Biography
Dr Susan Flynn is a full-time University Lecturer (Associate Professor) in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin. Prior to this, she lectured full-time in social sciences at the Institute of Technology, Sligo. Additionally, Susan has experience teaching at the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Susan's PhD examined, through through a phenomenological and biographical narrative interpretative method, the impact of the economic recession on intellectually disabled young people and their families. Within this, an affirmative non-tragedy theoretical lens situated within an overarching critical disability studies perspective, was adopted.
More broadly her work has, and continues to, focus upon child and family services. Within this, she has a particular focus on disability, child protection and welfare, and social work and social care. Susan was elected to the prestigious position of Fellow at Trinity in 2024 in recognition of achievement.
Susan has over a decade of practice experience in a diverse range of applied social settings including child protection and welfare social work; intellectual disability; residential social care practice; acting managerial work; youth justice work; special education; counselling and advocacy; disability day activation work, and other roles. Susan also has experience as a social science researcher in the industry.
Twitter: @susanflynn1912 Orchid ID: https://orchid.org/0000-0002-2807-0866 CORU registered social worker: SW006473 CORU registered social care worker: SCW002299
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Flynn, S., Solution-focused, strengths-based practice: An integrated and future-orientated approach to resistance in child protection and welfare service users?, Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies, 25, (1), 2025
Flynn, S., A history of safeguarding disabled children from 1840 to 1960 in the Republic of Ireland, Child and Youth Services Review, 108280, 2025
Flynn, S., A critical history of child protection and welfare services for disabled children in the Republic of Ireland 1960 to 2023, Critical and Radical Social Work, 13, (2), 2025, 231, p247
Redshaw, S., Thomas, C., Kerrigan, N., Krivokapic-Skoko, B. and Flynn, S., Rurality and intersectionality: A literature review, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 44, (9), 2025, p208 - 226
Flynn, S., Doolan Maher, R., Byrne, J., Disability, Child Protection and the Internet: The Socio-Cultural Construction of Risk, Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies, 25, (1), 2025
Flynn, S., Liberating Voices in Social Work: The Relevance of Ableism and the Affirmative Model for Capturing Disabled Children"s Voices and Views, Child Care in Practice, 2025
Sweeney, L.A., Callan, A. and Flynn, S., Understanding LGBTQ+ individuals" awareness and experiences of the Free Contraception Scheme and contraception more broadly, 2025 Health Promotion Annual Conference, Galway, 26th of June 2025, 2025
Flynn, S.,Caffrey, L.,Antosik-Parsons, K.,Whiting, S., Byrne, J. and Conlon, C., New-Materialist Bricolage: Presenting an Ontological Position for Qualitative Internet-Based Research, International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 28, (2), 2025, p179 - 192
Flynn, S, In exceptional times: The covid-19 pandemic, parenting and the disabling effects of mental health difficulties, Child Care in Practice, 31, (2), 2025, p236 - 255
Flynn, S. and Shi, H., How effective is Irish child protection policy for disabled children? A policy content analysis of Children First National Guidance(2017), European Conference on Social Work Research, Munich, Germany, 2025
Johnson, L.M., Flynn, S., Thomas, C. and Slayter, E., Attention to disability in child protection policies across four liberal welfare regimes., Journal of Public Child Welfare, 19, (1), 2025, p141-167
Flynn, S., and Shi, H., Child Protection Policy and Disability: A Policy Content Analysis of Children First (2017) National Guidance, Nordic Network on Disability Research Conference, Helsinki, Finland, 7-9th May 2025, 2025
Flynn S, Safeguarding children with disabilities: a life course perspective, Journal of Public Child Welfare, 2024
Nematy, A., Flynn, S. and McCarthy-Jones, S., Youtube commentators discourse of paedophilia: A qualitative social media analysis, Sexuality & Culture, 28, 2024, p71 - 95, phttps://doi.org/10.1007/s12119
Nematy, A., Flynn, S., and McCarthy-Jones, S., Perspectives, Treatment Goals, and Approaches of Prevention-Specialist Mental Health Professionals in Working with Clients Attracted to Children, Sexual Abuse, 2024
