Children First - Spotlight on Implementation 

Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland

Jan Perrin, Tusla Children First Information and Advice Officer

Pat Rabbitte, Chairperson, Tusla

Eifion Williams, Tusla Service Director NCU

Caroline Jordan, Tusla Interim Area Manager National Garda Liaison &
Children First

Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children

Gerry Hone, Tusla Interim Director for Services and Integration

Denise Sheridan Tusla Principal Social Worker and

Sean Blackwell Senior PPFS manager

Shane Power, Tusla National Commissioning Unit

Moderator – Ger Brophy, Tusla Chief Social Worker

Panel members:

• Maria Cleary, CEO, Community Therapy Ireland
• Fergal Landy, CEO, Family Resource Centre National Forum
• Dr. Tracey Monson, CEO, Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service
• David Power, Director, Smyly Trust

Colette McLoughlin, Tusla Service Director, National Office Services and Integration

Pat was appointed chairperson of Tusla on the 1st January 2019. Former leader of the Irish Labour Party, Pat served as a public representative for more than 30 years. He was Minister for State for Commerce, Science and Technology (1994-1997) and Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (2011-1014).

As a member of the Public Accounts Committee, Pat was part of the DIRT Inquiry into tax evasion in the banks and was chairperson of the Cabinet Sub Committee on the Misuse of Drugs which established the National Drugs Strategy in 1997. Pat was a member of the Council of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) from 2018 to 2023 and is former chairperson of Dublin City Council.

Eifion Williams is Service Director for Commissioning at Tusla, where he leads work to make sure children, families and communities get the right services in the right place. He oversees national commissioning and partnerships worth €250 million, helping Tusla and its partners deliver better outcomes through smart planning, fair resource allocation, and strong governance.

With a background in youth work and community development and Health Sector Management Eifion is passionate about practical solutions that free up frontline workers and strengthen local services. He’s known for bringing people together, cutting through complexity, and keeping the focus on what matters most: supporting children, young people and families to thrive.

As a CORU registered social worker Caroline has worked in the statutory children and family services for over 30 years. Her current role since November 2023 is national manager of the Children First Information and Advice Service and Tusla National Garda Liaison Office in Tusla’s National Office for Services and Integration.

Caroline also leads Tusla’s national programme of work in partnership with Traveller organisations with a focus on promoting awareness, access and participation in Tusla and Tusla funded services for the Traveller community. She represents Tusla’s national office in cross government and cross agency groups to prevent and address homelessness with a focus on the needs of children, young people and families.

Dr Niall Muldoon, who is a counsellor and clinical psychologist is currently 4 years into his second term serving as Ireland’s second Ombudsman for Children. Ombudsman for Children Niall has focused on generating an Ireland where children and young people are actively heard, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

During his tenure, the Office has consulted with young people availing of Ireland’s Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Direct Provision, those in children’s hospitals and homeless young people living in Family Hubs.

Alongside others, Niall has contributed to i) the introduction of the ‘Barnahus, Onehouse Galway’ model to ease trauma for children who have been sexually abused, ii) bringing an end to young people being held in adult prisons, iii) pushing for the establishment of a standalone Child Poverty Unit within Government.

Previous roles include Regional Chief Officer for West NorthWest, Area Manager for Donegal and Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan. 

A qualified Social Worker Gerry has managed Child Protection and Alternative Care Services at several levels involving the implementation of Children First internally and across several agency boundaries with key partners. 

Denise Sheridan is a dedicated Social Worker with over 15 years of experience in Child Protection and Alternative Care Services in urban and rural communities. Currently serving in a leadership role as a Principal Social Worker with Tusla based in the Cavan Monaghan area, Denise has built a career marked by commitment to safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable children and families by consistently advocating for best practices in social work and systemic improvements through collaboration.

With a background in frontline and management positions, Denise has developed expertise in areas such case management, child protection assessments, court work and interagency collaboration. As a Principal Social Worker Denise is responsible for leading teams, overseeing complex casework, ensuring compliance with national policy and legislation, and contributing to service planning and development.

With a passion for integrity and leadership Denise is committed to improving outcomes for children and families by focusing on building strong partnerships with colleagues and stakeholders to create coordinated, responsive supports for children and families at risk.

