Profile Summary

Fiona Murphy is a CORU-registered social worker and applied psychologist with over 15 years of experience across child protection, family support and court-related work. She holds a First Class Honours BA in Psychology from University College Dublin, an MSc in Applied Psychology with Distinction from Trinity College Dublin, a First Class Honours BA in Social Work from Robert Gordon University, and a Professional Diploma in Intermediary Studies from the University of Limerick.

Fiona brings a clinically informed, balanced and child-centred approach to her work, with a strong emphasis on attachment, trauma and supporting families through complex proceedings. She is committed to empowering parents and helping families move towards safety, stability and positive relationships.

She practises as a Guardian ad Litem with GALLORE since 2025 and as an Independent Social Worker and Registered Intermediary, working collaboratively with the HAPii team and available for joint assessments where a combined psychological and social work perspective is beneficial.

Current Profile Areas

  • Guardian ad Litem
  • Independent Social Work
  • Applied Psychology
  • Registered Intermediary
  • Child Protection
  • Family & Risk Assessments
  • Voice of the Child
  • Parent Advocate Work
  • Trauma-Responsive Practice

Qualifications

  • 2023-2024Professional Diploma in Intermediary Studies, First Class, University of Limerick.
  • 2012-2015BA (Hons) Social Work, First Class, Robert Gordon University.
  • 2008-2009MSc Applied Psychology, Distinction, Trinity College Dublin.
  • 2004-2007BA (Hons) Psychology, First Class, University College Dublin.

Career History

  • 2025-presentGALLORE Guardian ad Litem.
  • 2024-presentRegistered Intermediary and Independent Social Worker.
  • 2020-2024Social Work Service Manager, Extern Child Protection and Welfare Support Services, Dublin South East and Wicklow.
  • 2016-2020Multisystemic Therapy Supervisor / Manager, Bail Supervision Scheme.
  • 2016-2017State Board Member, Oberstown Children Detention Campus.
  • 2016Youth Justice Coordinator / Social Worker, Extern GYPD.
  • 2015-2016Service Coordinator / Social Worker, Extern Janus Project.
  • 2014Trainee Probation Officer, Probation Service Ireland.
  • 2009-2015Project Worker, Extern Janus Project.
  • 2007-2009SEN Resource Teacher, Colaiste Eoin, Crumlin.

Assessments and Services at HAPii

Fiona offers a comprehensive range of independent assessments and services through HAPii, combining her background in applied psychology and social work to provide clinically informed, rigorous and court-ready reports.

  • Voice of the Child / Section 32 Assessments.
  • Comprehensive Family and Risk Assessments.
  • Access and Contact Assessments.
  • Pre-Birth Assessments.
  • Kinship Care and Fostering Assessments.
  • Systemic Assessments and Interventions (Multisystemic Therapy informed).
  • Parent Advocate Work.
  • Registered Intermediary Services for vulnerable witnesses and defendants.
  • Psychoeducational support for parents and carers.

Guardian ad Litem, Independent Social Work and Intermediary Practice

Fiona practises as a Guardian ad Litem with GALLORE, as an Independent Social Worker and as a Registered Intermediary. Across all three roles, she brings a multidisciplinary understanding of children's and families' needs drawn from applied psychology, social work and over 15 years of direct frontline practice.

Her independent social work practice is clinically informed, attachment-focused and trauma-aware. She works collaboratively with the HAPii team and is available for joint assessments where a combined psychological and social work perspective adds value to the assessment process.

As a Registered Intermediary, Fiona supports communication with vulnerable children and adults in complex legal proceedings, ensuring their voices are understood clearly and their participation is meaningful and fair.

  • Experienced in child protection, family support and youth justice systems.
  • Qualified to support vulnerable witnesses and participants in legal proceedings.
  • Skilled in integrating psychological insight with statutory and legal frameworks.

Service Leadership and Youth Justice

Fiona has held leadership roles across Tusla-funded child and family support services, including managing services in Dublin South East and Wicklow and supporting multidisciplinary teams working in complex child welfare contexts.

She was instrumental in establishing Ireland's first Bail Supervision Scheme, a cross-agency programme designed to reduce youth offending and the use of custodial sentences for children and young people.

  • Managed child protection and welfare support services.
  • Supervised and managed Multisystemic Therapy work in the Bail Supervision Scheme.
  • Contributed to innovation in youth justice and community-based alternatives to custody.

Conferences and Lecturing

  • UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, 9th Biennial International Conference.
  • 12th Annual North South Criminology Conference.
  • ACJRD Bail Supervision Scheme Seminar, DCYA.
  • University of Limerick seminar on Bail Supervision for Children.
  • Dublin Institute of Technology guest lecture on the MA Criminology course.
  • Consultation and involvement with the Irish Criminal Justice and Disability Network.

Further Education and Training

  • Experienced in Section 20, Section 23 and Section 36 assessments.
  • Skilled in statutory assessments, court reporting, care planning and interagency collaboration.
  • Multisystemic Therapy Supervisor Training.
  • YLS/CMI 2.0 Risk Management Training.
  • Expert Witness and Courtroom Skills training.
  • Children First: Child Protection Policy.
  • Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.
  • Restorative Practice.
  • Leadership and Coaching Skills.
  • Contingency Management for substance abuse.
  • Motivational Interviewing.
  • ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training.

Awards and Recognition

  • UCD Postgraduate Scholarship, 2007.
  • International Corrections and Prisons Association Correctional Excellence Award, 2019 Community Corrections Award for the Bail Supervision Scheme initiative.
  • Civil Service Excellence and Innovation Award, 2019 Excellence Through Collaboration for the Bail Supervision Scheme initiative.
  • Multisystemic Therapy Certificate of Excellence, 2020, MST Supervisor.

Contact Fiona

For enquiries connected to Fiona's work with HAPii, email Fiona directly.

Email Fiona