Marie is a Professionally Qualified Social Worker and has been working in the area of Children and Families since 2006.

Marie has worked with Children and Families from initial Child Protection risk assessments at the point of referral, to making long term plans for children who are in care. Her professional Social Work practice includes conducting risk assessments, parenting capacity assessments, managing a mixed caseload of children at risk in the community, children in care including foster care; residential care; special care; high support and therapeutic placements. She conducted investigations into allegations of child abuse, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. Marie was in the role of Team Leader for a Children in Care Team from 2013-2018.

Marie was seconded to the Southside Interagency Treatment Team (SIATT) for six years (2007-2013). SIATT works with adolescent males who have sexually abused, their Guardians and Carers.

Marie has been involved in managing complex cases, engaging with young people, families and other agencies. Marie has both brought and supervised applications to the High Court with regard to children in Special Care and has extensive experience working with and planning for young people in a Special Care setting.

Marie has been appointed by the District Court to Children in Care of all ages to represent their wishes and feelings in Court and to make independent enquiries and recommendations as to their needs and best interests. Marie has been appointed as Guardian ad Litem to children who have been detained under the Mental Health Act, 2001. In addition to this, Marie has completed ‘Voice of the Child’ reports as per the Family Relationships Act, 2015, to convey the views of children who are subject to Court proceedings in both the District Court and High Court. She has been appointed to children who are subject to wardship proceedings in the High Court. She has also completed comprehensive assessments under Section 47 of the Family Law Act, 1995 and presented them to both the District Court and High Court.

2004–2006 | Masters in Social Science (Social Work) (2.1 Hons) University College Dublin, NQSW Dissertation: “The role of Social Workers in facilitating a positive access experience for children in long term Foster Care and their Birth Parents”

‍2003 | Professional Certificate in Children and Loss, Irish Hospice Foundation (RCSI Accredited)

‍2000–2003 | BSocSc (Hons) Sociology and Social Policy, University College Dublin

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Professional Groups/Membership

Marie is fully registered with CORU

Member of the IASW

Member of NAGALRO Professional Association for Children’s Guardians, Family Court Advisers and Independent Social Workers

Member of Irish Attachment in Action (IAA)

Further Education and Training

2018–Present | Monthly Professional and Training Sessions with TIGALA

2020 | Training in Narrative Model for communicating with children about challenging issues (psychological pathways)

‍2019–2020 | The Healing Power of Play; Supporting Children and Teenagers to heal from Trauma, Joanna Fortune

‍2019 | Relational and Developmental Trauma, Dr Karen Treisman

‍2019 | Level One Theraplay Training

‍2019 | Marshak Interaction Method for observing and assessing the overall quality and nature of relationships between caregivers and a child

‍2012 | The Professional Cert in Children & Loss, Irish Hospice Foundation, Accredited by Royal College of Surgeons

‍2009–2010 | Contemporary Social Work Theory Course

Children and teenagers with complex needs and difficulties in engaging with professionals

Children who have been placed in Special Care

Children who have experienced sexual abuse

Working with parents who have intellectual disabilities and their children

Ongoing and regular training in Irish Sign Language

Supervisee and Supervision for Supervisors Training

Provided Student Social Workers from UCD and TCD with professional placements(2010-2017)