News Archive: January - June 2015
Promoting better outcomes for children: Using research to help practitioners identify vulnerability early
Friday 26th June at 11.00 am - 12.30 pm at Trnity College Dublin
Speakers
Professor Trevor Spratt, Professor of Childhood Research,
Children’s Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin
Kevin Webster, Principal Social worker, Tusla
Tara Kelly, Project Leader, Springboard
Public Lecture and Master class by Prof Patti Lather, Prof Emeritus, School of Educational Policy and Leadership, Ohio State University, Thursday 16th July
The School of Social Work & Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin are pleased to announce a public lecture and masterclass on (Post)Qualitative Research by Prof Patti Lather, Prof Emeritus, School of Educational Policy and Leadership, Ohio State University. It will take place on Thursday July 16th 2015, from 1-4pm in the Neill Hoey Theatre, Long Room Hub, Trinity College.
Public Lecture, 1-2:00pm: Top Ten + List: (Re)Thinking Ontology in (Post)Qualitative Research
Abstract
This paper presents a “top ten+ list” of lessons learned from the ontological turn. Across various terms and insistences, the paper surveys theories of social change, the subject and agency, the canons constructed, the methodologies materialized, the “more and other than reflexivity” researcher subjectivity endorsed, and the edges of both policy analysis and quantitative research that already instantiate such lessons. It concludes with a meditation on how to think this latest turn within something other than a temporality of successor regimes, end-isms, and apocalyptic breaks.
MASTERCLASS 2.00-4pm
To register email Catherine Conlon at conlonce@tcd.ie by June 26th
18th June 2015
School academic staff and students take part in the Irish Association of Social Workers’ annual conference on Friday 5th June 2015
School academics Assistant Professor Maeve Foreman and Assistant Professor Dr. Erna O’Connor, PhD student Eavan Brady and recent MSW graduate Trena Ratcliffe all took part in the Irish Association of Social Workers’ annual conference on Friday 5th June 2015 which was opened by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, James Reilly.
Dr. Erna O’Connor co-facilitated a Practitioner Research Symposium with Dr. Sarah Donnelly from UCD. Maeve Foreman presented a paper ‘Irish Social Workers Experience of Working with Asylum Seekers Living within the Direct Provision System’ based on research conducted with Dr. Muireann Ni Raghallaigh of UCD, Eavan Brady presented a paper on ‘Journey to Publication’ and Trena Ratcliffe presented a paper based on her MSW dissertation. All papers from the symposium will be available on the IASW website.
9th June 2015
Professor Robbie Gilligan co-authors new article in Children and Youth Services Review
Dr Laura Arnau from UAB – Autonomous University of Barcelona and Professor Robbie Gilligan have recently had an article published in Children and Youth Services Review. The article, is entitled ' ‘What helps young care leavers to enter the world of work? Possible lessons from an exploratory study in Ireland and Catalonia'. It draws from a collaborative study that Dr Arnau and Prof Gilligan are undertaking of the work experiences of adults who have spent substantial time in care when younger. Typically care leavers face a higher risk of unemployment, so a study of those who find and retain work can yield important insights.
Citation: Laura Arnau Sabates, Robbie Gilligan, (2015) 'What helps young care leavers to enter the world of work? Possible lessons from an exploratory study in Ireland and Catalonia', Children and Youth Services Review, 53, (June), pp.185-191. Read the article here.
22nd May 2015
Assistant Professor Maeve Foreman recently published an article on ‘Medical Social Work in Ireland: An Exploration of Service Users' Perspectives
Assistant Professor Maeve Foreman from the School of Social Work and Social Policy has recently published an article on Medical Social Work in Ireland: An Exploration of Service Users' Perspectives’. Her article, which was published in the Irish Social Worker, was based on research with service users on their experiences of a hospital wide medical social work service. The research was a collaborative effort conducted with members of the hospital’s social work team. The Spring 2015 edition of the Irish Social Worker featured research and analysis on Irish social work, and was edited by Assistant Professor Gloria Kirwan, also from the School of Social Work and Social Policy.
