Edwina Kevany
Clonskeagh,Dublin
Summary
Professionally Qualified Social Worker with over fifteen years' experience of working with children and families in various capacities. Skilled in carrying out a range of assessments and providing well-written reports. High level of interpersonal and communication skills. Passionate about working with families in the community and the Care system to provide optimal outcomes for children of all ages. Dedicated and dependable individual with strengths in emotional intelligence and evaluating the needs of service users. Focused on using comprehensive knowledge and training to build on existing skills and improve practice. Seeks out opportunities to gain deeper understanding and direct experience. Special interest in the area of attachment, and developmental and relational trauma.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Guardian ad Litem
TIGALA (The Independent Guardian ad Litem Agency)
Dublin, Ireland
2025.09 - Current
- Appointed under Section 26 of the Child Care Act, 1991 to act as the 'voice of the child' in Child Care proceedings
- Providing comprehensive assessments and detailed assessments to the Court to aid decision-making and promote the best interests of the child
Guardian ad Litem
Self-employed
Dublin
2024.09 - Current
- Extensive experience working with and advocating for young people and families in the foster care system in Ireland.
- Good working knowledge of Child Care legislation, namely the Child Care Act 1991 and the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964.
- In-depth knowledge of Children First: National Guidelines and other relevant policies, and vast experience of applying these to practice.
- Strong appreciation of using a multi-disciplinary approach to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people.
- Ongoing professional development in the areas of attachment, trauma, child safeguarding and foster care.
- Equipped with a high degree of interviewing skills and well-practiced in one-to-one work with young people of all ages.
- High level of analytical skills and extensive experience in using different assessment frameworks to carry out well-rounded, comprehensive, solution-focused assessments.
- Possessing of a high standard of report writing skills.
Independent Social Worker
Self-employed
Clonskeagh, Dublin
2023.07 - Current
- Evaluating and addressing individual client needs and concerns through targeted assessments
- Adhering to safeguarding principles to protect vulnerable children from risk
- Liaising with other professionals in health and social care and using professional judgement to make well-rounded recommendations and coordinate holistic support for clients
- Producing reports within set timeframes and in line with industry standards
- Adapting communication styles to build two-way communication with clients
- Maintaining accurate, up-to-date and confidential files in line with reporting standards
- Keeping up to date with CPD requirements for registration with CORU
Family Law Social Work Assessor
Ryan O'Callaghan Consultancy
Dublin, Leinster
2023.07 - 2025.10
- In accordance with the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, I worked as part of a panel of assessors dealing with complex child protection and family law matters by conducting court ordered assessments and preparing 'Voice of the Child' Reports
Ad Hoc Social Worker
PACT Adoption Agency
Churchtown, Dublin
2022.09 - 2024.09
- Completion of Domestic and Intercountry Adoption assessments for applicants beginning the adoption process
- Presenting and making recommendations to the Adoption Committee
- Preparing comprehensive reports for the Adoption Authority
- Supporting applicants through the appeals process
- Pre=-adoptive foster care support
Fostering Social Worker
Tusla
Churchtown, Dublin 14
2018 - 2023.07
- Offering support to approved Foster Carers and their families.
- Supervision of approved foster families to ensure National Fostering Standards are upheld.
- Assessment of Section 36 (Relative) Foster Carers.
- Carrying out Foster Care Reviews in a timely manner.
- Working in line with Tusla policy & procedures and Irish Child Care Legislation.
- Keeping detailed records on NCCIS.
Social Worker
Tusla
Swords, Co. Dublin
2010 - 2018
- Working as part of the Child Protection & Welfare and Fostering Teams to provide services to at-risk children / children in care.
- Parental Capacity Assessments.
- Court work & report writing.
- Child in Care Reviews and Care Planning for children
- Scheduling & supervising access between children and birth parents.
- Development & Provision of training.
- Student Supervision.
- Keeping detailed, up to date casenotes on the Social Work Information System (SWIS).
Childline Call Facilitator
ISPCC
Baggot Street, Dublin 2
2008 - 2010
Community Service Volunteer (Keyworker)
Focus Ireland
, Dublin
2007 - 2008
Education
Master of Science - Attachment Studies
Roehampton University
London /2020 -
Diploma of Higher Education - Family Law
The Law Society of Ireland
Ireland 2025.09 -
Master of Social Science (Social Work) - Social Work
University College Dublin
Dublin06.2008
Higher Diploma in Social Policy - Social Policy
University College Dublin
Dublin06.2007
Bachelor of Arts - English & Sociology
University College Dublin
Dublin06.2006
Leaving Certificate -
Muckross Park College
Dublin06.2003
Skills
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of developmental trauma and it's impact on relationships in 'at-risk' families
- Experience in working therapeutically with families, using a trauma-informed approach
- Comprehensive knowledge of attachment theory and in-depth understanding of the implications for children and adults who have experienced attachment disruptions
- Carrying out assessments in a timely manner, including Fostering Assessments; Risk Assessments and Assessments of Parental Capacity
- Extensive experience of foster carer assessment, support and supervision & excellent working knowledge of the relevant legislation and policies
- Using assessment frameworks (including the Signs of Safety Approach and the Dynamic Maturational Model of Attachment & Adaptation 'DMM') to exercise professional judgement in relation to caregiver's ability to provide safe-care
- Superior level of report-writing skills
- Working in a compassionate and non-judgemental manner with service users
- Knowledge and implementation of Child Care legislation and Children's First guidance and National Standards for Foster Care
- Provision of supervision to student social workers
- Good organisational skills
- Good communication (both written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
- Ability to maintain good working relationships with colleagues and service users
Certification
Additional training undertaken includes:
- Children First (2025)
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) training (2025)
- Capacity and Ability to Supervise and Protect (CASP-R) Framework, Leonard McGibbon Consultancy (2024)
- Meaning of the Child Interview (MotC), Roehampton University (2024)
- Family Ties: Therapeutic assessment and treatment of high conflict separated parents and their children, Anna Freud Centre UK (November 2023)
- Infant CARE-Index Assessment, Family Relations Institute (July 2023)
- Sensory Attachment Intervention, SAI Consultancy (April 2023)
- Theraplay Level One & Marshak Interaction Method, Theraplay Institute (April 2022)
References
References available upon request.
Registration
CORU Registration Number: SW003398
Member of the Irish Association of Social Workers
Member of Nagalro Association for Independent Social Workers, UK
Holds up-to-date Professional Indemnity Insurance
Holds up to date Garda Vetting
Timeline
Guardian ad Litem
TIGALA (The Independent Guardian ad Litem Agency)
2025.09 - Current
Diploma of Higher Education - Family Law
The Law Society of Ireland
2025.09 -
Guardian ad Litem
Self-employed
2024.09 - Current
Independent Social Worker
Self-employed
2023.07 - Current
Family Law Social Work Assessor
Ryan O'Callaghan Consultancy
2023.07 - 2025.10
Ad Hoc Social Worker
PACT Adoption Agency
2022.09 - 2024.09
Fostering Social Worker
Tusla
2018 - 2023.07
Social Worker
Tusla
2010 - 2018
Childline Call Facilitator
ISPCC
2008 - 2010
Community Service Volunteer (Keyworker)
Focus Ireland
2007 - 2008
Master of Science - Attachment Studies
Roehampton University
/2020 -
Master of Social Science (Social Work) - Social Work
University College Dublin
Higher Diploma in Social Policy - Social Policy
University College Dublin
Bachelor of Arts - English & Sociology
University College Dublin
Leaving Certificate -
Muckross Park College