News Archive: July - December, 2022
Research Report on Guidance on Contact Time for Infants and Young Children in Separated Families
The voices of very young children are ‘starkly absent’ from Ireland’s family law system, according to a new report recently launched in Trinity College Dublin.
This research was conducted by an interdisciplinary research team in Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork and is the first of its kind to investigate international best practice in relation to listening to the voices of very young children (0-6 years) in family law proceedings. It is also the first report that presents qualitative evidence of what is currently happening in practice in relation to this issue in Irish family law cases. This research was commissioned by One Family and funded through the RTE Toy Show Appeal and Community Foundation for Ireland Fund.
A copy of the report is available to view here
(L to R) Soma Gregory, Trinity; Dr Simone McCaughren, Trinity; Dr Stephanie Holt, Trinity; Karen Kiernan, CEO One Family; Niamh Kelly, Policy Manager, One Family.
Further information
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/family-law-system-bad-for-parents-children-lawyers-with-growing-concerns-at-expert-reports-used-in-cases-42210911.html
https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/family-law-system-not-hearing-voices-of-very-young-children
16th December, 2022
Congratulations
Congratulations to Vivian Geiran, Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Social Work & Social Policy and Dr. Nicola Carr of the University of Nottingham on their recent appointment by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to prepare a handbook on the establishment and sound operation of probation services.
15th December, 2022
TCD Intergenerational friendship study features in an article in UK newspaper The Guardian
Research by Catherine Elliott O’Dare , Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work and Social Policy, and co-author Finnish Professor Riikka Korkiamäki, featured in an article in The Guardian newspaper this week. Speaking with journalist, Erica Berry, Elliott O’Dare emphasised the value of intergenerational friendship to younger and older people: promoting inclusion, tackling loneliness, exchanging knowledge and support, and having fun. The topic of intergenerational friendship is garnering increasing attention in media and policy as the benefits to the individual and society are recognised. A link to the article can be found here
28th November, 2022
You are invited to the launch of a new report entitled:
LOW PAID OLDER WORKERS IN IRELAND:
a quantitative and qualitative profile of low pay among workers aged over 50
Friday November 25th, 11am-12:30pm
Buswells Hotel, Dublin 2
Research on the topic of low pay has experienced a revival in Ireland over recent years triggered by a greater policy shift towards understanding and addressing low pay, growing interest in the challenges of employment precarity, and greater research and policy engagement on the relationship between earnings and living standards.
This research report examines one heretofore underexplored group, older workers in low pay and aims to establish insights into the scale and experience of low pay among employees aged 50 years and older. It brings together themes of ageing populations, labour market earnings and living conditions.
The research findings will be presented by the report’s authors - Dr Micheál Collins, UCD and Dr Catherine Elliott O’Dare, TCD - alongside contributions from Dr Michelle O’Sullivan (UL), Dr Nat O’Connor (Age Action) and Dr Anne-Marie McGauran (NESC). Details of the launch are attached.
The launch event is free to attend; however, places are limited, and prior-registration is required.
REGISTRATION: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/low-paid-older-workers-report-launch-tickets-470053521737
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Low Paid Older Workers - Report Launch |
Great if you were interested in attending, and please pass it on to others who you think might be interested.
This research has been funded by the Low Pay Commission of Ireland Research Bursary Scheme.
21st November, 2022
Congratulations to Soma Gregory, Stephanie Holt and Ruth Elliffe on their recent publication in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Congratulations to Soma Gregory, Stephanie Holt and Ruth Elliffe on the recent publication of ‘Public health directives in a pandemic: Paradoxical messages for domestic abuse victims in four countries’ in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The Irish research team led this article based on data collected for an international research study entitled ‘Domestic Abuse: Harnessing Learning Internationally from Covid-19’ or DAHLIA-19 (available here). DAHLIA-19 explored domestic abuse policy and practice for victims/survivors, children and perpetrators during Covid-19 across four countries: Australia, Ireland, South Africa and UK. This article reports on the various approaches used to communicate public health messaging during the pandemic and highlights strengths and learning which could inform future crises messaging. The Open Access article can be viewed here.
21st November, 2022
Research from School Staff featured in Recent Article from the Irish Examiner
Congratulations to Dr Stephanie Holt, Dr Ruth Elliffe, Ms. Soma Gregory and Dr Philip Curry whose research was recently featured in an article in the Irish Examiner on domestic violence. Link to the article can be found here
21st November, 2022
Assistant Professor Dr Catherine Conlon discusses findings of recent research on experiences of abortion care in Ireland
Dr Catherine Conlon was an invited panellist at launch of National Women's Council of Ireland latest report on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for women in Ireland entitled Everywoman, today Tuesday October 25th. Catherine spoke about the findings of her UnPAC (Unplanned Pregnancy and Abortion Care) research study alongside Tonya Myles, General Manager at Cairde, Caitlin Faye Maniti, President of the Irish Secondary Student's Union and Dr Kay Maunsell, Principal Investigator on the TEACH-RSE Research Project on Teacher Professional Development and Relationships and Sexuality Education and Associate Professor of Psychology, Human Development and Education in the School of Human Development, DCU Institute of Education.
