Christina Canavan is a professionally qualified and CORU registered social worker. She has 18 years’ experience in working with children and families and in this time has had the opportunity to work across and gain valuable experience in a number of areas including child protection, child welfare, family support, children in care, fostering, medical social work and palliative care.

Christina has worked in two jurisdictions during her career to date and this has expanded her experience and knowledge in the field of social work practice. When in Canada, Christina had the opportunity to work as part of a newly developed project working alongside public health nurses and police officers as a multidisciplinary team. The team worked collaboratively and in partnership with community stakeholders to provide immediate and comprehensive risk assessment, risk mitigation, decision making and safely planning for infants age 0-3months who were at risk for abuse. As part of her role, Christina conducted investigations into allegations of child abuse and completed comprehensive risk assessments and managed complex children in care placements and family reunification plans.

Christina has extensive court experience both in Ireland and Canada. She has prepared detailed reports and assessments and given professional evidence. This experience allowed her to demonstrate her decision-making skills in complex legal and practice issues within Child Protection.

Christina has been an Independent Social Worker since 2023 and has undertaken General and Relative Fostering assessment for private agencies. Christina has also completed many Section 20 reports and within this work has ensured that the voice of the child is paramount.

One of Christina’s key strengths is building rapport with children and young people and ensuring that their wishes and feelings are heard in respect to decision making and in matters before the court. Christina strives to work in a collaborative and creative way to ensure the best outcomes for children and families.

Christina remains dedicated and committed to working with children and families and places the child at the centre of the decision making process.

2021 – 2022 | Postgraduate Diploma in Loss and Bereavement (Clinical Practice). RCSI, Dublin, Ireland.

2000 – 2004 | National Qualification of Social Work (NQSW), Ireland. Bachelor of Social Work, 2000-2004. Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

Further Education and Training

Monthly Professional and Training Sessions with TIGALA.

2024 | Children’s First – TUSLA

2022 | STORM Training in Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Mitigation Level 2

2021 | Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 Training

2012 | Cultural Diversity Training- Working with Indigenous peoples

2010 - 2011| Advanced Forensic Training in the Investigation of Child Abuse

2009 | Delegation Training Program- Alberta Child and Family Services

2008 | Drug Endangered Children Team Training.

2007 | Suicide Intervention and Prevention

Areas of Special Interest

Christina’s particular areas of interest are:

* Care planning for children in foster and residential care, including assessment of access and reunification planning

* Risk Assessments

* Attachment and developmental Trauma

* Loss and Grief for children in care

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Professional Membership

Christina Canavan is registered with CORU.

Christina Canavan is fully Garda Vetted.

Christina Canavan is a member of NAGALRO Professional Association for Children’s Guardians, Family Advisers.