Child Protection and Foster Care: Sarah has over two decades of experience working with children in foster care, and ten years’ experience working with children involved in the child protection and welfare system. She has achieved an elevated level of proficiency in conducting parental capacity assessments, risk assessments and the preparation of court reports. Sarah has managed complex children in care placements including special care, childcare proceedings, and family reunifications.

Children Seeking Asylum: Sarah’s experience of working with children in foster care was enhanced when she worked for over five years with separated children seeking international protection. This practice experience expanded her skills to work in a culturally sensitive manner with different ethnic minority groups. Sarah has an in-depth knowledge of asylum legislation, and the process of seeking international protection for vulnerable unaccompanied minors. In her role as a team leader in this setting she managed the transition of this vulnerable cohort of children from hostel accommodation and direct provision to foster care. She managed the duty team and the reunification of children with their families.

Adoption Practice and Management: Sarah’s practice with children in foster care was uniquely enriched by the ten years that she worked in the adoption services. Sarah was as a social work team leader supervising fostering and adoption assessments. In addition, she was responsible for the completion of post placement assessments and support, transition plans for infants moving in pre-adoptive placements, permanency planning for children in care and managing complex Section 54 High Court cases. In this role Sarah also managed contact tracing and reunion work for adults who were placed for adoption or long-term fostering as children. This experience has developed her insight into the life-long impact of the separation of children from their families of origin.

Children with Disabilities: Outside of Sarah’s employment history she has eleven years of experience in advocating for children’s rights and supports in the area of disabilities. She has a keen interest in the delivery of health, therapeutic, educational, and social services for children with complex needs, in particular those with intellectual disabilities and autism. Sarah is a lead member in a voluntary advocacy group which engages with state offices in relation to children’ s rights and services. To aid more effective communication with children with intellectual disabilities Sarah has completed training in the Irish sign system Lámh and in the Hanen programme. She has experience in the use of Visual Supports and Assistive Technology and has completed additional training in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder from Middleton Autism Services, Down Syndrome Ireland and the HSE disability services. Sarah’s unique experience is particularly important to represent the voices of neurodiverse children involved in care proceedings.

Sarah’s Practice Approach: Sarah is deeply committed to children’s contact with their families wherever separation occurs ensuring safe and positive contact for children. Sarah’s practice is embedded in by attachment theory, children’s rights, and child-lead engagement.  She has trained as a Marte Meo Practitioner and is trained in Level 1 Theraplay and the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM). She has additional training in Non-Violent Resistance, connective, and therapeutic parenting. Her work is heavily influenced by such factors as the importance of attachment, the mitigation of risk in terms of loss and trauma in separations from primary caregivers and the life-long importance of the integration of identities for children removed from their families and/or primary caregivers.

Sarah’s practice employs a child centered approach to learn about children, and to advocate for their best interests. Sarah adapts her communication to the developmental stage of the child. She engages with children in meaningful ways to represent their voices in their proceedings. Sarah’s practice is inclusive of the child’s voice to ensure they are central to decisions in relation to their care and future. Sarah has developed expertise in representing the needs of children with social communication and speech and language disorders. Sarah is registered with CORU and Garda vetted.