Deborah has worked with children and families for 17 years across various roles and teams, including medical social work in Ireland and the United Kingdom, foster care, youth homelessness services, and as a team leader in children in care. Deborah gained extensive experience working with children, vulnerable young people, and families during that time.

Deborah has experience working with children in care, including general foster care, relative foster carers, Supported accommodation, and residential and special care. Deborah has experience supporting foster carers and children in care. Deborah has worked directly with children and young people with complex medical needs, challenging behaviours, and children from various ethnic groups. Deborah has experience working with children in care, care planning, and aftercare services. Deborah has worked directly with young people and families from diverse family backgrounds facing issues such as mental health, addiction, trauma and emotional dysregulation behavioural problems, as well as young people at risk of being out of home or out of home. Deborah conducted preventative work to help young people remain at home, improve family dynamics, and support transitions back home for young people who have been out of home.

Deborah has worked as a Fostering Link Worker. Deborah’s role was to recruit, train, support and supervise foster families caring for children and young people. This role gave Deborah extensive experience assessing foster carers and supporting fostering placements. It also ensured a commitment to providing quality service to foster care children and young people. As a Team Leader, Deborah has experience managing and supporting social workers in completing risk assessments and making long-term plans for children in care. Deborah encouraged and supported her team to develop trusting relationships with children and young people and promoted good-quality service provision. Deborah has strong knowledge and experience in implementing Childcare Legislation, Children’s First guidance, and the National Standards of Foster Care.

Deborah has always placed the child at the centre of her decision-making, ensuring that the child and family's voice is paramount and heard meaningfully. Deborah values building genuine relationships with children and their families to identify the most appropriate outcomes.

Deborah has experience training and delivering evidence-based, culturally relevant programmes with migrant parents and carers (immigrant and ethnic minority groups) and training social workers in Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility. Deborah has experience sitting on the Adoption Committee. Throughout her working life, Deborah has collaborated with various stakeholders, adhered to high professional standards, and demonstrated excellent communication skills. Deborah is an experienced social work practice teacher who appreciates the value of reflective learning and ongoing training to enhance her professional development and that of others. She has experience at the District and circuit court levels and produces detailed, accurate, evidence-based, informed reports.

2023 – 2024 | NFQ Level 8 Certificate in Leadership and Transformational Change – Munster Technological University, Co. Kerry

2007 – 2008 | Msoc, Masters in Social Policy (2:2) – University College Cork

2003 – 2007 | BSW, Hons Bachelor of Social Work (2:1) – University College Cork

Further Education and Training

2025 – Present | Monthly Professional and Training Sessions with TIGALA.

Deborah has attended all TUSLA-mandated training such as Children’s First, GDPR, Signs of Safety, Employee Health and Safety Awareness, Violence and Harassment, and Sharing Personal Data Safely- Making good decisions about Sharing Personal Data and Freedom of Information.

2024 | Aoife Bairead Training, Family Contact, Reunification /Transition Planning and Life Story.

2024 | Social Work Team Leader Development Programme.

2024 | Mediation Skills and Conflict Resolution Training.

2024 | Management – An Introduction for First-Time Managers.

2023 | Becoming Trauma Aware: An Introduction to Psychological Trauma.

2023 | Court Skills Fundamentals.

2023 | TUSLA Coaching Skills Programme.

2023 | Child and Youth Participation Training.

2022 | Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility Training for Social Workers.

2022 | Evidence-based, culturally relevant Programme with immigrant and ethnic minority groups (parents and carers).

2022 | Domestic Violence and Child Protection Training for Practitioners.

2019 | Practice teacher Training.

2017 | Signs of Safety.

2017 | Understanding Self Harm.

2016 | Non-Violent Resistance Training.

2013 | Making Good Fostering Assessments.

2012 | Parenting Plus Facilitator Training.

Areas of Special Interest

Deborah’s particular areas of interest are:

* Deborah has a keen interest in working with separated children/unaccompanied minors and children and young people from migrant groups.

* Deborah has extensive experience with adolescents and young people.

* Deborah is a volunteer at Cork Migrant Centre, Nano Nagle Place, Cork.

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Professional Membership

* Deborah Nyagaya is registered with CORU.

* Deborah Nyagaya is fully Garda Vetted.

* Deborah Nyagaya is a member of NAGALRO Professional Association for Children’s Guardians, Family Advisers and Independent Social Workers.