newsletter
SCHOOL OF
Social Work & Social Policy
2017/18
WELCOME A warm welcome to this edition of our School of Social Work and Social Policy’s newsletter, a very pleasant first task as I take up the position of Head of School! While the continued financial crisis in higher education continues to challenge us in many ways, this edition celebrates our response to that challenge, with continued innovation in teaching, commendable achievements in research and ongoing enthusiasm and commitment to new initiatives and partnerships, domestically and internationally. I’d like to draw your attention to some of those highlights.
My final task is to pay tribute to our outgoing Head of School, Eoin O’Sullivan, for a stalwart seven years of service, during which time he promoted growth in the School despite the challenge of austerity, and perhaps most importantly, never lost his characteristic sense of humour. We thank you all for your continued involvement in the school and encourage your contributions and input as we enter a new academic year.
The first article in this edition is reflective of our achievements in research, with a prestigious Provost Award awarded to Assistant Professor Paula Mayock. With a very strong track record in successfully supervising Ph.D. students and an internationally reputed expert in longitudinal qualitative research, the successful candidate will have a much sought after opportunity to work with Paula on the very topical issue of ‘Migrant Homelessness in Europe’. Across both disciplines of social work and social policy, our School continues to engage students to develop a comprehensive knowledge base and skill set to prepare them for their graduate careers. We believe that this foundation supports our graduates to successfully pursue their professional careers in Ireland and internationally and to return to continued education with us. Pioneers of online education across the University, our innovation in teaching and learning is evidenced in our highly sought after Postgraduate Diploma in Social Policy and Practice, the University’s first fully online postgraduate programme. With both online education and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) key elements of the University’s strategy, we have combined these two goals in offering new and innovative pathways into the Trinity Educational Experience.
Professor Stephanie Holt
Head of the School of Social Work and Social Policy
Newsletter 2017 – 2018
Teacher Training Workshops on Inclusive Education in South West China
Dr Edurne Garcia Iriarte with attendees at one of the workshops
The workshop Valuing Learner Diversity, the first of five workshops for the Project INCLUTE, was facilitated by Dr Edurne Garcia Iriarte from the School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity. The workshop was assisted by Genevieve Ruiz O’Sullivan (M.Sc. in Disability Studies graduate) and Youkun Shen (School of Social Work and Social Policy incoming Ph.D. student). From June 16th to 19th, 49 university lecturers from four Chinese universities (Southwest University, Guangxi Normal University, Tibet University for Nationalities and Sichuan Normal University) gathered at Guangxi Normal University in Guilin to participate in the workshop. The workshop focused on inclusive education, diversity and the educator’s role in systems change. From
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July to September 2017, four other workshops will be delivered by the other European partners of the INCLUTE project (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon and University of Bath). INCLUTE is the first Erasmus programme coordinated by a Chinese University, South West University of China. The project aims to develop inclusive education through curriculum development and teacher education in China. The project objectives are: •
To examine the development of inclusive practices in Chinese social and educational contexts
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To strengthen teacher’s competence/ skills on inclusive education in Chinese universities
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To design and develop a continuous training curriculum at postgraduate level on inclusion for primary school teachers
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To create an inclusive international education network on inclusive education
Dr Edurne Garcia Iriarte is the coordinator of INCLUTE at Trinity and she can be contacted at iriartee@tcd.ie For more information about INCLUTE, see www.inclute.eu
SCHOOL OF
Social Work & Social Policy
Assistant Professor Paula Mayock Awarded Provost Scholarship will be advertised for Ph.D. research linked to a project entitled Migrant Homelessness in Ireland: A Mixed Methods Study. The successful applicant will be fully funded for a four-year period (covering EU or non-EU fees and an annual stipend of €16,000), to work with Paula in her role as Principal Investigator of the research. The scholar will be selected through a competitive process and will register as a Ph.D. student at the School of Social Work and Social Policy in September 2018.
