Profile Summary
Mel Shanley is a Guardian ad Litem and qualified social worker with extensive experience across child protection, medical social work, disability services and family advocacy.
His practice is rights-based and child-centred, shaped by a strong commitment to social justice, equality and the wellbeing of children, families and vulnerable people across a range of complex settings.
Mel's work is informed by direct experience in statutory child protection, hospital-based social work, residential and disability services, bereavement support and advocacy for people living with chronic illness.
Current Profile Areas
Qualifications
- 2022-2023Leadership and Management Development, University College Dublin.
- 2016-2018Master's in Social Work, University College Cork.
- 2014-2016Honors Degree in Social Science, Dublin Business School.
- 2013-2014Applied Social Advocacy in Social Care.
- 2012-2013Applied Social Studies in Social Care.
Career History
- 2024-presentPractising as a Guardian ad Litem.
- 2023-presentMedical Social Worker, St Vincent's Hospital.
- 2021-presentSenior Medical Social Worker in Cystic Fibrosis, St Vincent's Hospital.
- 2020-2021Medical Social Worker, St Vincent's Hospital.
- 2018-2020Child Protection Social Worker, Tusla.
- 2016-2018Social Care Worker, Muiriosa Foundation.
Guardian ad Litem and Child Advocacy Work
Mel's child protection experience with Tusla encompasses assessment, care planning, family support, court reporting and multidisciplinary collaboration to promote children's safety and welfare.
His Guardian ad Litem practice draws on this statutory foundation alongside his extensive experience supporting children and families through crisis, disability, trauma, bereavement and complex health circumstances.
- Child-centred advocacy focused on children's rights, safety and welfare.
- Experience preparing detailed reports and communicating clearly in court-related contexts.
- Strong background in multi-agency collaboration and family-centred support planning.
Medical Social Work and Family Advocacy
Mel has worked as a Medical Social Worker at St Vincent's University Hospital across areas including oncology, cardiology and emergency care. His hospital-based practice includes advocacy for patients and families, crisis support, discharge planning and linking people with practical community supports.
As Senior Social Worker with the National Adult Service for Cystic Fibrosis, Mel advocates for supports related to housing, medication access, transition from paediatric to adult services and family education.
- Supports patients and families during complex medical and emotional circumstances.
- Develops discharge plans and links families with community-based support services.
- Contributes to research and service improvement in cystic fibrosis care transitions.
Disability, Bereavement and Trauma Support
Mel's social care background includes working with children with autism and disabilities in residential and disability service settings. His practice in these contexts has focused on access to therapies, education, recreation, inclusion and developmentally responsive environments.
He has experience in bereavement support, including individual and group-based approaches for children and families affected by grief, trauma and loss.
- Supports children and families affected by grief, loss, illness and trauma.
- Experience linking families to therapeutic, educational and practical resources.
- Practice informed by complex trauma counselling, bereavement training and crisis intervention.
Further Education and Training
- Children First: Child Protection Training.
- Understanding Young Children's Behaviour in Early Learning and Care.
- Building Trauma Awareness in Early Learning and Care.
- Building Effective Relationships with Parents.
- Designated Liaison Person Training.
- Complex Trauma Counselling Training.
- Bereavement Training for Children.
- Supervision Training for Senior Staff.
- Crisis Intervention.
- Motivational Interviewing.
Leadership and Professional Practice
Mel has acted as Principal Social Worker at St Vincent's University Hospital, providing staff supervision, workload management, policy adherence and training support across the social work team.
Across his roles, Mel's practice has been consistently defined by advocacy — for children, for people with disabilities, for those affected by chronic illness and for families navigating complex and often challenging systems.
Contact Mel
For enquiries connected to Mel's work with HAPii, email Mel directly.
Email Mel