Profile Summary
Steven Peet is a Guardian ad Litem with over 15 years of professional experience in child and family social work, complemented by more than a decade as a foster carer. His dual perspective — as both a practitioner and a caregiver — gives him a comprehensive and grounded understanding of the challenges children face within the care system.
Steven's career encompasses child protection and welfare, quality assurance, service management and advocacy for children and young people with disabilities, complex needs and involvement in the criminal justice system.
He communicates with children in ways that respect their age, developmental stage and individual circumstances, and is committed to equitable access to services for marginalised families. Steven is available for Guardian ad Litem appointments across Munster and Leinster, as well as for Voice of the Child assessments and private family law reports.
Current Profile Areas
Qualifications
- 2011-2013MSc in Primary Care and General Practice, University of Ulster.
- 2006-2010Bachelor of Social Work, First Class, University College Cork.
Career History
- 2024-presentPractising as a Guardian ad Litem.
- 2022-2024Team Lead / Manager, North Lee Social Work Department, Cork.
- 2019-2022Quality Assurance Officer, Tusla, Dublin North East / West Region.
- 2017-2019Social Work Team Leader, West Cork Social Work Department.
- 2010-2017Social Work Practitioner, Child Protection and Welfare.
Guardian ad Litem and Advocacy Work
Steven brings more than 15 years of frontline social work experience to his Guardian ad Litem practice, with expertise across child protection, children in care, fostering, disability advocacy and criminal justice settings.
His practice as a Guardian ad Litem is characterised by thorough assessments, grounded analysis and high-quality court reports, with children's best interests and voices at the centre of all his work. His experience as a foster carer for more than a decade informs his understanding of the care system from both sides and enhances his ability to represent children within it.
- Available for Guardian ad Litem appointments across Munster and Leinster.
- Voice of the Child assessments and private family law reports.
- Experienced in court testimony and report writing.
- Skilled in fostering assessments and development and implementation of care plans.
- Qualified Garda Specialist Interviewer with Advanced Cognitive Interviewing training.
Child Protection and Specialist Practice
Steven has extensive experience in statutory child protection and welfare practice, spanning frontline social work, team leadership and quality assurance. His specialist training includes Advanced Cognitive Interviewing, AIM2 assessment of problematic sexualised behaviour and CASP2 allegation response, alongside a broad range of risk assessment and safeguarding competencies.
As a Quality Assurance Officer with Tusla across the Dublin North East and West regions, Steven developed expertise in auditing, standards compliance and supporting consistent, high-quality practice across social work teams.
- Advanced Cognitive Interviewing — qualified Garda Specialist Interviewer.
- AIM2 assessment of problematic sexualised behaviour.
- CASP2 — responding to abuse allegations against carers and individuals working with children.
- Domestic Violence Inventory Risk Matrix assessment.
- Children First Child Protection Training.
- Quality assurance, auditing and safeguarding consultancy.
Foster Care and Lived Experience of the Care System
Steven has been a foster carer for more than a decade. This lived experience of the care system — alongside his professional practice — gives him a uniquely informed perspective on the realities facing children in care, their carers and the services that support them.
His dual role as practitioner and carer deepens his ability to understand, represent and advocate effectively for the children he works with as a Guardian ad Litem.
Research and Professional Development
Steven is an active researcher and publisher, with a focus on the impacts of internet and technology addiction on children and families. He participates in ongoing training and supervision to ensure his practice remains current and grounded in evidence.
- Research and publication focus: internet and technology addiction in children and families.
- Ongoing CPD and clinical supervision as part of his independent practice.
- Training and coaching experience.
- Independent social work assessments.
Contact Steven
For enquiries connected to Steven's work with HAPii, email Steven directly.
Email Steven