Kane, K., and Flynn, S., Forgotten Victims: Recommendations for Social Care on the Impact on Children of their Parent"s Incarceration, Journal of Social Care, 4, 2024, pArticle 3-
Flynn, S., Lakkshme Sundaresan, S., Holt, S., Price, A. and ONeill, G., Disabled womens experiences of intimate partner abuse in Ireland: Research project report, Women's Aid, 2024, https://doi.org/10.25546/11021
Flynn, S.,Lakkshme Sundaresan, S., and Caffrey, L., Outcomes Measurement in Social Care: Insights from Current Evidence, Journal of Social Care, 4, 2024, pArticle 2-
Okoro, N. and Flynn, S., What does Literature say about Signs of Safety? Making an Inquiry through Critical Literature Review, Irish Social Worker, Winter 2024, 2024, p50-
Flynn, S., Disability in Narrative Inquiry: A Case of Methodologically Unusable Data from a Participant with Intellectual Disability, Disability Studies Quarterly, 43, (2), 2024
Flynn, S., Thinking Politically about Social Work in Child Protection and Welfare: A Reappropriation of the Works of Hannah Arendt, Child Protection and Practice, 2024
Disability and Intersectionality in, editor(s)Dr Gabriel Bennett and Dr Emma Goodall , Palgrave Encyclopedia of Disability, Palgrave, 2024, [Flynn S]
Flynn, S., Critical Disability Studies and the Affirmative Non-Tragedy Model: Presenting a Theoretical Frame for Disability and Child Protection, Disability and Society, 39, (2), 2024, p269 - 290
Flynn, S., Lakkshme Sundaresan, S., Caffrey, L.,Spratt, T. and Holt, S., Towards Better Outcomes for Children and Families: Evaluation of the Implementation of an Outcomes Framework, 2024, p1 - 64, https://doi.org/10.25546/11021
Flynn, S. and Whelan, J., A Sociological Reading of Statutory Social Work and Irish Corporate Governmentality: On the Death of Creativity, British Journal of Social Work, 54, (1), 2024, p95 - 104
Disability and Child Protection in, Palgrave Encyclopedia of Disability, 2024, [Flynn, S.]
Critical Disability Studies in, editor(s)Dr Gabriel Bennett and Dr Emma Goodall , The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Disability, 2024, pp1 - 4, [Flynn, S.]
Flynn, S., Caffrey, L. Sundaresan, S.L.,, Achieving Better Outcomes for Disadvantaged Children within the Cost-of-Living Crisis: Findings of a study into the Implementation of an Outcomes Framework, International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Conference, Uppsala Sweden, 2024
Sweeney, L.A. and Flynn, S., Exploring feminist egalitarian discourse and sex work for the social work curriculum: A critical pedagogy, Critical and Radical Social Work, 2024
Flynn, S. and Doolan Maher, R., Building digital competency in social work to manage internet-related risks: Findings of a study on the internet, disability and child protection risk, European Conference on Social Work Research, Lithuania, 17th-19th April 2024, 2024
de Róiste , A.; Mulkeen , M.; Flynn, S; and Conroy, S., Social care work and social work in Ireland: A comparative analysis of standards of proficiency, Administration, 72, (3), 2024, p1 - 30
Flynn, S., Sundaresan Lakkshme, S., and Caffrey, L., Putting outcomes into practice: The implementation of a framework of outcomes measures within a child and family service., British Journal of Social Work, 2024
Flynn, S., Intersectionality, childhood disability and rurality: What does rural life mean for disabled children and their families?, Sociologia Ruralis, 2024
Flynn, S., Doolan Maher, R. and Byrne, J.,, Empowerment versus Protection in the Digital Era: Connecting Intellectual Disability, the Internet and Child Protection, International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Chicago, United States of America, 2024, 2024
Doolan Maher, R., Flynn, S. and Byrne, J., Keeping Young People with Disabilities Safe Online The Voice of 32 Young People with Disabilities about their Internet Use, International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Conference, Uppsala Sweden, 2024
Doolan Maher, R., Flynn, S. and Byrne, J., Shifting Mindsets; A Critical Commentary on Child Protection and Welfare, Disability, and Online Risk Through Critical Literature Review, Child Care in Practice, 2024, phttps://doi.org/10.1080/135752
Flynn, S., Doolan Maher, R. & Byrne, J.,, Coping with complex intersections of child protection risk, the internet and disability: Towards informing and understanding professional responses, International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Edinburgh Scotland, 2023, 2023
