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Dr. Susan Flynn

Associate Professor (Social Studies)
      
Profile Photo

Dr. Susan Flynn

Associate Professor (Social Studies)

 sflynn7@tcd.ie

 


Dr Susan Flynn is a full-time University Lecturer (Associate Professor) in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin. Prior to this, she lectured full-time in social sciences at the Institute of Technology, Sligo. Additionally, Susan has experience teaching at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Susan's PhD examined, through through a phenomenological and biographical narrative interpretative method, the impact of the economic recession on intellectually disabled young people and their families. Within this, an affirmative non-tragedy theoretical lens situated within an overarching critical disability studies perspective, was adopted. More broadly her work has, and continues to, focus upon child and family services. Within this, she has a particular focus on disability, child protection and welfare, and social work and social care. Susan was elected to the prestigious position of Fellow at Trinity in 2024 in recognition of achievement. Susan has over a decade of practice experience in a diverse range of applied social settings including child protection and welfare social work; intellectual disability; residential social care practice; acting managerial work; youth justice work; special education; counselling and advocacy; disability day activation work, and other roles. Susan also has experience as a social science researcher in the industry. Twitter: @susanflynn1912 Orchid ID: https://orchid.org/0000-0002-2807-0866 CORU registered social worker: SW006473 CORU registered social care worker: SCW002299
Project Title
 Virtual harm: Disability associated child protection risks and the internet
From
2021
To
2025
Summary
This study is innovative as the only comprehensive study of its kind on internet-based child protection risks associated with disability in Ireland. The major work of the project was undertaken by PhD Candidate Rose Doolan Maher, co-supervised by myself and Dr Julie Byrne. I was lead applicant on the initial grant application. Total grant value is 111,596euro.
Funding Agency
Provost Project Award
Project Title
 Parents subject to child protection investigation for their child or children with disabilities: An exploratory qualitative account
From
2023
To
2023
Summary
This project investigated the central research question, how have parents who have been subject to child protection investigation regarding their child or children with disabilities, experienced that investigation? The research involved qualitative interviews with parents. The dissemination phase of the project was funded. Total grant value funded was 2000euro.
Funding Agency
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Benefactions Fund
Project Title
 Review of ChildVision's New Directions engagement
From
2021
To
2021
Summary
This project involved qualitative focus group research and policy analysis to investigate ChildVision's New Directions engagement. I was Principal Investigator/Sole Researcher. Total grant value awarded was 6,133.10 euro.
Funding Agency
ChildVision
Project Title
 Parenting with mental health difficulties and disability through the covid 19 pandemic: An exploratory qualitative inquiry into parents voices and experiences
From
2023
To
2023
Summary
An exploration of how parents who have mental health difficulties and/or disability have experienced parenting throughout the covid 19 pandemic. Funds awarded for the dissemination of findings. Grant value awarded is 1,600euro.
Funding Agency
Arts and Social Sciences Benefaction Fund
Project Title
 Disabled women's experiences of intimate partner abuse in Ireland
From
2022
To
2024
Summary
A collaboration between Womens Aid, GBV Taskforce and Trinity College Dublin School of Social Work & Social Policy to research disabled women's experiences of intimate partner abuse. I was Principal Investigator of this project. This involved two national surveys, in-depth qualitative interviews, a mapping exercise and a literature review. In addition to academic publication and the proect report, project results were disseminated at various fora including a launch event in The Mansion House Dublin opened by the Lord Mayor. I also presented findings of this project at the DkIT River Community of Practice Conference, at the Women's Aid 50th Anniversary Conference, at the National Probation Service event on gender based violence on December 4th 2024, at the National Disability Authority webinar and at the European Conference on Domestic Violence in Barcelona, Spain. I gave a radio interview on the findings of the project on LMFM radio (October 25th), and Sarah Benson (Women's Aid CEO) did a radio interview on DriveTime on 24th October 2024. Findings were published in print media in The University Times (4th November 2024), the Irish Examiner (24th October), RTE (www.rte.ie 24th October 2024), and www.womensaid.ie. Total grant value for this project was 41, 411.70 euro.
Funding Agency
Women's Aid

