Tel: 01 211 6481
Email: specs@bnwap.ie
Maryrose Costello
Early Intervention and Family Support Manager
Maryrose is the Early Intervention and Family Support Manager and oversees the day-to-day management of the SPECS initiative as well as supporting staff and planning ahead to ensure the supports provided are meeting the needs of children and families in the Bray area. Her background is in social science and she has a Masters in Community Development from NUI Galway. Before moving to SPECS, she was the manager of a busy education service in Dublin’s inner city working to improve educational outcomes for children.
Lulu O'Kelly
Senior Development and Support Worker
Lulu is a Senior Development and Support Worker with SPECS and is trained in delivering the Preparing for Life Programme. She is also a trained facilitator and referrer with the Strengthening Families Programme. She holds a Master’s Degree of Science in Addiction and a Bachelor’s Degree in General Nursing. She joined the SPECS team with over 14 years experience in the Addiction Service of the HSE, where she worked as the Parent Support Liaison Nurse. Lulu is a member of the Substance Misuse and Child Welfare Specialist Interest Group.
Claire Murphy
Development and Support Worker
Claire is a Development and Support Worker with SPECS. Her background is in social care and she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Studies. She has worked in mainstream residential services for teenagers and also in disability and autism specific services. Claire is one of the Preparing for Life mentors in SPECS and she co-facilitates the PEEP parent and toddler groups. She is also a trained facilitator for Parents Plus Early Years, Circle of Security and Roots of Empathy.
Deirdre Murphy
Development and Support Worker
Deirdre has a BSC in Counselling & Psychotherapy and a Post Grad in Embodied Psychotherapy. Deirdre joined SPECS in January 2018 as a Support and Development Worker. Having worked in the addictions field for over ten years Deirdre was eager to become involved in ABC as she knew from experience that early intervention is the key to building brighter futures for our community. Deirdre is also trained in PEEP, Parents Plus and Circle of Security which we deliver in SPECS both as a group and also one to one.
Bróna Murphy
Transitions Development Worker
Bróna is the Transitions Development Worker on the SPECS team, her background is in Early Childhood Development and Education and she has over 16 years experience working with children and their families. Bróna has a BA Hons Degree in Early Education and she has also spent many years as a QQI Tutor. Bróna's role in SPECS is to liaise and support local schools, preschools and crèches while linking in with outside agencies as part of a community approach to early intervention. Bróna has also trained to facilitate Hanen LLLI, Parents Plus Early Years, Circle of Security and our PEEP toddler groups.
Sarah Louise Cole
Family Support Worker
Sarah Louise Cole is a Family Support Worker with SPECS. Her background is in Social Care and she graduated with a Bachelor’s (Hons) Degree in Social Care. She has worked in Mainstream Residential Services for Children in Care and also as a Caseworker in Unemployment Services. Sarah-Louise co-facilitates Parents Plus Children’s Programme, Healthy Families & is also a trained NVR facilitator.
Anita Boyle
Speech and Language Therapist
Anita is a Speech and Language Therapist, she qualified from TCD in 2003 and has worked in both Primary Care and Disability Teams in the HSE since then. As part of a joint working initiative between SPECS and the HSE Anita is now working with SPECS to deliver training aimed at supporting children’s oral language development to Early Years Services, Primary Schools and community groups. Anita is also a Parents Plus Early Years facilitator.
Georgina Fortune
Development and Support Worker
Georgina is a Development and Support Worker with SPECS. Georgina has as a BA Hons Degree in Applied Social Studies, HDip in Early Childhood Care and Education, HDip in Food Science and Technology and an OCN Level 4 in Healthy Sleep Habits. Georgina has 16 years’ experience working in Early Childhood Development and Education, working with children and their families. Georgina is trained to mentor the Preparing for Life Programme and co facilitates PEEP parent and toddler groups and Parents Plus Early Years.
Avril Barrett
Development and Support Worker
Avril is a Development and Support Worker with SPECS. Her background is in Early Childhood Development and Education. She has over 18 years’ experience working as a Montessori teacher with pre-school children. Avril has a BA Hons Degree in Early Education, a diploma in Montessori. A level 6 in Access and Inclusion facilitated her working with families and children with special needs. Since joining SPECS Avril has also trained to facilitate Parents Plus Early Years, Preparing for life, and PEEP mother and toddler.
Nadia Conroy
New Communities Family Support Worker
Nadia is a New Communities Family Support Worker. She has a degree in social care and has a background in supporting parents during pregnancy and birth. She facilitates our 'Preparing For Life Programme' and our Parents Plus Children's and Early Years programme, Nadia also runs Peep groups as well as one to ones.
Gillian O'Rourke
Administration and Communications
Gillian looks after all administration, office management and communications for SPECS. Gillian designs all of our posters, flyers and online communications. She graduated from Waterford IT with a National Diploma in Art and Art History. Her background is in Graphic Design and office administration and has worked in these fields for over 20 years.