Lyn Dorney, Project Coordinator, NPTSWI

Project Coordinator of the National Practice Teaching in Social Work Initiative

Lyn is a professionally qualified, CORU registered social worker and holds a postgraduate qualification in practice teaching (social work).  Lyn is an experienced tutor and practice teacher.  Lyn teaches on the undergraduate social work course  in the School of Applied Social Studies in UCC and has 18 years of experience working as a social worker across a diverse range of areas.  Her teaching and learning interests include social work skills and practice teaching and learning. 

Contact Lyn at lyn.dorney@ucc.ie 

Jean Byrne Cummins 

Professional Practice & Development Coordinator for Postgraduate Masters in Social Work Course, National University Maynooth.   

Jean works as part of the Core Social Work Team at Maynooth University. Jean has vast experience in practice as a professionally qualified, Coru registered Social Worker.  Prior to moving to Maynooth University Jean worked in Education Welfare, Child Protection, Children in Care, Fostering and Child Abuse Substantiation Procedures.   

Jean is also an experienced Practice Teacher and Tutor to Social Work Students on practice placement.  Jean’s teaching and research interests include, Education Welfare, Practice Teaching, Professional Development and Supervision in Social Work Practice. 

Contact Jean at  Jean.byrnecummins@mu.ie 

Brenda Feeney

Programme Director of the MA in Social Work in Atlantic Technological University

Brenda is a Practice Education Coordinator and Lecturer in social work and a professionally qualified and registered social worker, with extensive experience in social work practice. Brenda worked as an Independent social work Consultant. Brenda is currently engaged in Doctoral studies at Queens University, Belfast.

Contact Brenda at brenda.feeney@atu.ie 

Eleanor Kelly

Lecturer and Practice Learning Coordinator on the Master's in Social Work Programme, University of Galway.

Prior to joining the University of Galway in 2019, Eleanor was a Principal social worker in a CAMHS service and has worked in social work for over 30 years. Eleanor completed her Masters in Systemic Psychotherapy in 2014. Eleanor’s teaching and research areas of interest are practice teaching and learning and the continuing professional development of social work practice.

Contact Eleanor at eleanor.kelly@universityofgalway.ie

Dr Erna O'Connor

Assistant Professor of Social Work and Practice Education Coordinator, TCD

Prior to joining the university Erna worked as a social worker in drug treatment and HIV services and a social work team leader in hospital-based social work. Her teaching and research interests include practice teaching and learning, health-related social work, reflective and relationship-based practice and transnational social work.

Contact Erna at erna.oconnor@tcd.ie 

Paula Slavin

Placements Allocations Manager with the Professional Masters in Social Work Programme, UCD

Paula has 20+ years of experience in practice as a professionally qualified CORU registered social worker. Paula works with the Director of Professional Practice and together with the Senior Programme Manager form the School’s Practice Learning Team.

Contact Paula at paula.slavin@ucd.ie 

Joanne Rose

Professional Placement Coordinator at the School of Applied Social Studies, UCC

Joanne is a CORU registered social worker with postgraduate qualifications in social policy, social work, advanced fieldwork practice and supervision (social work) and the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL).  

http://research.ucc.ie/profiles/A012/joanne.rose@ucc.ie

Contact Joanne at joanne.rose@ucc.ie 

 Dr Sinéad Whiting

Assistant Professor of Social Work and Practice Education Coordinator, TCD

Prior to taking up this role Sinéad worked as a social worker in the areas of child protection, fostering and adoption. Sinead’s teaching and research interests include adoption within child welfare systems, experiences of adult care leavers, social work skills and practice teaching and learning.

Contact Sinéad at sinead.whiting@tcd.ie 

Dr Brian Melaugh

Director of Social Work at Maynooth University

Before taking up an academic position Brian worked extensively in the area of drug practice and policy and was CEO of the Ana Liffey Drug Project in Dublin. Brian is a former Chair of UISCE, an organisation which promotes the rights of drug users and is on the Board of Merchants Quay Ireland and Safety Net. In terms of teaching/research areas these include drug policy, management and social work, ethics and critical social work. 

Contact Brian at Brian.Melaugh@mu.ie.