Thomas, C., Flynn, S., Slayter, E. and Johnson, L., Disability, Intersectionality, Child Welfare and Child Protection: Research Representations., Scandanavian Journal of Disability Research, 25, (1), 2023, p45 - 64
Flynn, S., Understanding practice placements where students falter and fail: A theoretical exposition of critical realism for social work practice education, Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 20, (2), 2023
Sweeney, L-A & Flynn, S., A critical review of intersectionality, social work education and sex work: an Irish perspective, Critical and Radical Social Work, 11, (2), 2023, p199 - 214
Whelan, J. and Flynn, S., Whos right? What rights? How? Rights debates in Irish social work: a call for nuance, Critical and Radical Social Work, 2023, phttps://doi.org/10.1332/2
Flynn, S., Critical Disability Studies, Corporeality and Child Maltreatment: Theorizing the Somatechnics of Self and Other., Somatechnics, 13, (3), 2023, p255 - 273
Veeran, V., Flynn, S. & Sweeney, L.A., Feminist Egalitarian Discourse in Social Work Education for Practice: Theoretical Exposition from the Irish Perspective, Practice: Social Work in Action, 35, (3), 2023, p219 - 233
Flynn, S., Doolan Maher, R. and Byrne, J., Child protection and welfare risks and opportunities related to disability and internet use: Broadening current conceptualisations through critical literature review, Children and Youth Services Review, 157, (107410), 2023
Flynn, S., Slayter, E., Johnson, L. and Thomas, C., Cut from the Same Cloth: A Comparative Policy Content Analysis of Disability in Child Protection and Welfare Policies within Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, Child and Youth Services Review, 150, (106969), 2023
Flynn, S. , The Views of Parents Subject to Child Protection Investigation for their Child or Children with Disabilities: An Exploratory Qualitative Study, Social Work and Social Sciences Review, 24, (1), 2023
Flynn, S. and Feely, M., A new-materialist reading of disability, senescence and the life-course, International Journal of Disability and Social Justice, 3, (3), 2023
Flynn, S., Parenting in Context: Applying a Critical Disability Studies Lens to the Qualitative Accounts of Parents subject to Child Protection Investigation for their Children with Disabilities, Nordic Network on Disability Research 2023, Reyjkavik, Iceland, 10.05.23-12.05.23, 2023
Flynn, S., Child Protection and Welfare During the COVID 19 Pandemic: Revisiting the Value of Resilience-Building, Systems Theory, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma-Informed Approaches, Child Care in Practice, 29, (4), 2023, p371 - 388, phttps://doi.org/10.1080/135752
Flynn, S., Discourse and religious doctrine: Professional social work and the moral regulation of the body in Roman Catholic Ireland, Sexualities, 25, (3), 2022, p267 - 283
Flynn, S., Applying Critical Feminist Theory to Intersections of Womanhood and Disability: Stories of Exhaustion and Emotion from Mothers Subject to Child Protection Investigation, Activist Energies, Melbourne Australia, 2022
Flynn, S., Literature on Professional Social Work and Controversies Surrounding Roman Catholicism in the Republic of Ireland: Adapting the Dynamic Model, Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 41, (2), 2022, p143 - 165
Flynn, S., Accounts of Parents subject to Child Protection Investigation for their Child or Children with Disabilities: Findings of an Exploratory Qualitative Study, ICSPAN Congress, Estonia , https://estonia2022.exordo.com/programme/presentation/180, 2022
Flynn, S., The Hidden Price of Poverty: Irish Austerity Measures and the Abuse and Neglect of Children with Disabilities by Parents and Caregivers, The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect, Quebec, Canada, https://quebeccity2022.exordo.com/programme/presentation/120, 2022
Flynn, S., Critical disability studies and quarter life crisis: Theorising life stage transitional crisis for disabled emerging adults, Disability & Society, 37, (2), 2022, p183-205
Flynn, S., Trajectories of social justice within social stratification: towards a Bourdieusian reading of social class for social workers, Critical and Radical Social Work, 10, (1), 2022, p145 - 159
Thomas, C., Flynn, S., Slayter, E., & Johnson, L., Disability, intersectionality, and child protection: A scoping review, ISPCAN 2022 Congress, Estonia, https://estonia2022.exordo.com/programme/presentation/285, 2022
Flynn, S., Untroubling childrens identity in child protection and welfare assessment through a postconventional analytic, Journal of Social Work, 21, (6), 2021, p1450-1468