Assistant Professor Paula Mayock
Congratulations to Assistant Professor Paula Mayock, who has been awarded one of the prestigious Provost Scholarship Awards, a new University initiative designed to fund a selected number of Ph.D. scholarships across all faculties. As one of just 40 projects awarded funding college-wide, a scholarship
Dr Mayock has led several research projects on homelessness over the past ten years and has published widely on the topic. She is very experienced in the conduct of longitudinal qualitative research and has a particular interest in biographical and ethnographic research methods. Dr Mayock’s research on homelessness has a strong policy focus, particularly in relation to prevention, early intervention and Housing First initiatives.
Ph.D. Candidate Sarah Parker Wins Dean of Research Award at Multidisciplinary Research Showcase
Sarah Parker
Congratulations to Ph.D. Candidate Sarah Parker, who won the first place Dean of Research Award at the Multidisciplinary Research Showcase held by the Graduate Student’s Union as part of Love Research Week 2018. From the fourteen delegates chosen to present across all disciplines college-wide, Sarah’s poster entitled ‘Making Sense of the Homelessness Crisis: Using a Mixed Methods Approach to Examine Patterns of Family Homelessness in the Dublin Region’ was selected as the best entry by the newly appointed Dean of Research, Professor Linda Doyle. Sarah’s research is
supervised by Assistant Professor Paula Mayock and supported by a Government of Ireland Scholarship awarded by the Irish Research Council. Using a sequential mixed methods approach, her study seeks to examine families’ trajectories through and out of homelessness over time. A core aim is to advance understanding of family homelessness and help bridge the gap between theory, research and practice in homelessness prevention, policy planning and service delivery for families experiencing homelessness and housing exclusion.
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Newsletter 2017 – 2018
Trinity Research in Childhood Centre Annual Lecture of these processes as realised across the life-course. We have an exemplary record in innovative and impactful childhood research in Trinity, with TRiCC building on the foundational work of the Children’s Research Centre (the CRC was established in 1996 as an initiative of the Schools of Psychology and Social Work and Social Policy). TRiCC develops the original CRC vision in promoting interdisciplinary research across Trinity Schools and Faculties.
Trinity Research in Childhood Centre (TRiCC) launched their new website (www.tcd. ie/tricc) on 31st January and welcomed Sir Michael Marmot to give the inaugural annual lecture on 5th February.
TRiCCs mission is to integrate and promote research in all aspects of childhood and in children’s biological, psychological, cognitive, and socio-emotional development, health and well-being, including the later expression
The aim of TRiCC is to promote Trinity as a centre of excellence in childhood research via the production of high level research and gathering of knowledge and skills to contribute to the improvement of children’s health, wellbeing, development and learning. One of our objectives is to be an inclusive research centre. So if you are a Trinity researcher in any aspect of childhood or study the later outcomes of childhood developmental experiences in adult health and social circumstance, we would be delighted to welcome you as a member of TRiCC.
New book on Responding to Domestic Violence countries share their findings from new groundbreaking victim surveys, and weigh up the legal, social and healthcare challenges. The issues addressed include: •
the cultural challenges of combating abuse forms most prevalent in migrant communities such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage;
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emerging problems such as child-to-parent violence, teenage relationship violence and digital intimate partner abuse; and
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barriers to help-seeking faced by marginalised victims such as LGBTQ and older people.
Professor Stephanie Holt
Professor Stephanie Holt’s recently completed book offers a critical overview of established and emerging manifestations of domestic violence across Europe. It describes how countries within and outside the EU are responding to the problem in policy, practice and research. Eminent academics and professionals from a range of European
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By showcasing the most effective responses formulated in Europe and exploring innovative ways to research and understand domestic violence, this book is a crucial resource for all those with responsibility for implementing social policy and good practice.
The book also features a chapter by fellow faculty member Dr Gloria Kirwan.
