Under the Aegis: Dr. Niall Reynolds on Collaborative Practice and Systemic Principles

Join Dr. Niall Reynolds as he discusses the importance of collaborative practice and systemic principles in building relationships and advancing child advocacy within the Irish child welfare system.

Dr. Niall Reynolds, a Guardian ad Litem with TIGALA with a wealth of experience in child protection, shares his insights on the significance of systemic principles and collaborative practice in child advocacy. These approaches are crucial for engaging with people and managing relationships effectively.

"One of the things that I do to relate to people better is the use of systemic principles and collaborative practice," Dr. Reynolds explains. This method involves engaging with individuals through thoughtful questions, tone, body language, and overall affect to build and maintain relationships over time. It's an essential strategy for managing relationships.

Ensuring that you have good working relationships with the other people in the system always benefits the child and keeps the child at the centre of all the decisions that are being made.

Another key aspect of collaborative practice, is working within the broader child protection and welfare system. While it's vital to establish strong relationships with the young people we represent, it's equally important to demonstrate collaborative practice with other professionals in the system. Building good relationships with colleagues helps bring them on board and ensures a cohesive approach to child advocacy.

In the inaugural Under the Aegis post, TIGALA Director & Guardian ad Litem Claire Quinn described collaboration as one of the core pillars for Guardians working with The Independent Guardian Ad Litem Agency.

"Whilst the GAL role isn’t independent of the other services, it can be independent in a way that we can have good working relationships with the other people that work in that system," says Dr. Reynolds. Effective collaboration moves things forward positively for the child.

Dr. Reynolds emphasises the impact of collaborative relationships on child welfare cases. When professionals do not work well together, it can lead to delays and shifts the focus away from the child. Ensuring good working relationships with others in the system always benefits the child and keeps them at the centre of all decisions being made.