Flynn, S. & Corbally, M., Narrative and Remaking Social Futures in Times of Pandemic Crisis: The Story-Making and Story-Telling of the Heroic Nurse, The Sociological Observer, (3), 2021, p68 - 76
Flynn, S., Strengths and Affirmations: Practitioners Views of Disability and Child Protection Through an Affirmative Lens, The Irish Social Worker, Winter 2021, 2021
Flynn, S., Learning from the Literature on Social Work and Social Care with Children: The Utility of a Jansson Framework of Policy-Practice, Child Care in Practice, 27, (3), 2021, p281 - 294
Flynn, S. & Wengraf, T., Devices for illuminating defended subjectivities in complex qualitative case interpretation: An example from recent BNIM practice, Journal of Psychosocial Studies, 14, (2), 2021, p105 - 119
Flynn, S., Making Acquaintance: Compatibility of Critical Disability Studies Conventions with Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Practice in Ireland., Practice: Social Work in Action, 33, (2), 2021, p137-148
Flynn, S., Convergent Identities, Compounded Risk: Intersectionality and Parenting Capacity Assessment for Disabled Children, Child and Youth Services Review, 129, (106185), 2021
Flynn, S., Social workers, critical theory, and the political sphere: Addressing misrecognition and marginalization in the Republic of Ireland., Critical and Radical Social Work., 9, (3), 2021, p389-404
Flynn, S., Towards Parity in Protection: Barriers to Effective Child Protection and Welfare Assessment with Disabled Children in the Republic of Ireland, Child Care in Practice, 27, (4), 2021, p333-351
Flynn, S., Social Constructionism and Social Care: Literature on Evidence Informed Practice within the Professionalisation of Social Care Professionals who work with children in Ireland., Child Care in Practice, 27, (1), 2021, p87 - 104
Flynn, S., Corporeality and Critical Disability Studies: Toward an Informed Epistemology of Embodiment, Disability & Society, 36, (4), 2021, p636-655
Flynn, S., Protection as a Human Fundamental Need: Re-Conceiving Signs of Safety for Social Work in the Republic of Ireland, British Journal of Social Work, 51, (7), 2021, p2590 - 2607
Flynn, S., Social Work Intervention Pathways within Child Protection: Responding to the Needs of Disabled Children in Ireland, Practice: Social Work in Action, 33, (1), 2021, p51-63
Flynn, S., Safeguarding Adults at Risk: Critical Commentary on the Construction of the Adult at Risk in Ireland, Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies, 21, (1, article 3), 2021, phttps://arrow.tu
Sweeney, L.A.; Flynn, S.; Finan, S.; Ganong, K.; Gallagher, J.; Golden, L.; McCarthy, C.; Feeney, B.; & McMullin, C., Evidence Based Social Work: A Showcase of Research from MSW Students at the Institute of Technology, Sligo, The Irish Social Worker, Winter 2021, 2021
Flynn, S., Measuring parenting capacity for disabled children using a child protection assessment, Journal of Social Work, 21, (6), 2021, p1489-1511
Flynn, S., Irish Intellectual Disability Services for Children and Austerity Measures: The Qualitative Impact of Recession through Framework Method, Child Care in Practice, 27, (4), 2021, p372-388
Flynn, S., Revisiting Hegemony: A Gramscian Analysis for Contemporary Social Work., Irish Journal of Sociology, 29, (1), 2021, p77 - 96
Flynn, S., Exploring internal critique: theoretically developed critical commentary on the Self-Appraisal of critical disability studies, Disability & Society, 36, (1), 2021, p1 - 18
Flynn, S., Convergent spaces: Intersectional analysis of ethnic minority status and childhood disability in Irish safeguarding work, Child & Family Social Work, 25, (3), 2020, p648 - 656
Flynn, S., Theorizing Disability in Child Protection: Applying Critical Disability Studies to the Elevated Risk of Abuse for Disabled Children, Disability & Society, 35, (6), 2020, p949 - 971
Flynn, S., Proficiency within Professionalisation: A Social Constructionist Critique of Standards of Proficiency for Social Care Workers in the Republic of Ireland, Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies, 20, (2), 2020
Flynn, S., Globalisation and Social Work Education in the Republic of Ireland: Towards Informed Transnational Social Work for Transnational Problems such as Covid-19, International Social Work, 63, (4), 2020, p524 - 537
Flynn, S. & Sweeney, L.A., Placing Irish Social Work in a Global Context: Assembling International Comparisons Through the Literature, Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies, 20, (1), 2020
