Specialist Child Sexual Abuse Services – The Alders Unit

What should we expect when attending The Alders Unit for assessment?

• The assessment provides the child/young person the opportunity to tell their story in a safe and therapeutic way, at their own pace.
• Parents/carers are also given the space to talk about what has happened and their concerns for their child.
• Children and young people usually attend between 2 and 4 times.

What happens when the assessment is complete?

• The assessment team will write a report which will be shared with Tusla and other professionals involved in the child’s life.
• The assessment team will gather all of the information regarding the concern of sexual abuse and make recommendations on how best to support the child and family.
• This may include a referral to the therapy service or another service.

What should we expect when attending The Alders Unit for therapy?

• We offer different types of therapy to meet each child/young person and family's needs.
• The child/young person sets the pace and focus of the therapy.
• During the first session, parents/carers and one or two therapists meet with the child/young person.
• The first therapy session usually lasts for around 1-1½ hours.
• The amount of therapy sessions varies for each child/young person and family as it depends on each child and family’s unique needs.
  

What happens when the therapy is complete?

• Any decision to end therapy would be collaboratively discussed between the young person/family and therapist.
• The young person can come back to therapy at any time up to age 18.
  
  What do I tell my child about coming to The Alders Unit for therapy?
  
• This will be talked through with parent(s)/carer(s) in their initial intake meeting with the therapist.

The units also offer a consultation service to professionals regarding issues such as concerns regarding behaviour in the absence of a specific disclosure or grounded concern. A consultation can provide advice regarding therapeutic work with children who have disclosed or experienced sexual abuse as well as providing consultations to other services in relation to complex presentations in the context of child sexual abuse. The consultation service is provided nationally.

The units offer training to professionals such as Tusla Social Workers. Any professional working with children, young people and families where there is a requirement or need regarding child sexual abuse and related issues can contact the Units directly to make an enquiry.