Our
Team

Róisín Stewart

Director of Services

Róisín Stewart is a qualified Organisational Consultant who has worked in the social care field for the past 28 years, 15 of which as the Director of St Bernard’s. In her leadership role, Róisín is acutely aware of the complexities of the task facing health and social care teams in their work with children and families.

Róisín’s qualifications include:

• BSc Applied Psychology, University of Ulster, Jordanstown. June 1996
• MA (Hons) Therapeutic Child Care, St. Patrick’s College, Carlow. June 2006
• MA Consulting and leading in organisations: Psychodynamic and Systemic Approaches, Tavistock and Portman, London. July 2019
• Tavistock Qualification in Consultation, Tavistock and Portman, London. June 2021
• Diploma in Business and Executive Coaching. May 2022
• Professional Doctorate: Advanced practice and research: consultation and the organisation, Tavistock and Portman, London (Current/pending)

Andrew Kennedy

Deputy Director of Services

Andrew took up the position of Deputy Director of Services in January 2026. He is a practicing Social Care Worker since 1999, with experience of working with children from a therapeutic community and psychodynamic perspective in both the residential and community fields. He has practiced in a therapeutic high support unit for children under 12 with insecure attachments, with adolescents in a medium-term unit, as well as managing a medium-term unit. He managed the Fostering Support Service in St. Bernard’s 2014 until 2026. He holds a BA (hons) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care as well as an MA in Therapeutic Child Care. He has presented training workshops for foster carers and practitioners at IFCA National Conferences as well as Social Care Ireland National Conferences. He has also co-authored articles which have been published in the IFCA Journal and the Journal of Social Work Practice (UK). He holds a special interest in the impact of early experiences/relationships on current relationships/behaviours, both for children, foster carers and practitioners.

Samantha O’Doherty

Social Care Manager

Samantha O’Doherty is the Social Care Manager in Grianán. Samantha has over 25 years of experience working with children in both the residential therapeutic community and in foster homes as part of the therapeutic fostering support team, providing and facilitating a therapeutic community and psychodynamic approach.

Her qualifications include:

• National Diploma in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, WIT
• Diploma in Youth and Community Work, UCC
• MA in Leadership in Therapeutic Child and Social Care, Carlow College

Georgina Ryan

Deputy Social Care Manager

Georgina is the Deputy Social Care Manager in Grianán, with over 22 years’ experience working with children and young people, including both therapeutic residential care and fostering support services, caring for children and young people affected by developmental trauma and presenting with attachment-related difficulties. Georgina’s Master’s research explored the role of supervision as a reflective space within therapeutic residential childcare. This aligns with her particular interest in reflective supervision and its contribution to effective practice and staff development.

In her leadership role, she recognises the demands and complexities of working within the social care sector. She places a strong emphasis on supporting staff through effective supervision, reflective practice and collaborative working, recognising the importance of creating an environment where staff can reflect on their practice and develop their skills.
Georgina has a proven commitment to empowering teams to provide consistent, therapeutic and child-centred care.

Her qualifications include:

• Masters in Leadership in Therapeutic Child and Social Care
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Care (Honours)
• Bachelor of Arts in Counselling Psychometrics (Honours)
• Diploma in Personal, Business and Executive Coaching

Tara Moloney

Social Care Manager

Tara Moloney is the Social Care Manager at Sacre Coeur and has worked with children and young people in care for over twenty-five years across both residential care and fostering support services. Throughout her career, she has been committed to promoting trauma-informed, therapeutic and relationship-based approaches that support positive outcomes for children, young people and their families.

Tara holds a Level 8 QQI Degree in Social Care from Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and a M.A. in Therapeutic Childcare from Carlow College.

From 2024 to 2026, Tara was part of the team delivering the M.A. in Leadership in Therapeutic Child and Social Care, supporting the professional development of practitioners working within child and family services

Tara has facilitated and led BUSS LEAPLETS therapeutic groups for foster carers across the Tipperary, Carlow and Kilkenny regions, helping carers strengthen their understanding of children’s emotional needs and develop therapeutic parenting skills.

She has also presented workshops for Carlow College’s Certificate in Therapeutic Foster Care, the Social Care Ireland National Conference, and the Irish Foster Care Association National Conference.

Tara is the author of the therapeutic storybook “Tess Feels a Mess”, which supports children in understanding and expressing emotions through storytelling.

Tara is passionate about creating nurturing, trauma-informed environments where children and young people can experience safety, connection, healing, and growth.

Emilia Zinkiewicz

Deputy Social Care Manager

Emilia brings extensive experience in social care across mainstream and therapeutic residential care settings. She is committed to providing high-quality, child-centred care that promotes the safety, welfare, and development of children and young people within supportive, nurturing, and therapeutic environments.

Throughout her career, Emilia has developed strong leadership and operational management skills, with particular expertise in safeguarding, team leadership, and maintaining high standards of care. She is dedicated to achieving positive outcomes for children and young people through effective management, collaborative working, and a practice approach that places their individual needs, rights, and well-being at the centre of decision-making.
Emilia holds the following qualifications:

• MA in Social Care Leadership and Management, Dublin Institute of Technology.
• MA in Social Science – Social Pedagogy, University of Warmia and Mazury, Poland.