Profile Summary
Kevin Hutton is a Guardian ad Litem and qualified social worker with extensive experience across residential care, child protection, child abuse allegation assessment and court-related social work practice.
His experience spans both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, encompassing roles with the Western Health and Social Care Trust, Tusla and voluntary-sector residential services.
Kevin's practice is grounded in child-centred values — placing children's safety, wellbeing and voices at the centre of every assessment, care plan and court report he produces.
Current Profile Areas
Qualifications
- 2011-2016BSc (Hons) Degree in Social Work, Ulster University.
- 2004-2008BSc (Hons) Degree in Social Policy with Sociology, Ulster University.
- 2003-2004Diploma in Humanities, Northwest Regional College.
Career History
- 2024-presentPractising as a Guardian ad Litem.
- 2019-2024Senior Social Work Practitioner / Social Work Team Leader, Tusla, Donegal.
- 2016-2024Residential Social Worker, Western Health and Social Care Trust, including Cottage Children's Home, Family Intervention Team and Adult Learning Disability Team, Derry.
- 2015-2019Residential Support Worker and Disability Residential Support Worker, Solis MMC Children's Services, Co Louth.
- 2013Social Worker, Western Health and Social Care Trust Children's Court Services, Derry.
Guardian ad Litem and Court Advocacy Work
Kevin brings a strong background in residential care, child protection and court-related social work to his Guardian ad Litem practice. His work is focused on ensuring that children's needs, views and best interests are clearly understood and reflected within decision-making processes.
His practice is characterised by thoughtful engagement with children, families and professionals alongside clear, evidence-informed reporting for courts.
- Experienced in court testimony and report writing.
- Skilled in development and implementation of care plans.
- Strong background in risk assessment, case management and crisis intervention.
- Experienced in resource coordination and signposting for service users and carers.
Child Protection and Allegation Assessment
Kevin has specialist experience in child protection practice across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, including allegation assessment and child abuse substantiation procedure work.
His Child Abuse Substantiation Procedure work involved careful assessment, collaboration with An Garda Síochána and evidence-based decision-making focused on mitigating risk to children and vulnerable people.
- Child protection and advocacy experience focused on ensuring the child's voice is heard.
- Experience in allegation assessment and balance-of-probability decision-making.
- Practice grounded in policy, legislation, best practice and child-centred welfare principles.
Residential Care and Inclusive Practice
Kevin's residential care experience includes supporting children in full-time residential care and children with physical and intellectual disabilities. His practice emphasises resilience, inclusion and developmentally responsive support across both statutory and voluntary-sector settings.
He has worked with children and young people from diverse backgrounds, including unaccompanied minors and children seeking asylum, bringing anti-oppressive and culturally aware practice to each context.
- Residential care practice across statutory and voluntary-sector settings.
- Disability support and inclusive care experience.
- Anti-oppressive and culturally competent practice with children and families.
- Creative communication, play skills, attachment theory and emotional expression in direct work.
Further Education and Training
- Certificate in Recognising Substance Misuse.
- Certificate in Mentoring Young People from Care Backgrounds.
- Certificate in Peer Educational Skills.
- Child Protection and Advocacy.
- Case Management and Crisis Intervention.
- Disability Support and Inclusive Care.
- Court Testimony and Report Writing.
- Family Support and Resource Coordination.
- Allegation Assessment CASP.
- Risk Assessment.
- Creative Communication.
- Grief Counselling and Multicultural Youth Engagement.
- Supporting unaccompanied minors and children seeking asylum.
Contact Kevin
For enquiries connected to Kevin's work with HAPii, email Kevin directly.
Email Kevin