Click on the video below to watch a recording of the event. Please note that the recording is available to view until the end of January only.

Background & Context

Barnahus is an Icelandic model for providing services to children who have witnessed violence and/or been sexually abused, locating and providing all services (social work, police, forensic and therapeutic) under the one roof and providing a safe place where the needs of the child have been put at the centre. There are two fully operational Barnahus in Ireland, one in Galway and the other in Cork.

DCEDIY are working with the Council of Europe and the EU to scale up the provision of Barnahus in Ireland as the model is rolled out across Europe. As Phase One of the implementation of Barnahus draws to a close, this webinar will provide social workers (and those interested) with an understanding the child-centred approach to design and service delivery underpinning the Barnahus model as well as the difference the approach makes to the experiences and outcomes for children and families coping with the trauma of violence and child sexual abuse.

Learning Aims

Participants will

• understand the Barnahus model and the rationale for providing services in this way
• be briefed on the provision of the model across Ireland and plans for the rollout of the model
• understand the social work role in the model and the nature of teamwork in Barnahus

 Programme

10.00   Welcome & Introduction (Ciara Doyle, Department of Children, Disability & Equality)

10.10   What is Barnahus? (Julie O’ Donnell, Barnahus General Manager, Tusla)

• Overview of the Barnahus Model
• Core principles and multidisciplinary approach
• Video contextualizing the Barnahus Ireland

10.30 The Child's Journey: A Hypothetical Case Overview

• Walkthrough of a fictional case
• Overview of each Barnahus room’s role by speakers from each area (child protection, medical criminal, investigation, and therapy)

11.10  Children's Health Ireland & Barnahus East (Eimear Lacey) & Barnahus Progress Ger Brophy (CSW, Tusla)  

11.40  Testimonials

11.45  Q & A

11.55  Closing Remarks

12.00  Close