SCHOOL OF
Social Work & Social Policy
Social Work and Social Policy faculty lead HSE report The research explored parents communication with younger children aged four to nine years about relationships, sexuality and growing up. The study found that while different parents approach communicating with their younger children about relationships, sexuality and growing up in different ways, parents generally considered it to be a difficult or tricky topic and one that did not come easy to them. This was mostly attributed to the culture that prevailed as parents themselves were growing up. Parents overwhelmingly reported wanting to be able to have open and honest conversations with their children but felt a lack of confidence in doing this. They reported wanting to have the skills to be an effective and reassuring source of information, guidance and support for their children, but many feel unprepared to do this and would welcome support.
Last month the HSE published a research report ‘Supporting Parents Communicating with Children Aged 4–9 Years about
Relationships, Sexuality and Growing Up’ led by Dr Catherine Conlon with Professor Virpi Timonen and Georga Dowling.
The research report ‘Supporting Parents Communicating with Children Aged 4–9 Years about Relationships, Sexuality and Growing Up’ and associated research summary are available to download from www.sexualwellbeing.ie
New Staff Eavan Brady joined the School of Social Work and Social Policy as an Assistant Professor in 2016. Eavan holds a masters degree in social work, a higher diploma in psychology, and a bachelor of arts degree, all from Trinity. Prior to joining the School of Social Work & Social Policy, Eavan worked in the homelessness, housing, and mental health sectors in both Dublin and Toronto, Canada. Eavan also spent two years working with Practice and Research Together in Toronto where she was heavily involved in supporting staff in child welfare agencies across Canada to use evidence-informed practices in their work. Eavan Brady
youth and adults with experience of the child welfare and care systems. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. exploring the educational pathways of adults who were in out-of-home care in Ireland. Eavan teaches psychology and research modules to students on the Masters in Social Work and Batchelor in Social Studies programmes. Eavan is currently a Board member of Breaking Through CLG and a member of the Irish Aftercare Network Committee.
Eavan’s research interests relate to the education and well-being of children,
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Newsletter 2017 – 2018
New School of Social work and Social Policy Scholar Congratulations to BSS Senior Fresh student Orla Keegan on being selected as a 2018 Scholar. In order to become a Scholar, Orla studied for special exams in January in addition to keeping up with her usual course work and demonstrated in depth knowledge and understanding of her subjects. The scholarship is the most prestigious undergraduate award in the country, awarded to students of outstanding ability.
Orla Keegan (2nd from left) celebrating with her family following the New Scholars and Fellows announcement by the Provost
SoCaTel - Catering to the Needs of a Growing Ageing European Population Dr Luciana Lolich is a post-doctoral fellow at the School of Social Work and Social Policy in Trinity. She is working with Professor Virpi Timonen on the EU funded Horizon 2020 project SoCaTel. The SoCaTel project proposes an approach that will cater to the needs of the growing ageing populations in Europe by improving the accessibility, responsiveness, efficiency, transparency and transferability of social and care services. It aims to address gaps in the area of social welfare and social services by introducing a multi-stakeholder platform for the co-creation, and later deployment, of longterm care services. The SoCaTel project comprises of 3 main stages:
Dr Luciana Lolich
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1.
The design and creation of a digital cocreation platform via a set of co-creation workshops
2.
Co-creation of public services within the realm of Long-Term Care services
3.
Service publishing and impact assessment on open source platforms, supported by extensive change management activities
The team are currently at the earlier stages of the project collecting data through focus groups with service providers (nurses, social workers, GPs, carers) and service users. So far, 16 focus groups have been organised and the data coding process has begun. The next step in the project is conducting the co-creation workshops with service users, providers, people from industry and academics.
