All TIGALA Guardians ad Litem have a minimum of 10 years’ experience working with children and families.
Our Guardians ad Litem
Our Trusted Experts

Robbie Townsend
Guardian ad Litem
Summary
Robbie is a qualified Social Worker with over ten years’ experience in both Ireland and Australia. Robbie has worked as a Social Work Team Leader for Alternative Care, managing a team of eleven Social Workers and Social Care Workers. He has also worked as a Child Protection Social Worker, Duty Social Worker and Foster Care Social Worker. Robbie has also been a Social Work Practice Teacher for Social Work students
Robbie has extensive experience working with children and vulnerable young people from diverse family backgrounds with varying levels of need, ranging from Family Support to young people requiring admission to Special Care. Robbie has completed detailed assessments ranging from Child Protection risk assessments relating to neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Robbie has completed Foster Care assessments and is also experienced in utilising the Signs of Safety Framework.
Robbie has extensive court experience in both the District and Circuit Court. Robbie has also been involved in court proceedings in the High Court. Robbie led out on the standardisation of court reports across the Alternative Care team he led and supported the team to enhance the quality of court reports.
Robbie is experienced and trained in participatory work with children, ascertaining the views and wishes of the child. This work was recognised in 2021 when his team were the recipients of an Investing in Children award. This award was obtained for engaging with over forty children in relation to services in their community.
Having completed a Degree, two Masters and a wide range of training, Robbie is committed to his ongoing academic and professional development.
Qualifications
2015 – 2018 | MA International Development – National University of Ireland Maynooth
2008 – 2010 | MA Social Work - University College Dublin
2006 | Certificate in Counselling- University College Dublin
2003 – 2006 | Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science -University College Dublin
Further Education and Training
2020 | Children First
2020 | GDPR
2020 | Non Violent Resistance Training
2019 | Karen Treisman, Trauma & the Work Place
2019 | Parental Co-creation Facilitator Training
2019 | Parents Plus Facilitator Working Things Out
2019 | Meitheal Lead Practitioner Facilitator
2019 | Meitheal Chairperson Training
2019 | Presentation & Facilitation Skills
2019 | What Works Action Learning Sets
2019 | Media & Communication Training
2019 | Parents Plus Facilitator Parenting When Separated
2018 | Parents Plus Facilitator Early Years
2018 | Parents Plus Facilitator Children’s Programme
2018 | Tusla, Evidence Informed Practitioner Programme
2017 | Child & Youth Participation Training
2017 | The Signs of Safety Child Protection Practice Framework
2016 | Court Skills
2014 | Adolescent Sexual Offending Training
2014 | Attachment, Development &Trauma Training, Berry Street
2014 | ASSIST Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
2014 | Cumulative Harm Training
2010 | Social Work Counselling Skills Certificate
Employment History
2021 – Present | Guardian ad Litem – The Independent Guardian Ad Litem Agency
2018 – 2021 | Child and Family Support Network Coordinator – TUSLA Prevention Partnership and Family Support
2017 – 2018 | Child Protection Social Worker – TUSLA
2017 -2017 |Team Leader Alternative Care - Sligo Leitrim West Cavan TUSLA
2015 – 2017 | Fostering/Child in Care Social Worker –TUSLA
2013 – 2015 | Case Contracting Social Worker – DHHS Australia
2012 – 2013 | Advanced Child Protection Practitioner –DHHS Australia
2010 – 2012 | Child Protection Social Worker – HSE
Areas of Special Interest
Social Work in a Multicultural society- Robbie’s first Masters dissertation focused on Social Work engagement with ethnic and religious minorities with a particular focus on Social Work with the Muslim Community. Robbie has also worked in a Social Work capacity with families from diverse backgrounds, particularly in Australia. In a voluntary capacity, Robbie has worked in South Africa, Uganda and North East India.
Children’s Rights- Robbie’s second Masters dissertation focused on Parental perceptions of children’s rights in India within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Robbie is trained in the utilisation of the ‘Lundy’ participatory model. Robbie spent a number of years supporting organisations to engage in participatory work with children in order to realise the child’s right to give their opinion and share what they think. Robbie has also engaged in extensive participatory work with children in his own right.
Parenting- Robbie was the Tusla lead for parentingin Sligo. Robbie also chaired the Parenting Support Champions group and assisted in the development of a Parenting Strategy. Robbie has extensive training in parenting programmes and is a trained facilitator.