21th May 2015
Research by Professor Virpi Timonen and Research associate Dr Martha Doyle extensively covered in the Irish Media
School research on singlehood across the life course (conducted by Professor Virpi Timonen and Research associate Dr Martha Doyle) extensively covered in media discussion of changing notions of ‘spinsterhood' . Read more here.
18th May 2015
School of Social Work and Social Policy Academics have contributed chapters to new book, 'Social Work in Ireland: Changes and Continuities'
This book which is due to be published in September 2015, provides a comprehensive analysis of social work in the Republic of Ireland. It is written by academic staff from the four universities in the Republic of Ireland where social workers are trained and educated. Contributions from the School of Social Work and Social Policy include Assistant Professor Trish Walsh, Associate Professor Helen Buckley, Assistant Professor Stephanie Holt, Assistant Professor Erna O'Connor and Associate Professor Shane Butler. The book will be published by Palgrave Macmillan.
14th May 2015
PhD Studentship Opportunities, School of Social Work and Social Policy
Applications are invited for a PhD studentship in the School of Social Work and Social Policy. This studentship is open to current students on the full-time Ph.D. Register, or new entrants for entry in September 2015 or March 2016. The postgraduate studentship fully covers EU or non-EU fees and an annual maintenance of €8,000 for three years.
Eligibility Requirements: Applications are invited from candidates who hold a masters degree, or a primary degree (1st class or 2.1 honours) or equivalent.
Application process: Please complete the attached application form for consideration of this award. Please submit one electronic version to Ms Laura Cusack at lcusack@tcd.ie and one hard copy to the address below by 12 Noon on Friday, May 29th 2015.
Ms Laura Cusack, School of Social Work & Social Policy, Room 3063 Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2.
Expectations: The holder of a postgraduate studentship will be required to engage in teaching related activities, as advised by their supervisor and/or the Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate) or his/her nominee, to a maximum of 6 hours per week in teaching term. It is also important to be aware that income received by the award recipient from other sources (such as private tuition, research funding), can be to the maximum annual income level of €18,000 excluding fees but including the studentship maintenance. The receipt of any additional funding must be notified immediately to the Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate) in the School. Postgraduate studentships cannot continue beyond the fourth year on the Ph.D. register.
The selection process will involve a 15 minute presentation by the candidate on their proposed research, followed by an interview. This will take place on Tuesday 23rd June 2015.
13th May 2015
Job Vacancy: Assistant Professor in Social Policy
We are pleased to announce that we are hiring an Assistant Professor in Social Policy. The post is permanent and full-time. More information and the full job specification can be viewed at http://jobs.tcd.ie
13th May 2015
School academics presented papers at BASPCAN Conference
Three members of the school attended the BASPCAN (British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect) conference in Edinburgh on 12th-15th April 2015.
Associate Professor Dr. Helen Buckley presented a paper based on her study with Dr. Caroline O’Nolan on ‘Child Abuse Inquiries and Reviews: Developing Effective Recommendations’ at the symposium on Child Death Review: Improving the Response to Children’s Safety.
Assistant Professor Maeve Foreman presented a paper based on her study with Dr. Muireann Ni Raghaillaigh from UCD on ‘Direct Provision for Asylum Seekers – Putting Children at Risk?’ at the session on Emerging Forms of, and Contexts for, Maltreatment. Dr. Stephanie Holt attended in her capacity as editorial board member of Child Abuse Review Journal.
29th April 2015
Final Lecture in 80th Anniversary Lecture Series to take place TONIGHT - April 29, 2015
The final lecture in the 80th Anniversary Lecture Series will take place tonight. The lecture will be given by Professor Virpi Timonen and is entitled 'Model Ageing: A critique of emerging policy solutions to ‘the problem’ of population ageing'. The lecture will take place in the Jonathan Swift Lecture Theatre, Arts Building at 7pm.
