Current Projects
| Project Title | Review of the Meitheal Model |
| Commencement Date |
May 2024 |
| Research Team |
Dr Carmel Devaney, Dr Patricia O Connor, Prof John Canavan, Prof Caroline Mc Gregor |
| Project Summary |
The aim of this research is to review the implementation and impact of Meitheal, including the role of the Child and Family Support Networks in supporting its delivery. Meitheal is a Tusla-led Early Intervention Practice Model designed to ensure that the strengths and needs of children and their families are effectively identified, understood, and responded to in a timely way so they get the help and support needed to improve children’s outcomes and realise their rights. It is an early intervention, multi-agency (when necessary) response, tailored to the needs of the individual child or young person. Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs) are made up of various agencies and local voluntary and community services in a particular catchment area working with and supporting children and families. Both Meitheal and the CFSNs are part of Tusla - Child and Family Agency’s Programme for Partnership, Prevention, and Family Support (PPFS).s. |
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| Project Title | A quality assurance implementation protocol for family support services in Europe. An evidence -based and culturally informed model for professional practice |
| Commencement Date |
2023 |
| Research Team |
Professor John Canavan & Dr Carmel Devaney |
| Project Summary |
Building on the work of Eurofament Professor John Canavan & Dr Carmel Devaneyare part of newly established project funded through a COST Innovators Grant (IG18123) working on quality assurance protocols for family support practice and services in Europe(QA[4]EuroFam). Entitled ‘A quality assurance implementation protocol for family support services in Europe. An evidence -based and culturally informed model for professional practice’ this project commenced in November 2023, and has members from 25 countries and 10 European entities. For more information see:
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| Project Title |
Ment4EU |
| Commencement Date | 2023 |
| Research Team |
Dr Bernadine Brady & Dr Charlotte Silke |
| Project Summary |
Dr Bernadine Brady was part of a successful Erasmus + bid under the Action KA220-HED - Cooperation partnerships in higher education. The three-year project, called Ment4EU commences in December 2023. The goal of Ment4EU is to help higher education keep abreast of the growing significance of social mentoring in policy and practice across nations. A consortium of universities from Austria, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain will develop guidance on how universities can develop mentoring schemes for social inclusion and engage more responsibly with their communities. |
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| Project Title |
A Research Partnership to Investigate the provision of Staffed Local Networks for Childminders in Ireland |
| Commencement Date | 2023 |
| Research Team |
Dr Sheila Garrity, Dr Danielle Kennan |
| Project Summary |
This research supports the establishment of Staffed Local Childminding Networks (SLCN) as part of the National Action Plan for Childminding (NAPC). The SLCNs are proposed as a means to enhance the quality of home based childcare provision for children and families, while encouraging childminders to engage with formal supports. The research aim is to investigate the most suitable methods to provide SLCN through a collaborative action research project, while building the research capacity of key actors involved in the NAPC. |
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| Project Title | Systems and Complexity in Health and Social Services |
| Commencement Date |
2021 |
| Research Team |
Dr Aisling Gillen, Professor John Canavan |
| Project Summary |
Programme Aims:
Programme Activities:
Outputs: Webinar 1 Complexity Theory and Child Protection and Welfare Webinar 2 Complexity Theory and Public Services Webinar 3 The complexity of finding out what works Webinar 4 Complexity and Leadership
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| Project Title | Evaluation of “Designing Futures: Next Generation Graduates” |
| Commencement Date |
April 2021 |
| Research Team |
Dr Connie O’Regan, Dr Tony Hall & Professor Michelle Millar |
| Project Summary |
The goal of Designing Futures is to enable every student to succeed in the future world of work. The project will ultimately empower every student to design their personalised skills development pathway, and to have their transversal skills achievements recognised on graduation alongside their degree. This approach, if more widely adopted, could position Ireland as a leader in innovative, student-centred and enterprise-engaged education in Europe. Designing Futures will initially transform undergraduate Arts and Science programmes and then building out to all students.
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