Flynn, S., Ecosystems of Educational Disadvantage: Supporting Children and Young People receiving Child Protection and Welfare Services in Ireland, Social Work and Social Services Review, 21, (3), 2020
Flynn. S., Social Care and Self Care: Exploring the Implications of Evidence Informed Practice (EIP) and Professionalisation for the Care of Social Care Professionals in Ireland, Social Care Ireland Conference, Limerick, Ireland , 2019, 2019
Flynn, S., Economic Recession, Austerity and Disability: Socio-Biographic Learning for Social Work from the Exceptional Case of Ireland, European Conference for Social Work Research, Leuven, Belgium , https://kuleuvencongres.be/ecswr2019/files/ecswr-2019-voorblad-abstract-book-final.pdf, 2019
Flynn, S. , Disability and Irish Austerity: Socio-Biographic Narratives of Intellectually Disability and Economic Recession, Nordic Network on Disability Research Conference, 2019, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2019
Flynn, S., Life Stories of the Economic Recession: Biographical Narrative Interpretative Method (BNIM) and the Lived Experience of Disability in Times of Austerity, Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 21, (1), 2019, p58 - 66
Flynn, S., Rethinking Debates in Narrative Methods: Narrative Orthodoxy and Research Challenges with Children with Intellectual Disability, Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 21, (1), 2019, p167-176
Flynn, S. & McGregor, C., Recessionary Tales: An investigation into how intellectually disabled young people, and their families, experienced the economic downturn, 2018
Flynn, S., Engaging with materialism and material reality: Critical disability studies and economic recession, Disability & Society, 32, (2), 2017, p143 - 159
Flynn, S. & McGregor, C., Disabled children and child protection: Learning from the literature through a non-tragedy lens, Child Care in Practice, 23, (3), 2017, p258 - 274
Flynn, S., Perspectives on austerity: The impact of the economic recession on children with intellectual disability, Disability & Society , 32, (5), 2017, p678 - 700
Flynn, S., Social work practice within an economic downturn: Understanding austerity through an anti-oppressive framework, Practice: Social Work in Action, 29, (3), 2017, p179 - 199
Flynn, S., Economic recession and children with intellectual disability: Applying an affirmative non-tragedy framework to the issue of austerity, Disability Studies Conference , Lancaster, England , https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/events/disabilityconference_archive/2016/documents/CEDR16%20Book%20, 2016
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Flynn, S., Lakkshme Sundaresan, S., Holt, S., Price, A. & O"Neill, G., Disabled women and intimate partner violence: Critical insights from new research, Women's Aid 50th Anniversary Conference, 25.11.2024, 2025
Flynn, S., Lakkshme Sundaresan, S., Holt, S., Price, A. & O"Neill, G., Disabled Women"s Experience of Intimate Partner Abuse in Ireland: An Overview of Ground-Breaking Research, National Disability Authority webinar event, 2025
Flynn, S., Rurality, intersectionality and childhood disability: Thinking theoretically about the meaning of rural life for disabled children, Childhood and Disability, Webinar event organized by the Childhood, Law & Policy Network and Queen Mary University of London, 25.02.2025, 2025
Flynn, S., Lakkshme Sundaresan, S., Holt, S., Price, A. & O"Neill, G., Survivors unsilenced: Giving voice to disabled women"s experiences of intimate partner abuse, DkIT River Community of Practice Conference, 17.01.2025, 2025
Flynn, S., Holt, S., O'Neill, G., Price, A., Sundaresan S., Disabled Women"s Experience of Intimate Partner Abuse in Ireland:" for the Irish Probation Service, Probation Service 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Conference, 04.11.2024, 2024
Flynn, S., Doing Research about Disability: Potential Methodological, Ethical and Practical Challenges, PhD Seminar Series, School of Social Work and Social Policy, 2024
Flynn, S., Holt, S., O'Neill, G., Price, A., Sundaresan S. (2024), Launching the Findings of a Mixed Method Research Project on Disabled Women's Experiences of Intimate Partner Abuse, Project Launch Event, Dublin, The Mansion House, 24.10.24, 2024
Conlon, C., Antosik-Parsons, K., Flynn, S., Caffrey, L., Byrne, J. and Whiting, S., Lessons from Pivoting to Online Interviewing: Ethical and Technical Considerations for Qualitative Researchers following the COVID-19 Pandemic, Social Sciences Research Network, 2023
