Children don’t have to tell what happened to them over and over again because staff from several agencies will work together to make the process of disclosure less traumatic – that will be the advantage of this pilot project in Galway which, it is hoped, will be replicated across the country and will ultimately lead to a dedicated Barnahus Onehouse facility being available at all three children adolescent sexual assault treatment service (CASATS) centres in Ireland – in Galway, Dublin and Cork – if the vision is realised.
The new initiative was officially launched on 16 September last by Minister for Health and Youth Affairs Dr Katharine Zappone TD in NUI Galway who wanted to champion this integrated approach.
Administrative planning began on it in November 2018 and this November the extra Barnahus staff are expected to be in place in the Galway CASATS centre to draw the administrative threads of the plan together.
This will mean that instead of a child having to tell their story several times – for example to a GP, then to a TUSLA social worker and then perhaps to gardaí or the other way round, the cases are now going to be assessed more centrally and decisions made to provide a more integrated, efficient service.
The idea is that the whole process will be planned
Dr Joanne Nelson is a consultant pediatrician with Saolta University Health Care Group in Galway and clinical director of the CASATS service there and she outlines what will happen under this new initiative.
“It will be much more streamlined and integrated,” she states.
“The idea is that the whole process will be planned. Say a child’s parent reports to gardaí. The gardaí will now link in with the Barnahus manager who will hold regular meetings with the other agencies – so around the table there will be gardaí, forensic medical nursing support, Tusla social workers and a psychologist who will discuss the case and share some of the details.”
A decision will then be made about which agency will link in with the family first.
“It may be that a forensic medical examination is needed first,” she says, “or perhaps safeguarding will be the priority (protecting other siblings and child contacts) also so Tusla will link in in that case, and do an assessment or gardaí could need to do their specialist interview.”
Every voice will be heard
Agencies and individuals in Ireland have long been battling for progress within child and adolescent sexual abuse services in Ireland, she says.
“Ultimately under one roof, the frontline Barnahus professionals will support vulnerable children and their families, addressing evidential, forensic, health, safeguarding and therapeutic needs.
“Children will be brought to the Barnahus door, each with their own private and individual trauma. Every voice will be heard. The ultimate aim is that every child will be in a better position when the process ends than when it began.”
While the interim premises is at the CASATS facility in Galway, Dr Nelson has no idea of a timeframe for the purpose-built facility.
I will know things that are important for me to know so that I won’t upset or offend the child
“It’s the million-dollar question. It will take commitment at a very high level to achieve it but that’s the ultimate vision. It is very much a vision but we are tremendously excited about it.”
In the meantime, the agencies have begun working together and this means that, for her, she will know a child’s case background better before she meets them.
“Before this all started I didn’t have all the bits of the jigsaw, but now I will be in a better place. I will know things that are important for me to know so that I won’t upset or offend the child – something as simple as knowing that a parent has died, for example. At least I will be aware of that sensitivity.”
Ninety-one cases have presented for forensic examination at the CASATS centre in the nine months since this initiative began, up from 56 in the nine months prior.
“This may be because of increased awareness of other agencies since we started working together of the value or benefit of forensic examination for medical reassurance for families,” she says.
Most abuse cases historic
Only 10-15% of cases that are seen at the Galway CASATS centre are acute or urgent cases, however.
“Eighty-five to 90% would be historic cases as most children disclose abuse sometime after it has happened, for all sorts of reasons,” she says.
“Maybe they’ve been threatened that they will come to harm or maybe the perpetrator is a trusted person and they haven’t realised there is anything wrong with what’s happening, but time and maturity lead them to understand that what is happening is wrong.
“In these non-acute or historical disclosures – from a medical point of view – we don’t have to rush to do a medical examination and get forensic samples because the abuse happened outside the forensic window but an examination may be carried out for medical reassurance reasons.”
Minister’s comments
Minister Zappone says that the new Barnahus, Onehouse initiative was required.
“The need for a sensitive, joined-up service for children in this situation has been recognised for a long time. Based on the Icelandic ‘Barnahus’ model it is informed by international best practice.”
Minister for Health Simon Harris TD said the opening of the inter-agency services was an important moment in the State’s response to sexual abuse.
It is also important we support staff working in this difficult and sensitive area
“It is essential we do everything we can to help victims of sexual abuse,” he said, “and ease the burden on them and their families.
“It is also important we support staff working in this difficult and sensitive area.”
Three Government departments work with the agencies above at sexual assault treatment units (SATUs) and CASATS centres; the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Health and the Department of Justice and Equality.
