Throughout Helen’s career, she has acquired extensive experience of working with vulnerable children and families, working in the child protection and welfare system which was constantly evolving during that time. Helen remains highly committed to ensuring the protection of children at risk.

Helen is proficient at conducting parental capacity assessments, pre-birth assessments, comprehensive family assessments, risk assessments, practice audits, case collaborative audits, ability to protect assessments, Signs of Safety assessments and formulating reunification plans.

Helen has extensive court experience both as a Social Worker and as a Social Work Team Leader. She has provided training to the social work team on court practice. She has considerable experience of completing comprehensive reports and assessments for the District Court and Circuit Court and given professional evidence for over ten years. Helen has provided training in report writing to the social work team. She has extensive experience of preparing social workers for giving evidence in Court.         

Helen has further contributed to the development of child protection services through child protection and children in care audits, advising on practice, policy and procedure development and through providing training. During Helen’s tenure as a social work team leader, she was a member of the child sexual abuse assessment oversight group, the child protection and welfare and governance group, and the child protection management auditing team.

Helen works in a child-centred manner placing emphasis on engaging with children in a meaningful way, while working in collaboration with families and professionals to bring about positive outcomes. Helen places the paramount importance on the wishes and feelings of the child when carrying out assessments while looking at the child’s world holistically to ensure the best possible outcomes for children. Helen is registered with CORU with full Garda clearance.