Flynn, S., Childhood Disability in the Context of Parental Alienation: Another Layer of Complexity?, Parental Alienation Awareness Newsletter, 2022
Flynn, S. , Review of New Directions Implementation: Lifelong Learning 1 and Lifelong Learning 2, Lancaster, England, 2021, 1-62
Flynn, S., Children with Disabilities and their Families during the Covid-19 Pandemic, 2020, - https://www.tcd.ie/swsp/assets
O'Connor, E., Whiting, S., Gilligan, R.,Holt, S., Brady, E.,Eliffe, R., Feely,M., Flynn, S., Houston, S., McEvoy., P., Hybrid Placement Model: A Social Work Teaching and Learning Resource, TARA, 2020
Flynn, S. , Adolescence Disrupted, Covid 19 and Protecting Teenagers , 2020, - https://www.tcd.ie/swsp/assets
Flynn, S. & Wengraf, T., Defended subjectivities: peer-audit as a means for quality control in social work research, All-Ireland Social Work Educators Research Forum, Ireland , 2020
Flynn, S., A History and Sociology of Willowbrook State School., Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 64, (2), 2017, p227 - 229
Flynn, S., The Impact of the economic downturn on children with intellectual disability and their families. , Seminar Series: School of Political Science and Sociology, NUI Galway, 2016, 2016
Flynn, S., Children with intellectual disability, their families and the economic recession: Serious concerns and practical challenges through an affirmative non-tragedy optic., Sociological Association of Ireland Annual Conference. , 2016
Flynn, S., Investigating how children with intellectual disabilities, and their families, experience the current economic downturn.', Lunchtime Seminar: Centre for Disability Law and Policy. , 2016
Flynn, S., Novel Narrative Possibilities: Using a Biographical Narrative Interpretative Method (BNIM) within Intellectual Disability Research, 3rd International Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference. , 2016, 2016
Flynn, S., Literature through an affirmative non-tragedy lens: the impact of the economic recession on children with intellectual disability, Theorising Normalcy and the Mundane Conference, 2016, 2016
Flynn, S., Narrative Continuities: Reflexivity in Action Between Research and Practice. , IASW Research and Practice conference. , 2016, 2016
Flynn, S., Poster: Recessionary Tales: An investigation into the impact of the economic recession on young people with intellectual disability, and their families,, Youth Mental Health and Self Stigma Conference. 2015., 2015
Flynn, S. , Proposition for a PhD: The impact of austerity on intellectually disabled young people and their families. , Irish Association of Social Workers Annual Conference , 2015, 2015
Flynn, S., The current economic recession: Social work perspectives on it's impact on people with intellectual disability, The Irish Social Worker , Spring 2015, 2015, p31 - 55
Flynn, S, O'Neill, G., Holt, S., Price A. and Sundaresan, S. (2024), An Overview of a Ground-breaking Collaborative Project on Disabled Women's Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence, Women's Aid 50th Anniversary Conference, Dublin, 21/11/24
Research Expertise
Projects
- Title
- Virtual harm: Disability associated child protection risks and the internet
- Summary
- This study is innovative as the only comprehensive study of its kind on internet-based child protection risks associated with disability in Ireland. The major work of the project was undertaken by PhD Candidate Rose Doolan Maher, co-supervised by myself and Dr Julie Byrne. I was lead applicant on the initial grant application. Total grant value is 111,596euro.
- Funding Agency
- Provost Project Award
- Date From
- 2021
- Date To
- 2025
- Title
- Parents subject to child protection investigation for their child or children with disabilities: An exploratory qualitative account
- Summary
- This project investigated the central research question, how have parents who have been subject to child protection investigation regarding their child or children with disabilities, experienced that investigation? The research involved qualitative interviews with parents. The dissemination phase of the project was funded. Total grant value funded was 2000euro.
- Funding Agency
- Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Benefactions Fund
- Date From
- 2023
- Date To
- 2023
- Title
- Review of ChildVision's New Directions engagement
- Summary
- This project involved qualitative focus group research and policy analysis to investigate ChildVision's New Directions engagement. I was Principal Investigator/Sole Researcher. Total grant value awarded was 6,133.10 euro.
- Funding Agency
- ChildVision
- Date From
- 2021
- Date To
- 2021
- Title
- Parenting with mental health difficulties and disability through the covid 19 pandemic: An exploratory qualitative inquiry into parents voices and experiences
- Summary
- An exploration of how parents who have mental health difficulties and/or disability have experienced parenting throughout the covid 19 pandemic. Funds awarded for the dissemination of findings. Grant value awarded is 1,600euro.
- Funding Agency
- Arts and Social Sciences Benefaction Fund
- Date From
- 2023
- Date To
- 2023
- Title
- Disabled women's experiences of intimate partner abuse in Ireland
- Summary
- A collaboration between Womens Aid, GBV Taskforce and Trinity College Dublin School of Social Work & Social Policy to research disabled women's experiences of intimate partner abuse. I was Principal Investigator of this project. This involved two national surveys, in-depth qualitative interviews, a mapping exercise and a literature review. In addition to academic publication and the proect report, project results were disseminated at various fora including a launch event in The Mansion House Dublin opened by the Lord Mayor. I also presented findings of this project at the DkIT River Community of Practice Conference, at the Women's Aid 50th Anniversary Conference, at the National Probation Service event on gender based violence on December 4th 2024, at the National Disability Authority webinar and at the European Conference on Domestic Violence in Barcelona, Spain. I gave a radio interview on the findings of the project on LMFM radio (October 25th), and Sarah Benson (Women's Aid CEO) did a radio interview on DriveTime on 24th October 2024. Findings were published in print media in The University Times (4th November 2024), the Irish Examiner (24th October), RTE (www.rte.ie 24th October 2024), and www.womensaid.ie. Total grant value for this project was 41, 411.70 euro.
- Funding Agency
- Women's Aid
- Date From
- 2022
- Date To
- 2024
- Title
- Investigating the nature of risk in internet usage for disabled individuals who are deemed to pose a risk to children
- Summary
- Qualitative semi-structured interviews with key professionals were undertaken with reference to the research question, What is the nature of risk in internet usage for disabled individuals who are deemed to pose a risk to children? In-depth qualitative interviews were undertaken with a strategic sample of professionals. An award was made to fund the dissemination component of this work. Grant value is 2,071euro.
- Funding Agency
- TRiSS
- Date From
- 2022
- Date To
- 2024
- Title
- Towards Better Outcomes for Children and Families: A Research Review of the Outcomes Framework for Prevention Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) Service
- Summary
- I was Principal Investigator on this project funded through The Irish Research Council (New Foundations)by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The project involved a mixed-method evaluation of the implementation of an outcomes framework in a child and family service. The research involved a literature review, focus groups and a survey. Grant value awarded was 17,500euro.
- Funding Agency
- Irish Research Council
- Date From
- 2022
- Date To
- 2024
- Title
- Virtual Harm, Work Package Three: The nature of risk in internet usage for disabled individuals who are deemed to pose a risk to children
- Summary
- The central research question for work package three is, What is the nature of risk in internet usage for disabled individuals who are deemed to pose a risk to children? Work package three is meso-level focussed and qualitative in nature. It examines key social actors in the lives of children and adults with disabilities that moderate and affect the risk posed to children through the internet. A grant was awarded for dissemination of the project results. Grant awarded was 1300euros.
- Funding Agency
- Arts and Social Sciences Benefactions Fund
- Date From
- 2022
- Date To
- 2024
- Title
- Coping with complex intersections of child protection risk, the internet and disability: Towards informing and understanding professional responses
- Summary
- This refers to the dissemination phase of work package three for a wider research project. The project examines the intersection of child protection, the internet and disability. Funding was provided to present the research at the Edinburgh Congress of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN). Grant value is 1498.03 euro.
- Funding Agency
- Trinity Research in Social Sciences
- Date From
- 2023
- Date To
- 2023
- Title
- Disability and child welfare summer school
- Summary
- The project was initiated and led by Professor Onno Husen, and then implemented by a team of organisers across four Universities. The project was to create, fund and run the first Disability and Child Welfare Summer School which took place over a week in Munster, Germany. Grant value is 15,000 euro.