29th April 2015
The Irish Association of Social Workers hosted the 1st National Mental Health Social Work Conference on 16th April 2015
The Irish Association of Social Workers hosted the 1st National Mental Health Social Work Conference on 16th April 2015. The Conference was opened by Minister Kathleen Lynch, Minister of State for Primary Care, Mental Health and Disability. Dr Margo Wrigley, National Clinical Adviser and Clinical Programme Group Lead for Mental Health at the HSE, delivered the Introduction Address. The Keynote Address was by Asst Professor Gloria Kirwan, School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin. Her paper was entitled, ‘The Social Work Profession: Purpose, Possibilities, Potential’.
Photo from left to right: Dr Margo Wrigley, National Clinical Adviser, HSE, Minister Kathleen Lynch, Asst Professor Gloria Kirwan.
20th April 2015
Associate Professor Shane Butler's paper, 'Ireland's Public Health (Alcohol) Bill: Policy Window or Political Sop?' recently been published online
Associate Professor Shane Butler has recently had his paper ' Ireland's Public Health ( Alcohol ) Bill : Policy Window or Political Sop?' published online.
16th April 2015
New research by Prof Virpi Timonen on grandparenting receives extensive media coverage
New research on the impact of intensive grandparenting by Prof Virpi Timonen, Dr Christine McGarrigle and Richard Layte received extensive media coverage on 14th of April, 2015. A few examples of the coverage including podcasts from Newstalk and Today FM and the Irish Independant front page are as follows:
Front page of the Irish Independent, plus extensive coverage on pages 6 (Op-Ed by Virpi Timonen) and 36 (feature that references study extensively) on Tuesday 14th of April can be viewed here:
Prof Virpi Timonen talks with Shane Coleman on Newstalk Breakfast show, 14th of April, Podcast available online.
16th April 2015
New Scholar in Sociology & Social Policy
The School would like to congratulate Mariam Ahmad who was one of the 67 new scholars announced on Monday this week. Scholars are students who have demonstrated exceptional knowledge and understanding of their subjects and are elected annually in various subjects as the result of an examination held in the week before the start of Hilary term. Mariam is currently in the Senior Freshman year of the BA in Sociology and Social Policy.
15th April 2015
The Irish Direct Provision system for housing asylum seekers in Ireland was 15 years old on the 10th April 2015.
Direct Provision was established as a short-term accommodation solution to house people seeking asylum in Ireland. 15 years on, people spend an average of four years in these centres, some have spent upwards of ten years. Assistant Professor Maeve Foreman of the School of Social Work and Social Policy, and Dr. Muireann Ni Raghallaigh of UCD, contributed to Human Rights in Ireland’s week long online event to mark this occasion.
13th April 2015
Senior freshman student posters explore contemporary children's issues
On topics ranging from child beauty pageants to cyberbullying to child trafficking in Brazil, on 1 April 2015 sixty-seven senior freshman students displayed a broad range of academic posters to assessors, other students and the general public in the Arts Block. The students were showing off their capstone project for Children and Society, a new social science module created by Dr Michelle Share, Senior Research Fellow at Trinity's Children's Research Centre.
The aim of the exhibition was to introduce students to the practice of developing academic posters - a practice now common in many professional settings. The task helps students to develop their skills in group work, project management, professional writing and public communication. The students explained their work to a range of guest assessors, who came from academic departments across the college, as well as the Trinity Access Programme and the Innovation Academy.
Students applied their research skills to legal topics, such as the Guardian ad Litem system, to contemporary public issues, such as same sex parenting, and to international issues, such as China's One Child policy.
Speaking after the successful display, Dr Share, a graduate of the Trinity Master in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, commented that 'the students showed great enthusiasm in talking about their work - normally academic work is rarely seen by others. This challenge gave students the opportunity to distil their knowledge and to communicate it effectively - key skills for the workplace of the future. They really rose to the occasion!' As one student remarked: 'it felt like our hard work had really accomplished something in a way an essay or an exam wouldn't'.
