
Libby is a hospice volunteer, a trained death doula and mum to Phoenix.
Masina Taulapapa
Prior to motherhood, Masina spent her career working in community development and engagement. The last 3 years has found her happily at home with two energetic preschoolers, keeping busy as co-president of the local playcentre, and teaching piano.
Keen to find some more paid employment, but finding meaningful work flexible enough to work around her children impossible, Masina joined Libby in building this platform bringing her experience in child-wrangling, and background in building organisational strategic relationships.
She truly believes that RockPool Collective will change lives - not only providing parents with the type of work she was looking for, but also building intergenerational relationships across Aotearoa.