Joseph Mooney

Joseph Mooney is an Assistant Professor at the University College Dublin (UCD), affiliated with the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice. He is a CORU-registered Social Worker with expertise in child protection, disclosure of childhood trauma, and sociolegal practice. His work bridges social justice, empowerment, and legal frameworks in child welfare systems.

• LLB in Irish Law from Griffith College Dublin
• MA in Social Work from NUI Galway
• PhD from NUI Galway
• Professional Diploma in Teaching and Learning from UCD

His research focuses on child sexual abuse disclosures, retrospective reporting, and the socioecological impact of trauma. He employs biographic-narrative interpretive methods (BNIM) to explore adult survivor experiences and advocate for person-centered social work practices. Recent publications analyze mandatory reporting policies, legal challenges in Ireland, and trauma-informed child protection frameworks.

Mooney’s grants include "Adult disclosures of childhood sexual abuse" (2020–2021) and "Disclosures of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Perspectives from Irish and International Research" (2020–2022). He serves on the Child Care in Practice editorial board and as a former Trustee of One in Four, a survivor advocacy charity. His teaching includes Child Welfare & Protection, Law for Social Work, and Dissertation modules at UCD.