News Archive: Jul - Dec 2019
Congratulations to Anne Marie Jones, who presented preliminary findings from her PhD study to the 4th International Collaborative Children's Palliative Care Conference
Congratulations to Anne Marie Jones, who presented preliminary findings from her PhD study to the 4th International Collaborative Children's Palliative Care Conference on November 21st in Galway. Anne Marie’s research focuses on the experiences of families and staff at children's end of life care in an acute hospital setting. The conference theme was "Contemporary Challenges in the Care of Children with Complex and Palliative Care Needs". Anne Marie's presentation explored the experiences of parents who have received bad news about their child's ill-health and the need for end of life care. The presentation addressed a disconnect between staff guidelines on breaking bad news and the processes associated with parents' assimilation of this news. The paper highlighted the need for staff to understand and take into account parents' family, societal and cultural context, as well as the pace at which parents can understand and absorb the information received.
Earlier this year, Anne Marie presented findings from her study, on the role of social workers in children's end of life care at the Irish Association of Social Workers’ Research Conference. This paper illustrated how social workers can facilitate families in understanding and navigating the challenging world of being in an acute hospital with their child at end of life care.
Dec 2, 2019
Simon Brooke RIP
The School would like to express its grief and sadness at the passing of Simon Brooke Head of Policy with Clúid and part-time Assistant Professor in the School since 2001. He taught modules on housing and was a wonderful teacher who gave generously of his time to students and was extremely popular with everyone. He will be missed by all staff, students and alumni of the School and our thoughts are with his family.
Dec 2, 2019
Symposium on the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
This event is brought to you by the Disability Research Network, Trinity College Dublin, to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and will bring together people with disabilities, academics, policy makers and others to explore the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. On March 2018 Ireland was the last European country to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its first formal reporting to the United Nations is due in 2020.
Speakers will include:
Dr John Bosco Conama, Centre for Deaf Studies, School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences, Trinity College Dublin and Member of IHREC’s Disability Advisory Committee: Possible Implications of the CRPD on the Research Process
Dr Delia Ferri, School of Law, Maynooth University: Implementing the CRPD - an International Perspective
Dr Meredith Raley, Disability Federation of Ireland: Implementing the CRPD in Ireland.
A formal response to the speakers by Mr Mahbub Kabir, Plan International Ireland, on behalf of the Dóchas Disability in International Development Working Group, will follow.
Booking via Eventbright
Schedule here
Dec 2, 2019
Congratulations to Edwina Flavin who presented her research at the 7th National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference held in University College Cork
Congratulations to Edwina Flavin, graduate of the Masters in Child Protection and Welfare who presented her research at the 7th National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference held in University College Cork on 25th October 2019.
Edwina's presentation titled 'Working in a Culturally Competent Way?' explored the views of social workers regarding their preparedness to practice with children and families from minority ethnic backgrounds. Her presentation also explored the social workers’ views on whether the organisational policies, procedures and resources supported them to approach their work in a culturally competent way.
Nov 19, 2019
New paper by Eavan Brady and Prof Robbie Gilligan selected as journal Article of the Month
Congratulations to Eavan Brady and Prof. Robbie Gilligan whose recently published paper 'The Role of Agency in Shaping the Educational Journeys of Care-experienced Adults: Insights from a Life Course Study of Education and Care' in the journal Children and Society has been selected by the editors as Article of the Month (free access) https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.elib.tcd.ie/journal/10990860
Nov 19, 2019
PhD student Amy Stapleton addresses the European Conference ‘Youth for Human Rights: The role and potential of youth work for Human Rights Education mainstreaming'
PhD student Amy Stapleton was invited to represent the Childrens Research Network, TRICC and the international youth organisation Voices of Young Refugees in Europe (VYRE) at the European Conference ‘Youth for Human Rights: The role and potential of youth work for Human Rights Education mainstreaming'. The conference, which took place in Tallinn, Estonia on October 29th-30th, 2019, brought together more than 100 stakeholders from all over Europe, including Erasmus+ National Agencies, European institutions, local/regional/national authorities, universities, NGO’s, human rights education experts, trainers, youth workers and other stakeholders eager to contribute and commit to the mainstreaming of human rights education.