13th April 2015
Open Evening: M.Sc. in Disability Studies
The M.Sc. in Disability Studies at Trinity College Dublin is now taking applications for the 2015 intake. This M.Sc. programme, which can be completed on a one year, full-time or a two year, part-time basis, is an innovative programme that provides students with a deep understanding of disability from social, historical, cultural, economic, and political perspectives. Graduates of the M.Sc. are equipped with the knowledge, analytical skills and perspectives to translate rights into reality in the field of disability.
You will have the opportunity at our Open Evening to hear more about this M.Sc. and to speak directly to the teaching team and graduates of the programme.
For more information on the programme, see our webpage.
Please RSVP to Noreen O’Sullivan at noosulli@tcd.ie
ALL WELCOME!
8th April 2015
Featured in today's Irish Times!
We are pleased to announce we are currently taking applications for a number of postgraduate programmes. See our advert as advertised in today's Irish Times newspaper
10th April 2015
Prof Virpi Timonen discusses grandparents as ‘childcare solution’ with Newstalk’s George Hook on ‘The Right Hook’
Prof Virpi Timonen discusses grandparents as ‘childcare solution’ with Newstalk’s George Hook on ‘The Right Hook’ on 24th of March.
7th April 2015
Research conducted by Assistant Professor Maeve Foreman, is the subject of an article in the Examiner published on Friday 20th March
Research conducted by Maeve Foreman, Assistant Professor in Social Work in the School of Social Work and Social Policy, and Dr. Muireann Ni Raghallaigh, Lecturer in UCD, is the subject of an article in the Examiner published on Friday 20th March. You can read the article here.
Their study, conducted with Irish social workers about their experiences of working with people living in the Direct Provision system, was endorsed by the IASW and formed the basis of a recent submission to the Working Group on the Protection Process, which is due to report in April, 2015.
The online survey was completed by 149 social workers, and fifteen social workers participated in interviews or in a focus group. The social workers were employed throughout the country in a range of services including mental health and child protection and welfare. The single most common reason cited for referral of people living within the Direct Provision system to social workers was mental health difficulties, followed by child welfare, child protection, and financial problems. They found that most social workers believe the Direct Provision system for asylum seekers has a short and long-term impact on the developmental and welfare needs of children and is also damaging the capacity of adult asylum seekers to parent to their full potential.
Maeve and Muireann also presented their findings at an IASW/UCD event on the 20th March to mark World Social Work Day 2015.
24th March 2015
Publication of Article on Young Women's Heroin Initiation in Substance Use and Misuse Journal
Congratulations to Assistant Professor Paula Mayock and to her co-authors, Dr. Jennifer Cronly (Post-doctoral Researcher, University College Cork) and Professor Michael Clatts (Professor of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico), on the publication of an article in the journal Substance Use and Misuse. The article, which is titled “The Risk Environment of Heroin Initiation: Young Women, Intimate Partners, and ‘Drug Relationships’”, will appear in a Special Issue on Gender and Substance Use later this year.
Click here to read the early online article.
20th March 2015
Publication of Article on Women’s Homelessness in Housing Studies Journal
Congratulations to Assistant Professor Paula Mayock and to Sarah Sheridan and Sarah Parker, Children’s Research Centre, whose article entitled: “‘It’s just like we’re going around and circles and going back to the same thing ...’: The dynamics of women’s unresolved homelessness” has been published in Housing Studies. Click here to read the article.
20th March 2015
Promoting the Dignity and Worth of Peoples - World Social Work Day 2015
Assistant professors Stephanie Holt and Maeve Foreman from the School of Social Work and Social Policy will be taking part in a seminar organised by The International Committee of the Irish Association of Social Workers and the School of Applied Social Science, UCD to celebrate World Social Work Day 2015
International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) World Social Work Day 2015 Promoting the Dignity and Worth of Peoples
Date: Friday, 20 March 2015 from 9.00am – 1.00pm
Venue: Seminar Room, Geary Institute, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4
Programme
9.00-9.30: Registration
9.30-9.35: Welcome: Prof Jim Campbell, Chair of Social Work, UCD
9.35-9.50: Opening Address: Senator Jillian van Turnhout
9.50-11.05: Direct Provision: The Role of Social Work : Dr Colletta Dalikeni (DIT Dundalk) and Dr Muireann Ni Raghallaigh (UCD) & Maeve Foreman (TCD)
11.05-11.30: Tea/Coffee Break
11.30- 12.45: Gender-Based Violence: The Role of Social Work : Dr. Stephanie Holt (TCD) and Mary Kate Barry (Tusla )
12.45: Closing Remarks
2.5 CPD points have been awarded to this free event Click on the following link for the campus map. The Geary is building number 24.