SCHOOL OF
Social Work & Social Policy
Interview with Alumna – Laura Bambrick I had never heard of social policy before starting my course but, from the first lecture its relevance for me, my family and community was obvious. I learned to question everything. These analytical skills would later allow me to influence policy making at the highest levels. It wasn’t all plain sailing. My first assignment was a 1,500 word essay. I was overwhelmed but Trinity offers excellent supports to students. Essay writing tutorials were arranged with Sr. de Montfort Supple, who had pioneered clinic speech and language education in Ireland. 10 years after we first met, Sister Marie proofread my 80,000 word Ph.D. thesis! Where did you go after Trinity? After Trinity, I completed a Masters and Ph.D. in Social Policy at the University of Oxford. In Senior Sophister, the current Head of School, Eoin O’Sullivan had advised me to look at postgraduate courses in the UK and US. Eoin, Tony McCashin, Suzanne Cahill and Simon Brooke went above and beyond to help me with Oxford and scholarship applications. Long after I graduated, they continue to provide support and advice. Can you tell us about your career path? I have worked in the Office of the Assistant Secretary General at the United Nations Headquarters in New York; in the Social Justice and Policy Unit of the Society of Vincent de Paul National Office; in the Minister’s Office in the Department of Social Protection and in the Office of the Tánaiste. In January, I took up the post of Social Policy Officer with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Dr Laura Bambrick
Dr Laura Bambrick B.A. Sociology and Social Policy (2004) Social Policy Officer, Irish Congress of Trade Unions What opportunities did you get during your time in Trinity? I lived a twenty-minute bus ride from Trinity but I had never been inside Front Gate until Freshers’ Week in 1996. Ballyfermot had, and continues to have, the lowest rate of school leavers going on to third level. It is
little surprise then that when I first arrived in Trinity it was as a worker, not a student. I loved Trinity at first sight. I spent four happy years working in the Student Union shop in House Six. Getting to know the SU officers and student staff, hearing about their studies and future plans, I began to feel I was missing out. Encouraged by my new friends, I applied and was offered a place. The SU was incredibly supportive, allowing me to work flexitime to fund my studies.
What role did Trinity play in getting to where you are today? I came to Trinity as a shop assistant. Eight years later, I left for Oxford with a first class honors degree. Trinity changed the course of my life in giving me a world-class education and introducing me to an army of good and talented people who have supported me every step of the way.
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Events Trinity College Dublin will be involved with International Social Work and Social Development coming to Dublin in July. Over 2000 delegates are registered to attend with a number of school staff involved in the planning. Dr Gloria Kirwan will be on the organising committee
and Professor Stephanie Holt will be co-chairing the scientific committee. Scientific committee members also include Prof. Robbie Gilligan, Professor Trevor Spratt, and Dr Michael Feely. SWSD will be held from July 4-7 in the RDS. More info at www.swsd2018.org
Remember. The power of a legacy to Trinity There’s an old saying that the true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade one does not expect to sit. When you leave a legacy to Trinity however big or small, you’re planting a tree which will grow to provide shelter to many. You’re empowering ground-breaking research which will benefit people in Ireland and all over the world. You’re supporting students from all backgrounds to access a Trinity education. You’re helping preserve our unique campus and heritage for new generations.
Oregon Maple Library Square Planted early 1800s
When you remember Trinity in your will, you join a tradition of giving that stretches back over 400 years – and reaches far into the future. For more information about leaving a Legacy to Trinity, please contact Carmen Leon. T. +353 1 896 1714 E. carmen.leon@tcd.ie www.tcd.ie/development
Get Involved
Upcoming Alumni Events:
Class Notes
Trinity has a long tradition of outreach and community engagement. To find out about the numerous ways you can get involved with Trinity both at home and abroad, please visit www.tcd.ie/alumni/volunteer
Alumni Weekend 24 - 26 August 2018
Do you have any news or updates that you’d like to share with your fellow alumni? Submit your news with an image, subject of study and year of graduation to alumni@tcd.ie. For more information please visit www.tcd.ie/alumni
Other Events www.tcd.ie/alumni/events
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tcdalumni
School of Social Work & Social Policy Room 3063, Arts Building Trinity College Dublin 2, Ireland T. +353 (0)1 896 2001 E. socialwork.socialpolicy@tcd.ie tcdalumni