Dr Danielle Douglas is Head of Department of Arts at South East Technological University (SETU). She previously served as Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice and has been a lecturer in Social Care at SETU since 2008, contributing to programme development, student engagement, and academic leadership within the university.
She holds a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, an MA by Research focusing on resilience, outcomes and foster care, and a PhD in Children and Youth Studies from University College Dublin. Her doctoral research explored children and young people’s identities and socio-spatial experiences in foster care.
Danielle is committed to inclusive and student-centred teaching, incorporating principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and creative pedagogical approaches that support student engagement and success. In recognition of her work in teaching and learning she received a SETU Teaching Excellence Award and a National Forum Teaching Hero Award.
Her professional and research interests focus on vulnerable children and young people, foster care, care-experienced students, identity and belonging, and participatory research methods. Danielle has worked extensively with national and international organisations supporting children and families and served as President of the International Foster Care Organisation (2017–2020). Until recently she was a Director of Social Care Ireland, and she currently serves as Co-Chair of the Care Experienced Education Network Ireland (CEENI), a national network supporting access, participation and success for care-experienced students in further and higher education.
Through her academic and professional work she contributes to research, policy dialogue and sector collaboration focused on improving outcomes for children, young people and families.
Dr Douglas has extensive experience teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level across social care and related disciplines. Her teaching practice emphasises student engagement, reflective practice, and inclusive learning environments.
Her teaching responsibilities have included:
Lecturing and facilitating workshops and tutorials on social care programmes
Programme leadership and curriculum development
Student assessment and feedback using UDL-informed and blended learning approaches
Academic advising and pastoral support for students
Supervision of undergraduate dissertations and postgraduate research
Supervision and support of students on professional placements
She has also been involved in programme validation, accreditation processes (including CORU), and external programme reviews, and regularly collaborates with colleagues and external stakeholders to enhance learning opportunities for students.
Dr Douglas is a member of the Analysing Social Change (ASC) Research Group at SETU and has previously served on the Tusla Research Advisory Group.
Her research interests include:
Vulnerable and marginalised children and young people
Alternative care including foster care, residential care and adoption
Care-experienced students in higher education
Identity, belonging and socio-spatial experiences of children and young people
Participatory and creative research methodologies
Resilience and strengths-based approaches in social care practice
Her research frequently incorporates creative and participatory methods, including narrative inquiry and photo-based methodologies, to support the inclusion of lived experience perspectives in research.
Danielle has published in academic and professional publications and regularly presents at national and international conferences on topics relating to foster care, children’s identities, and strengths-based approaches in social care.
Dr Douglas has extensive experience working across higher education, professional practice, and national policy networks. Her work has involved collaboration with academic institutions, professional bodies, community organisations, and government agencies in Ireland and internationally.
Until recently she served as a Director of Social Care Ireland, the national professional body for the sector. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Care Experienced Education Network Ireland (CEENI), a national initiative focused on improving access, participation and success for care-experienced students in further and higher education.
She is a member of the Irish Association of Social Care Educators, the Irish Aftercare Network, and the Analysing Social Change Research Group at SETU. She previously served for nine years on the Tusla Research Advisory Group, contributing to research strategy and evidence-informed policy development in the area of children and families.
Dr Douglas also contributes to the wider academic community through roles such as external examining, conference organisation, and international collaboration, including her previous leadership as President of the International Foster Care Organisation (2017–2020). Her work reflects a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and the role of the arts, social sciences and humanities in addressing complex social challenges.
Dr Douglas currently supervises doctoral and undergraduate research projects across a range of social care and social justice topics. Her current PhD supervisory work includes projects exploring issues relating to older populations, people with disabilities, and broader social care practice and policy contexts.
Publications:
Douglas, D. (2024) ‘Protecting Foster Care; An insider’s perspective’ in Foster, 15: 5-15.
Shier, A.M & Douglas, D. (2023). Adoption and Foster Care. In P. Share, T. Browne, & K. Lalor (Eds.), Applied Social Care, An Introduction for Students in Ireland.
Douglas, D. (2021). Everyday Worlds in Foster Care: Exploring Children and Young People's Socio-Spatial Experiences and Identities [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University College Dublin.
