Menu
Menu
I am currently the Placement Coordinator and a Lecturer in Applied Social Studies at Carlow College, where I oversee student placements to ensure they meet both academic and CORU standards. I have experience with CORU monitoring processes and sit on the college’s Practice Placement Advisory Team, contributing to the continuous improvement of our placement practices.
I currently teach Sociology, Communication and People Skills, as well as a Practice Placement module. I have overall responsibility for overseeing practice placements, providing support to students, field practice educators, and college tutors.
Previously, I lectured at the School of Social Sciences, Law, and Education at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), where I delivered modules on social care topics, including Working with Older People, Mental Health, Safeguarding, and Leadership and Management, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
I also bring significant experience in social care, having worked both as a frontline practitioner and as a social care manager. Throughout my career, I have held roles across youth services, family teams, homeless services, and addiction services. Additionally, I have worked as a residential manager for under-18 children’s services and as an aftercare deputy manager in the North Dublin region.
Professional Experience
I am a member of Social Care Ireland.
In my role as Placement Coordinator and College Tutor for practice placements at Carlow College, I ensure that student placements meet CORU standards, providing students with support during their practical experiences, that fulfil the professional requirements set by Ireland’s regulatory body for health and social care professionals in preparing them for their future social care careers.
My professional experience has been complemented by my participation in programmatic reviews, academic planning, and participation in advisory teams.
I have contributed to civil society through volunteer work with organisations such as the Chernobyl Children’s Project and Habitat for Humanity.
My CORU registration is currently in process.
I am currently a PhD student at the Technological University of the Shannon. My research topic involves paving the way for a collaborative approach to lifelong learning in social care in responding to the regulatory landscape.
My research interests include theories of masculinities in social care; emotional intelligence in social care leadership and management; the professionalisation of social care in Ireland; continuing professional development in responding to the regulatory landscape and practicing quality assurance in social care work.
McCarthy, M. (2023) ‘Leaving care and aftercare’, in Laor, Perry & Share (ed.). Social care work: An introduction for students in Ireland. Institute of Public Administration.
McCarthy, M. (2021). ‘Understanding the principles of quality assurance and quality improvement’, in Lyons and Brown (ed.). Domain 3: Guide to the standards of proficiency for social care workers. Retrieved from https://socialcareireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Guide-to-Domain03v3.pdf
Research Activities and Outputs
| 13/06/2023 | Crossroads in Social Work: International Days.
Workshop delivery: I delivered a workshop with two colleagues from TU Dublin regarding the professionalisation of social care work in Ireland in terms of pedagogical approaches. |
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria |
| 20/09/2024 | Attendance at Climate Justice Workshop facilitated by Eimear Manning (online) | National Youth Council of Ireland |
| 08/11/2024 | Attendance at Supported Decisions Making: A Practice Perspective conference | the Social Care Ireland Disability Special Interest Group |
2024Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â PhD Student: Technological University of the Shannon (4-year degree ongoing).
2024Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Postgraduate Level 9: University Learning and Teaching Certificate.
2018-2020Â Â Â Master of Arts in Leadership and Management in Social Care – Technological University Dublin City Campus
2011-2013Â Â Â BA Honours Degree in Social Care – Dublin Institute of Technology
2009-2011Â Â Â Higher National Diploma in Health and Social Care – Inchicore College of Further Education.
