DrMary Kennedy

Dr Mary Kennedy is an Assistant Professor in Social Work and Programme Director of the Professional Master of Social Work in the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at University College Dublin (UCD). She is also a member of the UCD Child Safeguarding Committee. Before joining UCD, Mary was an Assistant Lecturer in Social Care in the Department of Humanities at South East Technological University (SETU), Carlow Campus. She has also taught in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), where she additionally held several research posts within the Trinity Research in Childhood Centre and the School of Psychology. Mary completed her PhD in Social Work in Spring 2023. Her doctoral research comprised a case study examining the use of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) survey to inform service development within a social care organisation.

A graduate of UCD’s social work programme, Mary has extensive post-qualification practice experience across a range of settings, including acute adult inpatient and outpatient mental health services, crisis intervention, child protection, and general medical and palliative care social work. Her qualifications include a Professional Master of Social Science in Social Work, a Postgraduate Diploma in Child Protection and Welfare, and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Applied Social Studies (Social Care). Before qualifying as a social worker, Mary worked in several social care roles, including cultural integration services, children’s residential care, intellectual disability services, and project work. These experiences continue to inform her teaching, research, and professional practice.

In June 2023, Mary was appointed to Ireland’s multi-professional health and social care regulator, CORU, as a member of the Social Work Registration Board, where she holds the position of person engaged in the State in the education and training of persons in social work practice. In this role, she works with fellow Board members to establish and maintain the register for the social work profession, recognise qualifications obtained outside the State, and approve and monitor education and training programmes for entry to the register.