16th March 2015
Formal Launch of the Online Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Social Studies
On February 10, 2014 the Provost formally launched the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Social Studies. The event was hosted by the School and the Online Education Unit and was held in the Senior Common room. It was attended by many students on the programme as well as the University staff who were vital in establishing the programme. The Provost paid particular thanks on the evening to Dr Stephanie Holt, Professor Eoin O’Sullivan, Dr Julie Byrne, Professor Tim Savage, the Online Education unit team, the Graduate Studies staff and finally the staff of the School of Social Work and Social Policy who all played an instrumental role in establishing the programme. The Postgraduate Diploma is the first fully online programme in the University and has proved to be very popular with the initial intake far exceeding the original quota for the programme. Pictures from the event are on our Facebook page and can be viewed here.
12th February 2015
School of Social Work & Social Policy 80th Anniversary Public Lecture Series
Protecting Children Then and Now: Why social workers continue to do what they did before and how they might do things differently in the future is the second in this exciting lecture series and will take place on Wednesday 4th February 2015 at 7pm in the Jonathan Swift Theatre, Arts Building, TCD. This lecture will be delivered by Professor Trevor Spratt.
All welcome.
4th February 2015
Former PhD student Kate Babineau publishes letter in Irish Times
Kate's letter on the subject ‘White Irish’ and school questionnaire features in today's Irish Times. Click here to read.
4th February 2015
Dr Trish Walsh's article ‘Strengths-based Practice in Child Welfare’ published in 'Child Care in Practice' is one of the most downloaded articles published in Routledge Health & Social Care journals in 2014
The School would like to congratulate Assistant Professor Trish Walsh whose article, ‘Strengths-based Practice in Child Welfare’, published in Child Care in Practice has been included in an online article collection featuring the most downloaded articles published in Routledge Health & Social Care journals in 2014. The collection features the top three most downloaded articles that were published and downloaded in 2014 in each Routledge Health and Social Care journal.
4th February 2015
Invitation to the launch of a research report titled “An Irish National Survey of Dementia in Long-Term Residential Care”
Associate Professor Suzanne Cahill, Dr Caroline O’Nolan, Ms Dearbhla O’Caheny and Dr Andrea Bobersky are launching their report on Thursday 29th January 2015 at 10.45 in Long Room Hub, Trinity College.
Guest Speakers include: Professor Davis Coakley, Dr Chie Wei Fan, Dr Declan Byrne, Mr Gerry Martin and Mr Tadhg Daly.
All welcome.
RSVP by 23/01/15 to llovely@stjames.ie
23rd January 2015
High turnout at Postgraduate Open Day, Thursday 22nd January
For more information on our Postgraduate courses, click here .
23rd January 2015
Professor Eoin O'Sullivan appointed as Chair for the Review of Local Government Arrangements in Galway by Minister Alan Kelly
Minister for Environment, Community & Local Government, Alan Kelly, has today 21 January, 2015, announced a review of local government arrangements in Galway. Following on from an announcement of a similar review in Cork City, Minister Kelly has appointed an independent statutory committee to carry out this review, including the potential of a city and county merger. The group will be chaired by Professor Eoin O’Sullivan Head of the School of Social Work and Social Policy in TCD.
21st January 2015
80th Anniversary Lecture Series kicks off!
Professor Eoin O'Sullivan delivered the first lecture in our 80th Anniversary Public Lecture Series on Wednesday 21st January 2015. For a full list of the lectures in this series please see here.
23rd January 2015
School of Social Work & Social Policy 80th Anniversary Public Lecture Series
7th January 2015