With the aim of strengthening the commitment and initiate human rights education (HRE) mainstreaming in youth work at local, national and European level, Amy discussed her experiences of good practice examples and challenges related to the potential for cross-sectoral cooperation. She also provided input on recommendations and commitments at local, regional, national and European level. The results of the conference will be conveyed as policy recommendations to be taken on board in youth programmes and youth policies’ development.
Nov 13, 2019
Inspiring Career's Evening For SocSocPol Sophister Students
BA Sociology and Social Policy Course Director, Asst Prof Dr Catherine Conlon hosted a very successful career’s evening for Sophister students on the course last Thursday Nov 7th. Virtually the full complement of 3rd and 4th year students turned out for the evening when seven graduate alumni from years stretching between 2004 and 2019 presented details of career trajectories since graduation.
A truly inspiring set of trajectories were set out taking in the UN; the Web Summit; St Vincent De Paul; the Central Bank; Centre for Effective Services; Focus Ireland; School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice UCD, Concrete Roadstone Holdings, Special Advisor to Office of the Tanaiste; Australia’s Fair Work Commission, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Comreg and even more.
This was alongside Masters in areas including Applied Social Research, Public Policy and Environmental Policy as well as multiple PhDs!
Our seven graduate alumni of the programme were highly engaging and had real gems of advice for current students including self-care during fourth year, the importance of carefully researching graduate programmes and of carefully researching new directions in social policy as well as helpful guidance on funding sources for graduate studies. The careful thought required before embarking on a PhD programme was emphasised, as well as the rewards a doctoral programme offers. A particular nugget of advice for students is that the job they may hold in five years’ time may not even exist now so careful assessment of policy and political trends now can mean they anticipate new areas and position themselves to be leaders and ground breakers in emerging policy related careers.
A gap year between degree and post-graduate study had served many well in allowing them to do careful stock-taking of trends and programmes as well as useful stock-piling of savings! Drawing out transferable skills from the programme and paying attention to soft skills as well as more explicit skills generated during the programme was further valuable advice alumni shared.
Pizza’s supplied by School of Social Work and Social Policy (thanks Steph!) kept student’s munching on the night and the high turnout of both third- and fourth-year students is testament to the high level of engagement of students on the course and student’s concerns to turn their hard-earned degrees into worthwhile careers. Our only regret is that we forgot to engage a photographer for the evening! We are extremely grateful to the follow graduates who spoke on the night and hope to welcome them back again: Dr Laura Bambrick (class of 2004); Sarah Parker MA (class of 2010); Dr Catherine O’Dare (class of 2014); Rob Kiernan MA and Aine Tubridy MA (class of 2016); Stephen Carty MA (class of 2017); Megan Carroll (class of 2018) and Niall Costello (class of 2019).
Nov 11, 2019
Symposium on Human Rights and Dementia
A one day Symposium on the topic of Human Rights and Dementia hosted by the School of Social Work and Social Policy took place in Trinity’s Long Room Hub on Friday November 8th. The theme of the Symposium was disability dementia and human rights and the one day event involved international and national speakers. The keynote address was given by Professor Steve Sabat, Emeritus Professor of Psychology from Georgetown University, Washington DC. His address was followed by a powerful presentation from Dr Helen Rochford Brennan, a person with young onset dementia who reminded the packed audience that: ‘the State thinks its okay for me to have a right to live in a nursing home but not to have a right to live in my own home’ and later: ‘everyone wants a person living with dementia on their (research) project or panel but engagement is only meaningful if the decision-making power is shared’.
Symposium organizer Professor Suzanne Cahill from the School said: The theme of this symposium has been carefully selected as conventionally dementia is seen as a syndrome caused by a disease and not as a disability or a disability/human rights issue. While the disease framing compels us to think about plaques and tangles, brain scans, drugs, passivity and tragedy, the human rights framework is based on human dignity, autonomy, citizenship, participation and personhood. It requires governments to treat all people fairly and never to discriminate.
The rights-based approach is not exclusive and builds on health, medicine, nursing, disability, law, engineering and bioethics among other areas. The Symposium attracted over 70 delegates who came from a wide range of professional backgrounds including Social Work and Social Policy, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Architecture, Engineering, Psychology, Disability, Law and Medicine.
Nov 11, 2019
Professor Bill Flack from Bucknell University, USA will give Seminar on Reporting Sexual Misconduct on College Campuses
The School of Social Work and Social Policy, in partnership with The Counselling Service, is delighted to welcome Bill Flack, Professor of Psychology from Bucknell University, USA. Bill’s research is aimed at understanding and eliminating sources of psychological trauma, especially campus based sexual assault and other forms of gender-based violence.
Professor Flack is facilitating a seminar on Wednesday 13th November from 18.00-19.00 in the Trinity Long Room Hub, focusing on the management of disclosure and reporting of sexual misconduct on the University campus. The seminar will appeal to anyone who has an interest in Consent, sexuality politics, campus discipline, First responders to sexual misconduct, sexuality and relationships etc. Places are free but limited so booking early is advised.
Nov 11 2019
Dr. Paula Mayock delivers Keynote at Focus Ireland’s 2019 Annual Conference
Focus Ireland’s 2019 annual conference – Ending Youth Homelessness: Practice, Policy and Campaigning – took place in the RDS on Thursday, October 24th. Dr. Paula Mayock delivered the keynote speech in a paper entitled ‘Young People in the Shadows of Policy and Service Responses to Homelessness’. Drawing on the findings of her research on youth homelessness in Ireland conducted over the past 15 years, which includes two qualitative longitudinal studies, Dr. Mayock’s paper highlighted the need to radically reform and re-structure policy and service responses to youth homelessness.
She is photographed here with two other speakers: Mike Allen, Director of Advocacy, Focus Ireland and Kate Polston, CEO of the Rock Foundation in Scotland.
See Irish Times coverage here.
29 Oct, 2019
Peer support as a new approach to combating loneliness and depression in long-term care
Nursing home residents suffering from loneliness and depression may benefit from peer-mentoring programs, according to new findings published in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. The research team, rehabilitation experts from the University of British Columbia and long-term care policy expertise at Trinity College Dublin (Prof. Virpi Timonen) found significant decreases in depression and loneliness scores of residents six months after a peer-mentoring program was implemented in care facilities in Canada. Peer-mentoring may provide an opportunity for people living in long-term care homes to contribute in a purposeful way and improve their mental health and quality of life. Developing quality relationships in long-term care settings is currently difficult, despite the available social programs and support from staff. Residents who are lonely may benefit from the meaningful connections made through helping others, facilitated through peer-mentoring programmes.
Theurer, K., Stone, R. I., Suto, M. J., Timonen, V., Brown, S. G., & Mortenson, W. B. (2019) Reducing loneliness and depression: The power of peer mentoring in long-term care. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association - JAMDA DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2019.08.011
The study findings also feature on news media, including:
29 Oct, 2019
SoCaTel Hackathon on Transforming Ageing on the 15 & 16 November
As part of the SoCaTel project, Virpi Timonen and Luciana Lolich are inviting students (social work, social policy & community nursing) to join us at the SoCaTel Hackathon on Transforming Ageing on the 15 & 16 November. Students are welcome to help us respond to queries about current health and social care services as part of the onsite support provided
The SoCaTel project has engaged with a range of people who have an interest in older adults’ long term care services. Over a recent two week period, health care professionals, nurses, care assistants, older persons, researchers and policy makers co-created on SoCaTel’s online platform potential ideas to influence the future development of older persons’ services.