Sean worked in many roles in residential care before taking a post in aftercare in Cavan Monaghan in 2011. As a CORU registered social worker Sean has worked as aftercare manager for Cavan Monaghan before moving back to PPFS for the second time earlier this year.

Gerard Brophy is Chief Social Worker in Tusla, the Child and Family Agency in Ireland. He has over 25 years as a qualified social worker and manager working in child and family services across direct work and governance. He is leading a team supporting practitioners in delivering effective services to children and families and promoting excellence and continuous improvement in practice.

The Office of the Chief Social Worker is also leading for Tusla on recruitment and retention of social workers and the implementation of the Barnahus interagency model to support children who have experienced sexual abuse.

Maria brings over a decade of senior leadership experience having worked with membership organisations, national and international NGOs, and the UN. Maria holds three Masters Degrees and her latest dissertation focused on Child Safeguarding Policy and Practice in Ireland.

Over the last two years, Maria has supported the expansion of the Barnahus programme in Ireland. Maria’s commitment to the implementation of Children First from a Child’s Rights perspective is evidenced through her leadership in developing the Community Therapy Ireland Clinical Governance Badge of Excellence.

Fergal is the Chief Executive Officer of the Family Resource Centre National Forum in Ireland, which represents a network of 126 FRCs across Ireland; he is a board member of the Children’s Rights Alliance; and founding President of the International Association of Family Support Networks which seeks to promote international cooperation, exchange, and best practices within the Family Support field.

Fergal is dedicated to fostering resilient, trauma-informed, and rights-based communities. With extensive expertise in children’s human rights, child protection, and community development, he brings over two decades of leadership in social change. A strong advocate for prevention and early intervention and place-based systems change, he combines collaborative leadership, research, policy development, and activism to advocate for such change. He holds an LLM in International Law and Human Rights from the University of Galway and a Bachelor of Social Studies in Social Work from Trinity College Dublin.

Dr. Monson has worked for over 25 years in frontline and leadership positions with children, young people and families in need from early intervention to protective services. She has worked in the community and voluntary sector for all her career and in partnership with state services and children and families.  

David has extensive experience in social care having been active in the field for over 37 years. David has worked in a variety of roles across the health care profession including at The Children’s Detention Schools, Disability Services, The Crisis Interventions Service, and Community Care HSE prior to joining Smyly Trust Services in 2014. David’s commitment and passion for ensuring that quality services have never diminished over the years.

Colette is a CORU registered social worker and holds additional qualifications in child protection and welfare and health services management from Trinity College. She has over 33 years’ operational and managerial experience in child protection, child welfare, family support and early intervention and alternative care work.

Colette currently chairs Tusla’s National Children First Committee and in 2016/2017 was Tusla’s project lead for the Agency, preparing the Agency for the commencement and implementation of the Children First Act (2015). She is also service director for Tusla’s National Garda Liaison Office and has a long-standing collaborative working relationship with other key Voluntary and Community partners and Agencies, most notably with An Garda Síochána, to collectively respond to child protection and welfare concerns at an operational and strategic level.

Workshop Facilitators

Workshop 1 - Child Safeguarding Statement

Danielle has a Degree in Social Care and has worked in a variety of roles both in the Community and has worked in Children's Residential Care and Aftercare since 2014. Danielle is currently Professional Support Manager for Peter McVerry Trust Children's Residential Services, providing support with staff development, planning for young people and service compliance and regulation.

Maria McGloughlin is the lead for the Child Safeguarding Statement Compliance Unit (CSSCU) within Tusla. Maria is a qualified social worker who worked for 10 years in child protection before moving to Children’s Services Regulation in 2020. As lead for the CSSCU Maria has been involved in the development of the CSSCU strategy, has led on engaging in a wide range of partnerships including both statutory and non-statutory service, and continues to progress the impact of the unit. Maria has developed practice in liaising between child protection teams and regulations services to create more robust safeguarding within Relevant Services.

Tanya has a Degree in Social Science and a Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy. She began working in Children's Residential Services in 1998.  She has worked in and managed Children's Residential services and is now Director of Services overseeing the Child and Family Services for Peter McVerry Trust, including Children's Residential Services, Aftercare, Family Services and Learning Centres. 