Fighting blindness conference
Saturday 16 November
Radisson Blu Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8
How long before I can expect a treatment to stop further deterioration of my sight? Is there anything 
I can do to avoid passing my genetic sight-loss condition onto my children? What research holds the most potential to save my sight?
These are just some of the questions that members of the public will be able to ask eye experts at Fighting Blindness’ forthcoming Public Engagement Day taking place as part of Retina 2019 during Science Week Ireland on Saturday 16 November.
The event will have sessions about more than 20 conditions like retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma. Members of the public can register their attendance at www.retina.ie
Top seven tips to better
safeguard your child’s sight
It’s estimated that there are 246,000 people in Ireland who are blind or visually impaired, yet approximately 75 per cent of sight loss is preventable. Here are some tips from Fighting Blindness to better care for your child’s eye health.
1 Spend time in the great outdoors. Research suggests that time spent playing outside contributes to a decrease in the risk of short-sightedness.
2 Don’t leave them to their own devices. Teach your children to hold a smartphone or tablet at arm’s length from their eyes and encourage them to look away from the screen every few minutes.
3 You are what you eat. It’s not just carrots that are good for children’s eyesight. Oranges, oily fish, peppers, eggs, dairy and nuts have some of the biggest health benefits for eyes. If your child has been diagnosed with a retinal disease, make sure to check with your doctor first as to the diet most appropriate for them.
4 Sun’s up! It’s vital that children wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun, which are more vulnerable to sun damage due to their larger pupils and clearer lenses.
5 Put them to the test. Ensure that your child has their first eye test from a qualified optician by the age of three years, and every year after that until they are 16 years old.
6 Safety first. Physical activity and sport are important for children, but make sure they use safety eye wear that is appropriate for their sport to protect against eye injury.
7 Be on the lookout. If you notice an inward or outward turning in a child’s eyes, delays in tracking moving objects, squinting or holding material close to their face, speak to your GP or optician. Many conditions can be treated more effectively once picked up early.
For more details on the programme for the Retina 2019 Public Engagement Day, visit www.retina.ie. To keep up-to-date on the latest conference news, follow Fighting Blindness on Twitter @fight_blindness, or search for #Retina2019 #ScienceWeek
Children don’t have to tell what happened to them over and over again because staff from several agencies will work together to make the process of disclosure less traumatic – that will be the advantage of this pilot project in Galway which, it is hoped, will be replicated across the country and will ultimately lead to a dedicated Barnahus Onehouse facility being available at all three children adolescent sexual assault treatment service (CASATS) centres in Ireland – in Galway, Dublin and Cork – if the vision is realised.
The new initiative was officially launched on 16 September last by Minister for Health and Youth Affairs Dr Katharine Zappone TD in NUI Galway who wanted to champion this integrated approach.
Administrative planning began on it in November 2018 and this November the extra Barnahus staff are expected to be in place in the Galway CASATS centre to draw the administrative threads of the plan together.
This will mean that instead of a child having to tell their story several times – for example to a GP, then to a TUSLA social worker and then perhaps to gardaí or the other way round, the cases are now going to be assessed more centrally and decisions made to provide a more integrated, efficient service.
The idea is that the whole process will be planned
Dr Joanne Nelson is a consultant pediatrician with Saolta University Health Care Group in Galway and clinical director of the CASATS service there and she outlines what will happen under this new initiative.
“It will be much more streamlined and integrated,” she states.
“The idea is that the whole process will be planned. Say a child’s parent reports to gardaí. The gardaí will now link in with the Barnahus manager who will hold regular meetings with the other agencies – so around the table there will be gardaí, forensic medical nursing support, Tusla social workers and a psychologist who will discuss the case and share some of the details.”
A decision will then be made about which agency will link in with the family first.
“It may be that a forensic medical examination is needed first,” she says, “or perhaps safeguarding will be the priority (protecting other siblings and child contacts) also so Tusla will link in in that case, and do an assessment or gardaí could need to do their specialist interview.”
Every voice will be heard
Agencies and individuals in Ireland have long been battling for progress within child and adolescent sexual abuse services in Ireland, she says.
“Ultimately under one roof, the frontline Barnahus professionals will support vulnerable children and their families, addressing evidential, forensic, health, safeguarding and therapeutic needs.
“Children will be brought to the Barnahus door, each with their own private and individual trauma. Every voice will be heard. The ultimate aim is that every child will be in a better position when the process ends than when it began.”
