Under the Aegis: Dr. Niall Reynolds Shares the Key to Success as a Guardian ad Litem

Discover Dr. Niall Reynolds’ commitment to relational practice in child advocacy. Learn how his experience working across the whole continuum of care informs his role as a Guardian ad Litem at TIGALA.

Dr. Niall Reynolds, a dedicated Guardian ad Litem with TIGALA, brings over 20 years of experience in child protection and welfare systems. His career began in secure care, and he has since worked across the entire continuum of care, including community services. This extensive experience has equipped him to handle various care orders, from supervision to secure care orders.

I think that in order to be able to convey the wishes and feelings of a child to the court, you have to get to know them on a meaningful level – that’s a much more ethical practice.

Niall emphasises the importance of relational practice in his work, focusing on building meaningful relationships with young people in care. “I think that’s a much more ethical practice in terms of, in order to be able to convey the wishes and feelings of a child to the court, you have to get to know them on a meaningful level,” he explains. This approach allows him to advocate effectively for children by understanding their needs and wishes deeply.

Often, Niall is appointed to cases where children are experiencing significant trauma, such as being removed from their family homes or losing their residential placements. He finds immense reward in witnessing the progress these children make over time, whether they become more settled in their placements or are reunified with their families. His dedication to building trust and fostering positive trajectories for these children is central to his role as a Guardian ad Litem with TIGALA.

In Niall’s view, the role of a Guardian ad Litem is not just about legal advocacy; it’s about being present for children during some of the most challenging times in their lives. “Often when I get appointed to a case, it varies, but sometimes children can be at a really desperate stage. They’ve just been taken out of their family home.

They could be already in a residential placement and have lost their residential placement,” Niall shares. “When I come into a child’s life, they’re going through a particular type of trauma, and to watch then how they progress and the trajectory that they take over a period of time to becoming sometimes more settled in their placements and/or reunification with their family, can be a massive reward for the job.”

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In line with the Practice Principles which all TIGALA Guardian's agree to adhere to, Niall's approach is rooted in ethical practice, prioritising the establishment of genuine connections with children to ensure their voices are authentically represented in court. By getting to know the children on a personal level, Niall can better convey their wishes and feelings, providing a more accurate and compassionate representation in legal proceedings.