All TIGALA Guardians ad Litem have a minimum of 10 years’ experience working with children and families.
Our Guardians ad Litem
Our Trusted Experts
.avif)
Sophie Hughes
Guardian ad Litem
Summary
Sophie is a Professionally Qualified Social Worker with extensive experience working with children and families. Sophie was instantly drawn to child protection when she began her first job in Tusla in 2016.
As a Social Worker and a Social Work Team Leader Sophie has held complex caseloads including multiple out of state placements for children in care. During her child protection career Sophie has experience of managing crisis situations with at times, minimal resources.
As Sophie gained more experience in the area of children in care she realised the importance of trauma informed practice and trauma informed care. This lead to undertaking further training in Dyadic Developmental Practice. This training has been invaluable to her work with children and families.
Sophie’s Practice has always been underpinned by a passion for Children’s rights, Sophie is particularly interested in how family rights and parental rights are balanced with children’s rights in social policy and legislation.
Qualifications
2016 | Masters in Applied Social Studies (Social Work) – University College Dubin
2012 | Higher Diploma in Social Policy University College Cork
2011 | Bachelor of Arts – Politics and History with constructed electives in Social Justice – University College Dublin
Further Education and Training
2025 – Present | Monthly Professional and Training Sessions with TIGALA.
2025 | Children First – TUSLA
2023 | Coaching Skills Training – TUSLA
2022 | Permanency planning for Children in Care – TUSLA
2021 | First Time Managers Training – TUSLA
2021 | Signs of Safety – Advanced Training
2020 | GDPR – TUSLA
2019 | Dyadic Developmental Practice Level 2 – Psychological Pathways: Dr Davinia Herbert
2019 | Understanding the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma – Social Care Ireland: Dr. Karen Treisman
2018 | Practice Teacher Training – Trinity College Dublin
2018 | Signs of Safety – Introductory Training
2018 | Dyadic Developmental Practice Level 1 – Psychological Pathways: Dr Davinia Herbert
2017 | Child and Youth Participation Training – TUSLA
2017 | Direct Work with Children – IASW
2016 | Court Skills and Report Writing – TUSLA
2016 | Attachment Training – TUSLA
Employment History
2025 – Present | Guardian ad Litem – The Independent Guardian Ad Litem Agency (TIGALA).
2025 – Present | Independent Social Worker
2021 – 2025 | Social Work Team Leader, Children in Care Team – TUSLA, Child and Family Agency, Dublin South East/Wicklow
2020 – 2021 | Senior Social Work Practitioner, Medical Social Work Team – St Vincent’s Private Hospital
2017 – 2020 | Professionally Qualified Social Worker, Children in Care Team – TUSLA, Child and Family Agency, Dublin South East
2016 – 2017 | Professionally Qualified Social Worker, Children in Care Team – TUSLA, Child and Family Agency, Dublin South Central
2015 – 2016 | Relief Project Worker – Peter McVery Trust
2012 – 2015 | Part time teacher’s assistant – Strand Montessori
Areas of Special Interest:
• Trauma informed social work;
• Developmental Trauma;
• Kinship Care;
• Holistic care planning for children in care;
• Neuro scientific discourse in social policy;
• Child’s rights based approach to Social Work.
Professional Membership
Sophie Hughes is registered with CORU.
Sophie Hughes is fully Garda Vetted.
Sophie Hughes is a member of NAGALRO Professional Association for Children’s Guardians, Family Advisers and Independent Social Workers.
Sophie Hughes
Guardian ad Litem