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Johnson, L.M., Flynn, S., Thomas, C. and Slayter, E., Attention to disability in child protection policies across four liberal welfare regimes., Journal of Public Child Welfare, 19, (1), 2025, p141-167 , Notes: [https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2024.2306165], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  URL
Flynn, S.,Caffrey, L.,Antosik-Parsons, K.,Whiting, S., Byrne, J. and Conlon, C., New-Materialist Bricolage: Presenting an Ontological Position for Qualitative Internet-Based Research, International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 28, (2), 2025, p179 - 192, Notes: [DOI: 10.1080/13645579.2024.2329430], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  URL
Flynn, S., A critical history of child protection and welfare services for disabled children in the Republic of Ireland 1960 to 2023, Critical and Radical Social Work, 13, (2), 2025, 231, p247 , Notes: [https://doi.org/10.1332/20498608Y2024D000000036], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Flynn, S, In exceptional times: The covid-19 pandemic, parenting and the disabling effects of mental health difficulties, Child Care in Practice, 31, (2), 2025, p236 - 255, Notes: [https://doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2024.2353683], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Flynn, S., Doolan Maher, R., Byrne, J., Disability, Child Protection and the Internet: The Socio-Cultural Construction of Risk, Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies, 25, (1), 2025, Notes: [https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijass/vol25/iss1/4], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Flynn, S., Solution-focused, strengths-based practice: An integrated and future-orientated approach to resistance in child protection and welfare service users?, Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies, 25, (1), 2025, Notes: [https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijass/vol25/iss1/2], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text
Flynn, S., A history of safeguarding disabled children from 1840 to 1960 in the Republic of Ireland, Child and Youth Services Review, 108280, 2025, Notes: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108280], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Flynn, S., Liberating Voices in Social Work: The Relevance of Ableism and the Affirmative Model for Capturing Disabled Children"s Voices and Views, Child Care in Practice, 2025, Notes: [Available at https://doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2025.2517075], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text
Flynn, S. and Shi, H., How effective is Irish child protection policy for disabled children? A policy content analysis of Children First National Guidance(2017), European Conference on Social Work Research, Munich, Germany, 2025, Notes: [Published abstract is published here: https://www.ecswr2025.org/program-new/], Poster, PUBLISHED
Flynn, S., and Shi, H., Child Protection Policy and Disability: A Policy Content Analysis of Children First (2017) National Guidance, Nordic Network on Disability Research Conference, Helsinki, Finland, 7-9th May 2025, 2025, Notes: [Published here: https://helsinkifi-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/lomulomu_ad_helsinki_fi/EaJtILWO_OVKsaloDULkjU8BOvWpLZolLx-oAgqRb52g7A?e=u4o32A And published here: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/conferences/nndr-2025/programme], Published Abstract, PUBLISHED
  

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Flynn, S., Rurality, intersectionality and childhood disability: Thinking theoretically about the meaning of rural life for disabled children, Childhood and Disability, Webinar event organized by the Childhood, Law & Policy Network and Queen Mary University of London, 25.02.2025, 2025, Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED
Flynn, S., Lakkshme Sundaresan, S., Holt, S., Price, A. & O"Neill, G., Survivors unsilenced: Giving voice to disabled women"s experiences of intimate partner abuse, DkIT River Community of Practice Conference, 17.01.2025, 2025, Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED
Flynn, S., Lakkshme Sundaresan, S., Holt, S., Price, A. & O"Neill, G., Disabled women and intimate partner violence: Critical insights from new research, Women's Aid 50th Anniversary Conference, 25.11.2024, 2025, Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED
Flynn, S., Lakkshme Sundaresan, S., Holt, S., Price, A. & O"Neill, G., Disabled Women"s Experience of Intimate Partner Abuse in Ireland: An Overview of Ground-Breaking Research, National Disability Authority webinar event, 2025, Oral Presentation, PRESENTED
Flynn, S., Doing Research about Disability: Potential Methodological, Ethical and Practical Challenges, PhD Seminar Series, School of Social Work and Social Policy, 2024, Oral Presentation, PRESENTED
Flynn, S., Holt, S., O'Neill, G., Price, A., Sundaresan S. (2024), Launching the Findings of a Mixed Method Research Project on Disabled Women's Experiences of Intimate Partner Abuse, Project Launch Event, Dublin, The Mansion House, 24.10.24, 2024, Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED
Flynn, S., Holt, S., O'Neill, G., Price, A., Sundaresan S., Disabled Women"s Experience of Intimate Partner Abuse in Ireland:" for the Irish Probation Service, Probation Service 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Conference, 04.11.2024, 2024, Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED
Conlon, C., Antosik-Parsons, K., Flynn, S., Caffrey, L., Byrne, J. and Whiting, S., Lessons from Pivoting to Online Interviewing: Ethical and Technical Considerations for Qualitative Researchers following the COVID-19 Pandemic, Social Sciences Research Network, 2023, Report, PUBLISHED
Flynn, S., Childhood Disability in the Context of Parental Alienation: Another Layer of Complexity?, Parental Alienation Awareness Newsletter, 2022, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Flynn, S. , Review of New Directions Implementation: Lifelong Learning 1 and Lifelong Learning 2, Lancaster, England, 2021, 1-62, Report, PUBLISHED

  


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Award Date
The ESWRA Award for an Outstanding Publication in European Social Work Research: Nominee 2020
Nominee for a Trinity Excellence in Teaching Award in 2023-24 November 2023
Nominee for an Award for Excellence in Research Student Supervision 2024
Nominee for an Award for Excellence in Research Student Supervision 2025