Workshop 2 - Child Safeguarding Procedures

Déirdre Horan Martin is a Tusla Children First Information and Advice Officer from 2002 to present. Prior to taking up the role with Tusla, she worked in various sectors including NGO and Education. Whilst working with the Children First Information and Advice Service in Tusla she has worked with many services, including the Statutory Services, Community and Voluntary Sector, NGB’s and NGOs.

As part of the CFIAS she developed resource materials to support services in their understanding of Children First and developed Child Safeguarding training materials.

Niamh Quinn is a General Manager with Tusla Education Support Service (TESS).  Prior to this Niamh was the CPD Manager for the School Completion Programme with responsibility to develop and deliver a bespoke CPD programme to over 500 SCP staff. Niamh has an extensive background in Youth and Community sector, working as both a Senior Youth Officer leading and managing a range of Youth Work services funded by a range of government departments and philanthropies, as well as an Outreach Youth Officer delivering supports directly to young people aged 14+ identified as ‘most at risk’.

Workshop 3 - Child Safeguarding Training

Laura has worked in many roles in the Early Years Sector as an educator, mentor and leader. Laura brings an MA in Leadership and Advocacy in the Early Years from ATU and a Post Graduate Diploma in Child Protection and Welfare from Trinity College Dublin to the role, combined with over 20 years’ experience.

Laura has been a Children First Information and Advice Officer with Tusla since March 2021. She has a background in residential care and in working in child protection and welfare multi-disciplinary teams in both statutory and voluntary organisations. She holds a master’s degree in child Protection and Welfare from Trinity College, Dublin.

Her work in the CFIAS involves supporting organisations, sectors and Government Departments in meeting their responsibilities under the Children First Act and National Guidance. Laura has worked closely with the National Child Safeguarding Programme for the early years sector for more than 13 years. In cooperation with Children First Information and Advice Service colleagues this support has included the development of tailored training programmes, training and quality assurance of trainers, the development of resources and the ongoing provision of information and advice on Children First and child safeguarding.

Workshop 4 - Child Safeguarding Implementation

Dara is the link inspector for child protection matters and has supported the Parents and Learners Unit of the Department in the redevelopment of the child protection procedures for schools. The Inspectorate has very recently redeveloped the Child Protection and Safeguarding Inspection model, and Dara has been involved in trials of the new model in schools. Prior to joining the Inspectorate, Dara was an administrative primary school principal and, previously, a teaching principal in a different school.

Maureen Crowley is a Children First Information and Advice Officer with Tusla, Child and Family Agency since 2001. Prior to joining Tusla Maureen worked in the voluntary / community sector and in healthcare, with a particular focus on adult education and quality of care.

As part of the Children First Information and Advice Service, Maureen supports organisations in the South West region through training and advice. Maureen has led on the development of resources to support organisations understand and meet their responsibilities under the Children First Act 2015 and Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. As a member of Tusla’s Children First Steering Committee, Maureen supports the response to identified themes including the development of the Children First Governance Framework.

Workshop 5 - Safeguarding Children through their involvment

Eimear O Connor works for Foróige, the National Youth Development Organisation and is project lead for a number of Tusla commissioned services in Co. Donegal, including the provision of intensive youth support for young people referred by Tusla.  Eimear also collaborates with Tusla Donegal on Youth Participation initiatives, advocating for the voice of children in decision-making. Additionally, she serves on Foróige’s National Child Safeguarding Committee, contributing to the development of organisational policy and procedures in line with best practice.

Roisín Moyles is a Tusla Children First Information and Advice Officer for Mayo & Roscommon.  Before joining the Children First Information and Advice Service (CFIAS) in 2022, Roisin worked in the Community & Voluntary Sector in services commissioned by Tusla.  These services included her role a Manager of a Family Resource Centre and as a Project Worker and Senior Youth Officer with Foróige Youth and Family Support Services. 

Roisín has always been passionate about the involvement and participation of children and young people and was involved in the development of the CFIAS Safeguarding Children Through Their Involvement resource document and explainer Video