Dr Johanna O'Shea
Biography
Johanna O' Shea is an assistant professor in social work. She has been lecturing in social work since 2009. Johanna joined Maynooth University in 2019, having previously worked at Ulster University and at Belfast Metropolitan College. Johanna is currently the programme director for the MSc in Social Sciences (Social Work) at the Department of Applied Social Studies, which has 80 places.
Johanna's broad area of research is probation work. Her PhD studies critiqued the social construction of risk assessment and notions of public protection in the justice system, against a backdrop of protecting human rights. Her thesis was nominated for the award of best PhD in the Faculty of Social Sciences at Ulster University (academic year 2023-24: decision pending).
Johanna has a keen interest in individuals experiences of the justice system, in particular their experience of social work services within it. Prior to her academic career, Johanna gained extensive practice experience working as a probation officer, in both Germany and Northern Ireland.
Research Interests
User Involvement of 'hard to reach' groups in Social Work and in Social Work Education
Research Methodology
Research Ethics
Peer Reviewed Journal
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | McGinnis Emma and O' Shea, Johanna (2022) 'Lessons Learned in Meaningful Collaboration With Justice Involved Young Adults'. 3 (3). | |
| 2020 | McKenna, D.; O Shea J.; Tanner, L; (2020) 'The Heart of Living and Dying: Upstreaming Advance Care Planning into Community Conversations in the Public Domain in Northern Ireland'. Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, . [DOI] [Full-Text] | |
| 2019 | O’Shea J.; McGinnis E. (2019) '‘Do you really want me to tell ya!’ critical learning in engaging young people in contact with the justice system as peer educators with social work students'. Social Work Education, . [DOI] [Full-Text] | |
| 2019 | Pollock, E., O’ Shea, J. & Killick, C. (2019) 'Risk Factors for Self-Harm: Narratives from a Sample of Young People in Northern Ireland'. Child Care in Practice, . [DOI] [Full-Text] |
Conference Contribution
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Johanna O' Shea and Emma McGinnis (2022) European Conference for Social Work Research What Works in Participatory Social Work Research with 'hard to reach' Groups - Messages from the Field Amsterdam, 06/04/2022-08/04/2022. | |
| 2021 | Johanna O' Shea (2021) European Conference for Social Work Research How should I put it? Q-methodology as an innovative means of engaging social workers in research on organisational policy and practice Bucharest, 05/05/2021-07/05/2021. [Full-Text] | |
| 2021 | Johanna O' Shea (2021) Q Conference organised by International Society for the Scientific Study of Subjectivity (ISSSS) Q-methodology as an innovative means of promoting human rights and social justice by engaging social workers in research on their organisational policy and practice Nantes, France, 16/09/2021-17/09/2021. [Full-Text] | |
| 2021 | Johanna O' Shea (2021) Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Conference organised by PPI Ignite Network Ireland ‘Learning from Young Adults in Prison’ Galway, 28/04/2021-. [Full-Text] | |
| 2016 | Johanna O'Shea and Emma McGinnis (2016) North South Criminology Conference, Maynooth University ‘Young People as Educators Project’ Involving Service Users as peer educators in social work training Maynooth University, . | |
| 2016 | Johanna O'Shea (2016) European Social Network Workshop Young People as Educators Project Athens, Greece, . | |
| 2016 | Johanna O'Shea (2016) ESRC Festival of Social Sciences Event involving social work students co-presenting their project ‘Young People as Educators’ Derry, . | |
| 2014 | Johanna O'Shea (2014) Evidence Based Practice “Ulster’s involvement and experience of the ESRC funded project ‘Making Social Work count” Brighton, England, . |
Education
Outreach Activities
| Organisation | Type | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travellers Justice Initiative, St. Stephen's Green Trust | Civic Society | Board Member [Link] |
Teaching Interests
Research Methods for Social Work
Social work in the Justice System
The social construction of Risk (PhD focus) and assessments in social work
Critical Skills in 3rd level Education (Study Skills)
Engaging with people who have lived experiences of health, social care and justice systems and ensuring their contributions are reflected in social work education and social work practice