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Dr. Simone Mc Caughren

Assistant Professor (Social Studies)
      
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Dr. Simone Mc Caughren

Assistant Professor (Social Studies)

 smccaugh@tcd.ie

 


Project Title
 Intercountry Adoption Study
From
June 2025
To
September 2026
Summary
This research explores the experiences of adoptive parents and their children (under the age of 12 years) who have adopted internationally. It is an interdisciplinary study that involved mixed methods.
Funding Agency
Adoption Authority of Ireland
Project Title
 The Operation of the In Camera Rule In Irish Family Law
From
To
Summary
Funding Agency
Department of Justice
Project Title
 Research report on guidance on contact time for infants and young children in separated families
From
To
Summary
Funding Agency
One Family Ireland

Details Date From Date To
Member of review board for Children and Youth Services Review 2018 Current
Editorial board member of Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma 2023 Ongoing
Developing an evidence base to guide the reform of family law proceedings: A comprehensive study on the operation of the in camera (privacy rule) in family law courts in Ireland in, European Conference on Social Work Research: Social Work and Interdisciplinary Research: researching and facilitating evidence informed practice and policy', Aberdeen, United Kingdom, 2026, [Burns, K., Parkes, A. & McCaughren, S.], Book Chapter, PRESENTED
Burns, K., Parkes, A. & McCaughren, S., Developing an evidence base to guide the reform of family law proceedings: A comprehensive study on the operation of the in camera (privacy rule) in family law courts in Ireland, European Conference on Social Work Research: Social Work and Interdisciplinary Research: researching and facilitating evidence informed practice and policy', Aberdeen, United Kingdom, 16th April 2026, 2026, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
McCaughren, S., Burns, K., Parkes, A., Doing inter-disciplinary research in warp time & on the dime: Key messages from a family law research study, Social Work Educators' and Reseachers' Forum, Sligo, Ireland, 2026, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
McCaughren, S., Parkes, A., The Lived Experiences of children and young people (0-12 years) of intercountry adoption in Ireland: Insights from and Irish Study, 9th International Conference on Adoption Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, 5th-10th July 2026, 2026, Conference Paper, ACCEPTED
McCaughren, S., Parkes, A., Intercountry adoption (ICA) in Ireland study " Exploring the support needs of ICA families, 9th International Conference on Adoption Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, 5th-10th July 2026, 2026, Conference Paper, ACCEPTED
McCaughren, S., Parkes, A., Burns, K., What you need to know about the in-camera rule and child care proceedings: findings from a national study, Tusla Research Webinar, Ireland, Online, 24th March 2026, 2026, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Gallagher, N., Doyle, M., Mooney, J., Chen, X., Mc Caughren, S., Sweeney, L-A., Kirwan, G., Naylor, R., and Swords, C., An All-Ireland exploratory study of educators" understanding of interdisciplinary teaching and learning in social work., Journal of Social Work Education, 2026, Journal Article, IN_PRESS
McCaughren, S., Parkes, A., Burns, K., Secrecy not privacy is what the in camera [privacy rule] actually achieves": A Study on the Operation of the In Camera Rule in Family Law Courts in Ireland, EuSARF 2025, Zagreb, Croatia, 9th September 2025, 2025, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
McCaughren, S., (2025), 'Influencing and Supporting Policy' [pdf], Trinity College Dublin, TCD/HEA, Impact Case Study, PUBLISHED
Parkes, A., McCaughren, S., Burns, K., A rule or rules? Unravelling and unsettling what we know about the in camera rule in practice, Law Society Family and Child Law Conference, Law Society of Ireland, 14th November 2025, 2025, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
  

Page 1 of 5
Adoption with Children"s Rights at the Centre: Safeguarding Children"s Welfare, Identity, and Family Relationships in, editor(s)Paul McCafferty, Esther Mercado García, Davy Hayes, Gerry Marshall , Children's Rights in Social Work Practice, Routledge, 2026, [MacDonald, M. & McCaughren, S.], Book Chapter, IN_PRESS
McCaughren, S. & Parkes, A., The Lived Experiences of children and young people (0-12 years) of intercountry adoption in Ireland: Insights from and Irish Study, 9th International Conference on Adoption Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, 5th-10th July, 2026, Conference Paper, ACCEPTED
McCaughren, S. & McDonald, M., Protection and connection: sociolegal exploration of tensions between children"s UNCRC rights to identity, participation and safeguarding in adoption, 9th International Conference on Adoption Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, 5th-10th July, 2026, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
McCaughren, S., Parkes, A., Burns, K., The operation of the in camera rule in child care proceedings in Ireland, National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference, University College Cork, 24th October 2025, 2025, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
McCaughren, S. Parkes, A., New study seeks input from Irish parents who have adopted children from outside of Ireland, 2025, -, Notes: [New study received attention in Irish media.], Miscellaneous, PUBLISHED
McCaughren, S. Parkes, A., DIVORCE: THE MESSY TRUTH; Urgent overhaul of archaic and damaging Irish system needed, 2025, -, Notes: [Invited to write academic piece on research on in camera rule. This was the 7th most-read article that day.], Miscellaneous, PUBLISHED
McCaughren, S., Parkes, A., Divorce and children: `It"s an unregulated Wild West" " How outdated court system is causing hurt and heartache, 2025, -, Notes: [Invited to write an academic piece (Part 2) on research relating to study on in camera rule in Ireland,], Miscellaneous, PUBLISHED
McCaughren, S. (Presenter), Holt, S., Parkes, A. & Gregory, S., An absent presence? The Voice of the Child in Family Law Proceedings, Annual District Court Judges Conference, Limerick, Ireland, 2023, 2023, Oral Presentation, PRESENTED
McCaughren, S., Holt, S, Parkes, A. & Connolly, D., Women"s Experiences of Judicial Separation and Divorce in Ireland: An Overview of Research Findings, Courts Service Family Law Reform Programme Team, Webinar, 2nd June 2022, 2022, Courts Service Family Law Reform Programme Team, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
McCaughren, S., Holt, S., Parkes, A., Gregory, S., Research Report on Guidance on Contact Time for Infants and Young Children in Separated Families, Trinity College Dublin, December, 2022, p1 - 180, Report, PUBLISHED

  


Page 1 of 3
Award Date
Elected to Fellowship (Trinity College Dublin) 2025
President's Award for Teaching and Learning, University College Cork 2017
Article selected by the editors of European Social Work Research to feature in Editors Choice collection for the journal. 2025
Digital Badge, Universal Design in Learning, University College Cork 2019
Digital Badge, Social Policy Education: Enhancing Digital Skills (SPEEDS) Gold award first recipient (for exceptional level of excellence in personal, professional, and academic activities in a digital micro-credential), University College Cork 2018
UCC Leadership Program Aspiring Leaders, Irish Management Institute & University College Cork 2018