Assoc ProfessorSarah Donnelly

I qualified as a professional social worker in 1998 and began my social work career as a Residential Social Worker in the North of Ireland before moving on to work as a Resettlement Officer with Dublin Simon Community. I began work as a Medical Social Worker in Tallaght University Hospital in 2000, where I worked as a Senior Social Work Practitioner for 3 years and as a Social Work Team Leader/Research Social Worker for 6 years, primarily specialising in Neurology and Age-Related Healthcare.

 In 2007, I was seconded to carry out research for Trinity College Dublin/Tallaght University Hospital on behalf of the 'Care and Connect Project'. This research contributed to the completion of a PhD which was part-funded by the Living with Dementia Programme, TCD (Atlantic Philanthropies) and the Adelaide Society, Tallaght University Hospital. A major output from the Care and Connect Project was the development and publishing of a booklet, 'Care Planning Meetings: Best Practice Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals'. 

In February 2013, I was awarded Research Associate status at the School of Social Work and Social Policy, TCD.

 I have been employed as an Assistant Professor of Social Work in UCD since 2014 and was awarded tenure in August 2016. In February 2024, I was promoted to Associate Professor.

 I am the Academic Advisor on adult safeguarding to the Irish Association of Social Workers, Coordinator of UCD's Ageing Network (UCAN) and a Board Member and Research Committee Member of Care Alliance Ireland.

 I welcome applications from Masters and PhD Students, particularly relating to the following topics/areas: Ageing, Dementia, Palliative Care, Adult Safeguarding, Family Carers, Capacity and Decision-Making, Action Research, Practitioner Research, Participatory Action Research and Care Planning Meetings.