Douglas, D. (2016) 'Access to Child Friendly Justice: The case of Alternative Care', in 'Access to Justice for Vulnerable Children', Conference Proceedings.
Douglas, D., (2015), ‘Fostering Resilience: An exploration of the link between resilience, outcomes and foster care in Ireland’, in Dougas, D and Kennedy, J.A (Eds) Ensuring the Rights of the Child and Family Based Services, Conference Proceedings
Douglas, D., (2012), ‘Fostering Resilience: An exploration of the link between resilience, outcomes and foster care in Ireland’, in Department of Children and Youth Affairs Scholarship Programme Research Briefing No. 18.
Coady, D., (2009), ‘Identity Issues in Foster Care’, in Irish Foster Care Association Newsletter, Spring 2009: 12-14.
Conference Papers:
Douglas, D. (2023) ‘Thriving not Surviving: Re-framing Trauma and Disabilities through a Strengths-Based Approach’ Keynote Presentation at Resilience Healthcare Seminar, Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick, 5th Oct 2023.
Douglas, D. (2023) ‘Protecting Foster Care: An Insider’s Perspective’ Keynote Presentation at IFCA Conference, Mount Wolseley Hotel, Carlow, 23rd Sept 2023.
Douglas, D. (2023) ‘Relational Identities in Foster Care: Constructing ‘Selves’ through Interactions’ presented at Social Care Ireland Conference, Mount Wolseley Hotel, Carlow, 30th March 2023.
Douglas, D. (2022) ‘THRIVE: Celebrating the ordinary people making extraordinary differences in the lives of children and young people’ presented at Tusla Regional Conference, Hotel Kilkenny, May 17th 2022.
Douglas, D. (2022) ‘Figuring Identities through Relational Spaces in Foster Care; Katie’s Story’ presented at European Association for Research with Adolescents (EARA), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin August 24th-27th 2022.
Douglas, D. (2022) ‘Everyday Worlds in Foster Care: Exploring Children and Young People’s Socio-Spatial Experiences and Identities’ presented at Social Care Ireland conference, Radisson Hotel, Sligo April 4th-7th 2022.
Douglas, D. (2019) ‘Who am I when I’m not with you; Listening to children’s stories of their time in foster care and creating an a’where’ness of the role of space in Self construction’ presented at UCD Graduate Research Symposium, Dublin, May 2nd 2019.
Douglas, D. (2018) ‘Teleidoscope Identity: Listening to Children’s Stories of Their Time in Foster Care and Creating an A’where’ness of the Role of Space in Self Construction’ presented at European Scientific Association on Residential and Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EUSARF) XV International Conference, Porto, Portugal, October 2nd-5th.
Douglas, D. (2018) 'Including the voice of service users in the decision-making process', paper presented at Tusla Foster Care Committee Recognition Event, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Ireland.
Douglas, D. (2017) ‘Improving Educational Outcomes for Care-Leavers’ seminar chaired and presented at the EPIC Conference ‘What’s Good Enough’ in Dublin Castle, October 13th.
Douglas, D. (2016) 'Access to Child Friendly Justice: The case of Alternative Care', paper presented at the 2nd National Conference on Child Wellbeing:'Access to Justice for Vulnerable Children', Malta, Oct. 21-22.
Douglas, D. (2015) ‘Kaleidoscope Identity; Listening to children’s stories of their experiences and interactions in foster care’ paper presented at the International Foster Care Organisation's International Conference in Sydney, Australia, November 8-11.
Douglas, D. (2014),'Identity and Interactions in Foster Care' paper presented at 3rd International Conference of the International Childhood and Youth Research Network, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
Douglas, D. (2013), 'Listening to and learning from Care Leavers in Ireland' paper presented at Adoption Authority Ireland Annual Conference, Dublin.
Douglas, D. (2012), 'Listening to Children's Voices' paper presented at Eurochild's Annual Conference for children without parental care, Bulgaria.
Douglas, D. (2011),' Fostering Resilience: An exploration of the link between resilience, outcomes and foster care in Ireland’ paper presented at the Irish Foster Care Association's National Conference, Kildare, November.