- Funding Agency
- University of Münster
- Date From
- 2023
- Date To
- 2025
- Title
- Social work, disability and environmental justice: An exposition through conventions of critical disability studies
- Summary
- In this research, theoretical conventions of critical disability studies are deductively applied to a systematically sourced and refined sample of literature. The topic is social work, disability and environmental justice. I was awarded a TRiSS Academic Fellowship grant of 2,202 euro in 2025 to make an oral presentation of research at an International Federation of Social Workers academic conference in Sri Lanka in 2025.
- Funding Agency
- Trinity Research in Social Sciences
- Date From
- 2025
- Date To
- 2025
- Title
- An Investigation into Marginalised Womens Experiences of the Free Contraception Scheme
- Summary
- This project conducts a mixed-method investigation into experiences of marginalised women accessing, or facing barriers accessing, the free contraception scheme. The research involves a literature review, focus groups and a survey among other components. This project and research team was led by Principal Investigator Dr Leigh-Ann Sweeney. I was Senior Researcher on this project and helped with writing and conceptualising the funding proposal and undertaking the research. I maintained a particular focus on disability and disabled women as one of the focal marginalised groups in the study. Grant value is 27,000 euro.
- Funding Agency
- National Women's Council
- Date From
- 2024
- Date To
- 2025
- Title
- Safeguarding disabled children: A policy content analysis of Children First National Guidance
- Summary
- This project involved a policy content analysis of Children First National Guidance with regard to its utility and suitability for the needs of disabled children. I led the small scale project and disseminated findings along with Research Assistant Mr Haocheng Shi. Funds were granted for dissemination. Total grant value awarded was 4,016.72 euro.
- Funding Agency
- Trinity College Dublin Research Boost Program
- Date From
- 2024
- Date To
- 2025
- Title
- A documentary analysis of child protection and welfare HIQA inspection reports in Ireland
- Summary
- This project entails a documentary analysis of child protection and welfare HIQA inspection reports in Ireland to determine the focus and methodology of such reports. This project was led by Principal Investigator Dr Louise Caffrey. My role is Co-Investigator on the project. Total grant value funded is 10,000euro.
- Funding Agency
- Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth
- Date From
- 2024
- Date To
- 2025
- Title
- Case management within integrated care for older persons
- Summary
- This project conducted an investigation into case management within integrated care for older persons. Principal Investigators were Dr Martha Doyle and Dr Niamh Gallagher who led and managed this project. I had a role in developing and writing the proposal as well as working on the research. I was named collaborator and co-fund holder for this project.
- Funding Agency
- Health Service Executive (36,000euro) and CUA funding stream (36,000euro) (72,000euro total)
- Date From
- 2018
- Date To
- 2021
- Title
- Analysing the focus and impact of Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) inspection on child protection and welfare services in Ireland
- Summary
- This project entailed research to produce an evidence informed coding framework that could be utilized for future analysis of HIQA child protection and welfare inspection reports. This project was led by Dr Louise Caffrey who was Principal Investigator. My role was a researcher on the project. Total grant value awarded was 10,000euro.
- Funding Agency
- Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth
- Date From
- 2023
- Date To
- 2024
- Title
- Achieving better outcomes for disadvantaged children within the cost-of-living crisis: Findings of a study into the implementation of an outcomes framework
- Summary
- This research investigated outcomes measurement for disadvantaged children using a mixed methods approach of quantitative and qualitative research strategies. Funding was provided to disseminate the findings of the project. For this, total grant value awarded was 1,000euro.
- Funding Agency
- Arts and Social Sciences Benefactions Fund
- Date From
- 2024
- Date To
- 2024
- Title
- Person-centricity in the professional management of internet-related risk: How professionals support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with internet safety
- Summary
- The research question for this project is, `What is the nature of person-centricity in professional practice, around the management of internet-usage related risk, for service users with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)'. A small but highly targeted, hard-to-reach sample of key professionals (n=10) underwent qualitative semi-structured interviews and the results are considered with respect to person-centricity. Funding was provided for dissemination. For this, the total grant value is 2,000euro.
- Funding Agency
- Arts and Social Sciences Benefactions Fund
- Date From
- 2025
- Date To
- 2025
Recognition
Awards and Honours
The ESWRA Award for an Outstanding Publication in European Social Work Research: Nominee
Nominee for a Trinity Excellence in Teaching Award in 2023-24
Nominee for an Award for Excellence in Research Student Supervision
Nominee for an Award for Excellence in Research Student Supervision