While the interim premises is at the CASATS facility in Galway, Dr Nelson has no idea of a timeframe for the purpose-built facility.
I will know things that are important for me to know so that I won’t upset or offend the child
“It’s the million-dollar question. It will take commitment at a very high level to achieve it but that’s the ultimate vision. It is very much a vision but we are tremendously excited about it.”
In the meantime, the agencies have begun working together and this means that, for her, she will know a child’s case background better before she meets them.
“Before this all started I didn’t have all the bits of the jigsaw, but now I will be in a better place. I will know things that are important for me to know so that I won’t upset or offend the child – something as simple as knowing that a parent has died, for example. At least I will be aware of that sensitivity.”
Ninety-one cases have presented for forensic examination at the CASATS centre in the nine months since this initiative began, up from 56 in the nine months prior.
“This may be because of increased awareness of other agencies since we started working together of the value or benefit of forensic examination for medical reassurance for families,” she says.
Most abuse cases historic
Only 10-15% of cases that are seen at the Galway CASATS centre are acute or urgent cases, however.
“Eighty-five to 90% would be historic cases as most children disclose abuse sometime after it has happened, for all sorts of reasons,” she says.
“Maybe they’ve been threatened that they will come to harm or maybe the perpetrator is a trusted person and they haven’t realised there is anything wrong with what’s happening, but time and maturity lead them to understand that what is happening is wrong.
“In these non-acute or historical disclosures – from a medical point of view – we don’t have to rush to do a medical examination and get forensic samples because the abuse happened outside the forensic window but an examination may be carried out for medical reassurance reasons.”
Minister’s comments
Minister Zappone says that the new Barnahus, Onehouse initiative was required.
“The need for a sensitive, joined-up service for children in this situation has been recognised for a long time. Based on the Icelandic ‘Barnahus’ model it is informed by international best practice.”
Minister for Health Simon Harris TD said the opening of the inter-agency services was an important moment in the State’s response to sexual abuse.
It is also important we support staff working in this difficult and sensitive area
“It is essential we do everything we can to help victims of sexual abuse,” he said, “and ease the burden on them and their families.
“It is also important we support staff working in this difficult and sensitive area.”
Three Government departments work with the agencies above at sexual assault treatment units (SATUs) and CASATS centres; the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Health and the Department of Justice and Equality.
Fighting blindness conference
Saturday 16 November
Radisson Blu Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8
How long before I can expect a treatment to stop further deterioration of my sight? Is there anything
I can do to avoid passing my genetic sight-loss condition onto my children? What research holds the most potential to save my sight?
These are just some of the questions that members of the public will be able to ask eye experts at Fighting Blindness’ forthcoming Public Engagement Day taking place as part of Retina 2019 during Science Week Ireland on Saturday 16 November.
The event will have sessions about more than 20 conditions like retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma. Members of the public can register their attendance at www.retina.ie
Top seven tips to better
safeguard your child’s sight
It’s estimated that there are 246,000 people in Ireland who are blind or visually impaired, yet approximately 75 per cent of sight loss is preventable. Here are some tips from Fighting Blindness to better care for your child’s eye health.
1 Spend time in the great outdoors. Research suggests that time spent playing outside contributes to a decrease in the risk of short-sightedness.
2 Don’t leave them to their own devices. Teach your children to hold a smartphone or tablet at arm’s length from their eyes and encourage them to look away from the screen every few minutes.
3 You are what you eat. It’s not just carrots that are good for children’s eyesight. Oranges, oily fish, peppers, eggs, dairy and nuts have some of the biggest health benefits for eyes. If your child has been diagnosed with a retinal disease, make sure to check with your doctor first as to the diet most appropriate for them.
4 Sun’s up! It’s vital that children wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun, which are more vulnerable to sun damage due to their larger pupils and clearer lenses.
5 Put them to the test. Ensure that your child has their first eye test from a qualified optician by the age of three years, and every year after that until they are 16 years old.
6 Safety first. Physical activity and sport are important for children, but make sure they use safety eye wear that is appropriate for their sport to protect against eye injury.
7 Be on the lookout. If you notice an inward or outward turning in a child’s eyes, delays in tracking moving objects, squinting or holding material close to their face, speak to your GP or optician. Many conditions can be treated more effectively once picked up early.
For more details on the programme for the Retina 2019 Public Engagement Day, visit www.retina.ie. To keep up-to-date on the latest conference news, follow Fighting Blindness on Twitter @fight_blindness, or search for #Retina2019 #ScienceWeek
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: