Session Structure for Working with Children
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Reframing Responses > How To Guide
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My Favourite Reference Books for Working with Children
CONFIDENTIALITY, CONSENT AND WORKING WITH CHILDREN
Visit https://childrenfirst.hseland.ie/ to sign up for this free Working With Children Course. This is essential learning for any therapist who wishes to work with children in Ireland.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse is now Law in Ireland
Confidentiality and the Safeguarding of Vulnerable People are important issues for all therapists. This page provides you with the information for best practice. If you are working with a child or a young adult and you have concerns that the child may be experiencing abuse, we have a duty of care to act upon that concern. The guidelines state
“If any risk is deemed to exist to a child who may be in contact with an alleged abuser, the counsellor / health professional should report the allegation to the HSE Children and Family Services without delay.”
Whilst this is directed towards counsellors and psychotherapists, as professional hypnotherapists, we must also take action and report to the HSE Children and Family Services without delay.
Children First – Understanding the Law
You can download the Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children book from the HSE.
You’ll also want to read this.
You can download The Children First Law here.
You can access “The Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook” incorporates the Children First Guidelines from Tusla
Working With Children
Even if you only occasionally work with children, it is essential that you take this online course.
If you routinely work with children you are advised to take the Child Protection one day course run by One In Four.
Contact Margaret on 016624070 at One In Four or visit their website.
Child Safeguarding Statement
You should also have a Child Safeguarding Statement in place. More information can be found at Tusla. In particular –
A template is available from Tusla. Click Here.
Suspicious or Unsure?
If you aren’t sure whether your suspicions are grounded in reality or if you get a sense that something isn’t right, you can get advice and guidance from the One In Four association.
However, to ensure you are approaching any concerns correctly, I would suggest you reach out and get in touch with our Supervisors as a first port of call and to make it clear to them why you require urgent assistance.
There is a wealth of online resources for therapists who are thinking about working with children – and would like to be better informed about practical issues surrounding disclosure. Visit Pobal.ie here