The Hackathon is organised as a contest between multi-skilled teams, the winner of which will have conceptualised and developed the best prototype of the ideas put forward on the SoCaTel online platform
Please visit the link below for more information:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/transforming-ageing-socatel-hackathon-registration-77800394073?utm_term=eventurl_text
23 Oct, 2019
School hosts public seminar on Reproductive Justice and Sexual Rights: Transnational Perpsectives
The School of Social Work and Social Policy, TCD in conjunction with the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice UCD hosted Prof Tanya Bahkru, San Jose State University and Dr Kate Antosik Parsons, NCAD for a public seminar on Reproductive Justice and Sexual Rights: Transnational Perpsectives in TRiSS Seminar Room, on October 3rd 2019. Prof Bakhru’s book Reproductive Justice and Sexual Rights. Transnational Perspectives was launched at the event.
08 Oct, 2019
Congratulations to Nerilee Ceatha, graduate of the Masters in Applied Social Research and lead author of an article published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Congratulations to Nerilee Ceatha, who is lead author of an article published recently in a Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health focusing on‘Health and Wellbeing in Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity’.
Her co-authors are Dr. Paula Mayock, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work and Social Policy, TCD; Prof. Jim Campbell, School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, UCD; Dr. Chris Noone, School of Psychology, NUIG; and Prof. Kath Browne, School of Geography, UCD.
Nerilee is a graduate of the Masters in Applied Social Research (2015) and is currently doing a PhD at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin.
To read this article click here
02 Oct, 2019
Congratulations to Head of School, Professor Stephanie Holt on completing the Great Dublin Bike Ride raising funds for the Postgraduate Student hardship fund.
01 Oct, 2019
Congratulations to Amy Stapleton on presenting on the main stage at PROBE: Research Uncovered at Trinity College Dublin
Congratulation to Amy Stapleton on presenting on the main stage at PROBE: Research Uncovered at Trinity College Dublin. The title of the presentation was Sharing our Stories. Aged-out Separated Children's Experiences of Life in France.
01 Oct, 2019
A Symposium on Dementia and Human Rights
As part of the Continuing Professional Development Course, The School of Social Work and Social Policy, TCD is delighted to host A Symposium on Dementia and Human Rights which will take place in the Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin on November 8th 2019. Full details can be found here
18 Sep, 2019
Seminar: Reproductive Justice and Sexual Rights: Transnational Perspectives
The School of Social Work and Social Policy, TCD in conjunction with the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice UCD are delighted to host a public seminar on Reproductive Justice and Sexual Rights: Transnational Perspectives in TRiSS Seminar Room, 6th Floor Arts Building at 4-6pm on October 3rd 2019.
All Welcome!
For further information contact Dr Catherine Conlon on conlonce@tcd.ie
18 Sep, 2019
FREE PUBLIC LECTURE: The Age of Inquiry: Historical Inquiries into Institutional Child Abuse in Comparative Perspective- October 3, 2019
Thursday, October 3rd, 6pm-8pm Room 3074, Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin
The Age of Inquiry: Historical Inquiries into Institutional Child Abuse in Comparative Perspective
Speaker:
Dr. Katie Wright, Department of Social Inquiry, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
This public lecture will map the rise of inquiries into historical institutional child abuse – over time and across countries – to better understand the form and remit of different inquiries, to illuminate global trends and national differences and to contextualise the Irish experience of Inquiry.
Respondents:
Dr. Sarah-Anne Buckley, Department of History, National University of Ireland, Galway
Dr. James Gallen, School of Law and Government, Dublin City University
Professor Patricia Lundy, School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, University of Ulster
Chair:
Professor Eoin O’Sullivan, School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin
Reserve your place for free here
18 Sep, 2019
Second Event in the Autumn/Winter CPD series begins October 8th 2019
the School of Social Work and Social in collaboration with Clanwilliam Institute will begin a 4 week lecture series on 8th October titled:
*A Systemic Approach to working with Fathers and Men: Evening Lecture Series*
This lecture series is designed for professionals who would like to develop or enhance their skills in working with families.
