Susan Barnes

Research Interests

Susan Barnes is currently teaching on the BA Social Studies and Early Childhood courses at the SETU Wexford Campus. Her primary degree is in Applied Social Studies, WIT and completed an MA in Management in Education WIT. 

Her industry expertise lies in community and statutory addiction services; education and training, policy and strategic development, community responses, managing rehabilitation and harm reduction services.   

Her areas of research focus on the Addiction field in particular treatment and rehabilitation, community interventions, interagency partnerships; harm reduction approaches, primary, secondary and tertiary interventions.  Currently working on research proposal in the area of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and alternative care.

Engagement and Collaboration

• Designed and delivered the addiction module content on the Fostering Course in collaboration with Wexford Campus lecturing staff, LLL department and HSE Social Care Department and TULSA
• Engaged with Age Friendly initiative, collaboration between County Council, voluntary and statutory groups and Wexford Campus Social Care Staff and Students
• Co-facilitate Supervisors Course for industry placement supervisors

Current Research Students

Presidents Fellowship 2017-2019 Sally Ann Ennis – Supervision model in post primary schools

Social Care year 4 – Rachel French ‘Aftercare support for individuals leaving care’

                                    John Costello ‘Why men choose social care profession’

Past Research Students

MA in Child, Youth and Family Studies

• Sinead Tyrell, an exploration of family carers, 2016
• Michelle Harding, practitioners perceptions of care for first time female service users in drug and alcohol services, 2016
• Esther Ageese, Exploration into EC curriculum in Ireland, 2016
• Patricia Martin, Combination of individual and group therapy as treatment modality for traveller men aged 20-35, 2015
• Kelly Haughton, How do staff working in addiction services support children whose parents misuse substances, 2015
• Lisa Keeling, an exploration of early childhood practitioners’ perceptions of parental substance misuse and its impact on parenting capacity and attachment, 2015

Social Care

• Shannon Barnes, Housing rights, 2016
• Anna Nolan, Aftercare and individuals life skills, 2017
• Jessie McElheron, Tattoos and residential services, 2017
• Jason Browne, Participation and non-participation in sport and exercise among 3rd level students, 2015
• Debbie Dillon, The relationship between socioeconomic issues and third level students in the south east and its influence in progression and retention through educational attainment, 2015
• Martin Lynch, Exploration of potential benefits of Garda Diversion Projects, 2015

Early Childhood

• Annemarie Butler, Practitioners perspective on the value of outdoor play, 2017
• Paraic O Leary, how park facilities and green areas can impact on a child’s physical health and their participation in physical exercise, 2017
• Ashley Myers, Positive relationships within early childhood settings promote children’s development and learning skills, 2017
• N’Zinga Harrington, A sociological exploration of Community supports for breast feeding mothers, 2017

Areas of interest where you would consider a supervision role

• Social care practice
• Drug and alcohol evidence based practice
• Social injustice/inequalities

Conferences

Barnes, S. (2013) National Drug Strategy Progression, unpublished paper at: HSE National Drug Strategy Consultation, Kilkenny, February 2013

Barnes, S. (2013) Abstract ‘Social Care in Addictions’, Social Care Department, Institute of Technology Carlow

Barnes, S. (2011) Lost in Transitions, unpublished paper at: WIT Symposium, Waterford, June 2011

Barnes, S. (2011) Substance misuse and the workplace, unpublished paper at: County Enterprise Seminar, Wexford, April 2011

Barnes, S. (2011) Forgetting to Breathe, unpublished paper at: HSE Regional Homeless Seminar, Kilkenny, May 2011

Barnes, S. (2010) Legal Highs, unpublished paper at: HSE Community Seminar, Wexford, May 2010

Barnes, S. (2010) Flying to heaven, waking up in hell, unpublished paper at: Foroige Volunteer Conference, Wexford, July 2010

Barnes, S (2006) 421 Peer Education, Challenges and Successes, unpublished paper at: Pompidou Council of Europe, Vilnius Lithuania, May 2006

Barnes, S. (2005) Substance Misuse and Depression, unpublished paper at: Youth and Community Seminar, Kilkenny, July 2005

Barnes, S. (2004) Student Research Programme, presentation to Regional Drugs Task Force,

Kilkenny, April 2004 secured €3,000 for student research

Barnes, S. (2003) Teen safety and Substance Use, unpublished paper at: Safe Teen against crime, Dublin, July 2003

Course Development

Barnes, S. O Mahoney, S. and Hargreaves, A. (2007) Substance Use Module, Degree in Social Care, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford