All TIGALA Guardians ad Litem have a minimum of 10 years’ experience working with children and families.
Our Guardians ad Litem
Our Trusted Experts
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Suzanne Maguire
Guardian ad Litem
Summary
Suzanne has been a Guardian ad Litem and Independent Social Worker since July 2018. Alongside this, Suzanne has also been providing both individual and group mentoring to Tigala Guardians ad Litem since 2022. Suzanne is a Professionally Qualified Social Worker accredited by the National Social Work Qualification Board since 2006. Suzanne has also worked in the area of Child Protection, Children in Care, Fostering and Leaving and Aftercare for over 16 years. Suzanne has experience as a Social Work Team Leader and Acting Principal Social Worker dealing with children at risk in the community and children in care with complex needs.
Suzanne 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. Suzanne has experience working with the PSNI conducting joint protocol investigations into allegations of child abuse, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.
Suzanne has completed Dyadic Developmental Practice Level 1: which is a trauma informed response to working with children who have experienced adversity in their lives. Suzanne has also completed the Meaning of the Child Training which is a method of understanding the parent child relationship, through evaluating the way parents think about their children.
As a Guardian ad Litem, Suzanne has been appointed to cases in relation to applications under the Child Care Act 1991, Special Care, Separated Children Seeking Asylum, Section 25 of the Mental Health Act 2001. Suzanne has also worked with children and adults who are subject to wardship proceedings.
Suzanne receives regular clinical mentoring, attends regular conferences and is committed to ongoing professional development. Suzanne is fully Garda vetted and is a member of CORU and NAGALRO.
Qualifications
2023 – 2024 | Specialist Diploma in Developmental Trauma /The Greenane Centre - Accredited by Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
2004 – 2005 | Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work, University of Ulster
1996 – 2000 | BSc (Hons) in Social Care, Sligo IT
Further Education and Training
2020 – Present | Monthly Sessions/Tigala Training and Development Programme
2022 | The Healing Power of Play, Supporting Children to Heal from Trauma - Joanna Fortune
2021 | Narrative Training – Dr. William Coman.
2021 | Using an attachment and trauma perspective in family visit settings with Ms Aoife Bairead
2020 | Meaning of the Child Training with Dr. Ben Grey and Ms. Juliet Kavastan.
2019 | Dyadic Developmental Practice - Ms Kim Goulding
Employment History
November 2023 | West of Ireland Tigala Conference Lead
2022– Present | TIGALA Mentor
2018 – Present | Independent Guardian ad Litem, The Independent Guardian Ad Litem Agency
2018 – Present | Independent Social Worker for High Court Wardship proceedings
2016 – 2017 | Acting Principal Social Worker Alternative Care, TUSLA Sligo, Leitrim, West Cavan
2013 – 2016 | Child Protection Team Leader, TUSLA, Dublin North Central
2009 – 2013 | Child Protection Social Worker, HSE, Dublin North Central
2009 | Senior Social Work Practitioner, Western Health and Social Care Trust Northern Ireland, Child Protection, Fermanagh
2005 – 2009 | Social Work Practitioner Child Protection, Western Health and Social Care Trust Northern Ireland, Fermanagh
2003 – 2004 | Women’s Aid, Child Care Worker, Fermanagh
Working with children who are experiencing attachment difficulties due to adverse childhood experiences or as a result of multiple caregivers.
Assessment of Access
Parental Intellectual disability in child protection
Non-accidental injury in children
Child Sexual Abuse
Wardship
Suzanne Maguire
Guardian ad Litem
