Whos Who
Aideen McLaughlin
Director Of Community Services (Acting)
Aideen McLaughlin was appointed acting Director of Community Services in May 2009 following the resignation of Dave Weir.
Aideen has worked for the Youth Justice Agency since January 2004, initially as a Youth Conference Co-ordinator prior to her promotion to Assistant Director, Youth Conference Service in August 2005.
Since qualifying as a Social Worker in 1990, Aideen’s career has been spent working with children and young people and their families. Initially she practiced as a Child Protection Social Worker in Bangor for almost 6 years before taking up post as a Probation Officer with PBNI where she specialised in working with adjudicated young offenders who were subject to Probation Orders and Juvenile Justice Centre Orders.
Mary Brannigan
Assistant Director
Mary Brannigan has responsibility for Community Services projects in the Eastern Board area of Northern Ireland. She has a leading role in developing statistical systems and in the implementation risk assessment/management systems.
Mary is involved in Children’s Services Planning in the Eastern area, sitting on the Children in Conflict with the Law subgroup and is a member of the Eastern Area Child Protection Committee.
Mary also represents the Agency on a number of local and strategic fora.
Thompson Best
Assistant Director
Thompson has responsibility for the Community Services in the Western Health and Social Care Trust area which includes services in Enniskillen, Omagh, Strabane and Foyle. This includes involvement in the Western Board's Children and Young People's Committee. He also manages the training and development of staff within Community Services and is involved in the Criminal Justice Training Group and represents the Agency on the NIPQET Partnership Board.
Thompson also has responsibility for Bail Support and Transport Services.
Michael Heaney
Assistant Director
Michael Heaney has responsibility for Community Services Projects in the southern part of Northern Ireland. He has a leading role in developing practice standards, early intervention initiatives and family work services. He is also responsible for Adventure Learning services and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme within Community Services.
Michael is involved in Children’s Services Planning in the southern area; sitting on the Children and Young People’s Committee and the Family Support Strategy working group, as well as chairing the Children, Young People and Offending working group. He is also a member of the Southern Area Child Protection Committee, the Southern Area Restorative Practices in Residential Care steering group and the Child and Parents Support (CAPS) advisory group.
Grainne Keane
Assistant Director
Grainne Keane has responsibility for Community Services in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. She has involvement with a range of statutory voluntary and community sector bodies whilst formally representing the Agency on the Northern Area Child Protection Committee and the Northern Area Children and Young Peoples Committee.
Grainne has a particular interest in the interface which exists between justice and childcare and in the development of restorative practices which repair harm across multiple contexts.
Grainne is committed to the development of a range of differentiated interventions which balance the needs of the public, the person harmed by the offence and the child/young person who has been involved in offending behaviour.