Elected representatives Roisin Shortall TD, David Culliane TD, Ivana Bacik TD and Senator Pauline O'Reilly were keen to hear Catherine's findings as this study has been designated the service user strand of the ongoing review of the 2018 Act regulating abortion in Ireland. There was consensus that the evidence base provided by the UnPAC study is critical to political representatives preparing to respond to the review and in their work on the Health Committee. Such close engagement by NGOs and policy makers with research from our School is greatly welcomed by us in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at TCD as we strive to fulfill our public service remit as social policy scholars providing high quality evidence for policy.
27th October 2022
Congratulations to Dr. Branagh O’Shaughnessy, Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellow, and Welcome to the School of Social Work and Social Policy
Warm congratulations to Dr. Branagh O’Shaughnessy, who is a 2022 awardee of the Irish Research Council’s Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme. Branagh will work under the mentorship of Associate Professor Paula Mayock for a two-year period.
Branagh completed a Bachelor of Psychology and Sociology at the University of Limerick in 2013, and a PhD in Psychology at the University of Limerick in 2022. Branagh’s PhD dissertation project examined the empowering and actualising experiences of homeless adults in housing-led and traditional homeless services.
Branagh’s postdoctoral research will examine the recovery experiences of homeless adults with substance use disorders in various homeless services configurations.
We welcome Branagh to the School and wish her every success with her postdoctoral research.
6th October 2022
“Managing Uncertainty in Social Work” Lecture by Professor Eileen Munro at School of Social Work & Social Policy
The School of Social Work and Social Policy were delighted to host a free public lecture with Professor Eileen Munro on the topic of ‘Managing Uncertainty in Social Work’. Professor Munro is Professor Emeritus of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and author of the Munro Review of Child Protection in England. More recently she has been a key consultant to Tusla, Child and Family Agency, on the implementation of Signs of Safety as the national practice framework for child protection social work in Ireland.
Professor Munro delivered a hugely engaging talk, and we were delighted to have Cormac Quinlan, Assistant National Director for Practice Reform at Tusla Child and Family Agency as discussant for the event to respond to Professor Munro’s talk with insightful reflections on social work practice and policy in Ireland. Both contributions were followed by wonderful engagement from the audience and a lively discussion.
Pictured left to right are Dr. Louise Caffrey, Assistant Professor Social Policy, School of Social Work and Social Policy; Professor Eileen Munro, Professor Emeritus of Social Policy at the LSE, and Cormac Quinlan, Assistant National Director for Practice Reform at Tusla, Child & Family Agency.
PhD Diaries: Kathryn Ammon researches abortion access in Ireland
PhD Diaries: Kathryn Ammon researches abortion access in Ireland. Read about her research journey and her thoughts on the overturning of Roe v. Wade here
6th October 2022
Congratulations to Master in Social Work graduate Sarah Murran & Assistant Professor Eavan Brady on their recently published article in Child & Family Social Work.
The article is entitled ‘How does family homelessness impact on children's development? A critical review of the literature’. The article is able via Open Access here.
30th September 2022
President of Ireland receives Dr. Joe Whelan at Áras an Uachtaráin to present his latest publication ‘Hidden Voices - Lived Experiences in the Irish Welfare Space’
Huge congratulations to our colleague Assistant Professor Joe Whelan who was received at Áras an Uachtaráin last Friday and presented a copy of his recent publication ‘Hidden Voices: Lived experiences in the Irish Welfare Space’ to President Michael D. Higgins. We are delighted that Joe was honoured with this occasion.
This book draws on draws on qualitative interviews with 19 people receiving various working age welfare payments in Ireland to explore stigma, social reciprocity and the notions of the deserving and undeserving poor, and to analyse welfare conditionality in the Irish context.
Breaking new ground, this book offers original research findings which contest and inform policy both within Ireland and beyond.
Meet Joe and hear more about the book here
26th September 2022
We are Hiring! Assistant Professor in Social Policy - Specific Purpose Contract.
The School is delighted to announce that we are hiring an Assistant Professor in Social Policy - Specific Purpose Contract. Full details can be found here
05 Sept 2022
UPCOMING CONFERENCE on Domestic Violence and Child Protection
The School, in partnership with Mason Hayes & Curran, are delighted to announce an upcoming conference on Oct 28, 2022 on Domestic Violence and Child protection. Full details can be found below and to register please email jennifer.otoole@tcd.ie
31st Aug 2022
We are Hiring! Assistant Professor In Social Work- Tenure Track post.
The School is delighted to announce that we are hiring an Assistant Professor in Social work - Tenure Track post. Full details can be found here
25th Aug 2022
Congratulations to Emeritus Professor Robbie Gilligan & Assistant Professor Eavan Brady on their recently published article in Journal of Youth Studies.
The article is entitled ‘What helps adult care leavers return to education? Exploring the relevance of learner identity and the life course perspective’. The article can be accessed here.
21st July 2022