Aoife has over ten years’ experience of working with Children and Families, specializing in the area of child protection and welfare. Aoife has worked in children’s residential services, as a child and family social worker, social work team leader, Principal social worker and Child Protection Case Conference Chair, working across all pillars of the service. Aoife has been a member of the Foster Care Committee and Resource Panel.

Aoife has an extensive knowledge of working with children in care, care planning and after care services. In working with children and families Aoife has always placed the child at the center of her decision making. In completing and overseeing pre birth assessments, risk assessments, care planning and after care planning Aoife ensured the child and family’s voice was heard in a meaningful way. In supports, supervising and managing teams Aoife always placed the child at the center of decision making. Aoife has extensive experience in completing child centered need and risk assessments, parenting capacity assessments and experience of providing comprehensive assessment reports to assist Court decisions.

As principal social worker Aoife participated and lead service improvement projects and audits, ensuring quality assurance across the area.  Aoife is a qualified mediator having completed a post graduate diploma in Trinity College in 2016. Aoife is excellent at relationship building and developing rapport with children and families. Aoife works in collaboration with children and families from a solution and strengths based perspective. Aoife has extensive experience working directly with young peoples and is currently undertaking a postgraduate diploma in Play Therapy.

2023 | UniversityCollege Cork – Post Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy (Stage 1 of MA inPractice Based Play Therapy)

2016 – 2017 | Post Grad Diploma Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Trinity College, Dublin

2005 –2009 | Bachelors of Social Work, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Second Class Honours (2.1)

2003 –2005 | Higher Diploma Social Care BTEC, Whitehall College of Further Education, Dublin

Further Education and Training

Monthly Professional and Training Sessions with TIGALA

2023 | Family Ties: Therapeutic assessment and treatment of high conflict separated parents and their children -  Anna Freud Centre.

2023 | Children’s First – TUSLA

2023 | Assessor’s Training

2018 | Signs of Safety

2018 | Leadership Training

2017 | Complaints Handling

2012 | Practice Teacher

2023 – Present | Guardian ad Litem – The Independent Guardian Ad Litem Agency (TIGALA)    

2019 – 2020 | Child Protection Case Conference Chair Person

2017 – 2019 | Principal Social Worker

2014 – 2017 | Social Work Team Leader – Assessment and Intervention Team – Child and Family Agency (TUSLA)

2010 – 2014 | Social Worker – Long-term child protection team – Child and Family Agency(TUSLA)

·        Comprehensive Care Planning

·        Risk Assessment and risk management in Reunification

·        Assessment of Family Contact

·        Childhood Neglect

·        Vulnerable Teens requiring residential or Special Care

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Voluntary Work

‍2010 – 2014 | St Vincent De Paul – Soup Run Dublin City.

2003 – 2023 | Scout Leader – Phibsboro Scout Troop

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Professional Membership

Aoife Keely is registered with CORU

Member of NAGALRO Professional Association for Children’s Guardians, Family Advisers and Independent Social Workers