In this short course you will learn to reflect, consider and learn some theory about working clinically with families. This course will encourage you to consider the relational environment of families’ lives and relationships and your own approach to family work.
Full details available here
16 Sep, 2019
**Next Intake November 4th 2019 Registration closed October 21st 2019**
See here for details22 Aug, 2019
We are hiring for two Social Work posts
The School is delighted to announce that we are hiring for two Social Work posts. The first is an Assistant Professor in Social Work (Full-Time Tenure Track). The second post is an Assistant Professor in Social Work & Practice Learning Coordinator (Part-time 0.7 FTE Tenure Track).
For more details on the vacancies and how to apply please click here
21 Aug, 2019
Grandparenting research referenced by the New York Times
A recent article in the New York Times refers to research by Virpi Timonen, and Trinity colleagues Christine McGarrigle and Richard Layte, on the topic of intensive grandparenting.
The NY Times article can be accessed here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/23/well/family/when-grandparents-help-hold-it-all-together.html#click=https://t.co/l9eWN3JudD
The journal article, titled “Choice and Constraint in the Negotiation of the Grandparent Role: A Mixed-Methods Study” can be accessed here:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774728/
20 Aug, 2019
Continuing Professional Development - In-house
The School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin is pleased to launch its 2019 Autumn/Winter In-house CPD programme which offers a diverse range of CPD seminars and events. This programme builds on the School's tradition of social work education, its successful Evening Lecture Series and online CPD programmes.
Through its CPD activities the School aims to provide social workers and professionals in health and social care settings with up-to-date, evidence-based knowledge to enhance their practice.
The first seminar in our Autumn/Winter series takes place Friday 6th September 10am-1pm, Robert Emmet Theatre, Arts Block, TCD. With both domestic and international presenters, the focus of this first seminar is on ‘Addressing Complexity in Domestic Violence Practice’.
For more information on this seminar and speakers along with information on registration see here. We hope to see you on the Trinity College Dublin campus this Autumn and Winter.
13 Aug, 2019
Congratulations to Eavan Brady and Robbie Gilligan on their recently published articles.
Assistant Professor Eavan Brady and Professor Robbie Gilligan have recently published two co-authored articles based on the findings of Eavan’s PhD research which was supervised by Professor Gilligan.
The first article entitled ‘Exploring diversity in the educational pathways of care-experienced adults: Findings from a life course study of education and care’ was published in Children and Youth Services Review and can be accessed for free until 16th August 2019 here
The second article entitled ‘Supporting care-experienced adults' educational journeys: 'Linked lives' over the life course’ was published in Child & Family Social Work. For more information, click here01 Aug, 2019
Congratulations to Virpi Timonen and Luciana Lolich on the publication of article in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work
Virpi Timonen and Luciana Lolich have published a new article in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work published by Taylor and Francis. The article entitled “The Poor Carer”: Ambivalent Social Construction of the Home Care Worker in Elder Care Services, examines the social construction of the home care worker from the perspective of various professionals in the elder care sector in Ireland. For more information, please visit:
https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/EX4VKS6FPRIVH9CS4DNN/full?target=10.1080/01634372.2019.1640334
22nd July, 2019
Congratulations to Virpi Timonen and Luciana Lolich on the publication of article in the Journal Technological Forecasting & Social Change
Congratulations to Virpi Timonen and Luciana Lolich who have just published an article in Technological Forecasting & Social Change journal, titled: Embracing technology? Health and Social Care professionals' attitudes to the deployment of e-Health initiatives in elder care services in Catalonia and Ireland. This article examines health and social care professionals' views, acceptance and resistance to e-health initiatives in elder care in Ireland and Catalonia (Spain). It aims to give an insight into the kinds of enablers and barriers that professionals encounter and anticipate when thinking about and trying to work with technologies intended to improve care services administration and delivery. For more information please visit: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1ZPEV98SGeqBU to obtain free access to the article until the 5th September 2019.
Parts of this article relate to the H2020 SoCaTel Project. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant Agreement No 769975.
18th July, 2019