Forensic Onsite Accompaniment

A.S.S.C. offers onsite forensic accompaniment to young people and their families across different regions in Ireland.

What is a forensic examination?

This is when a child or young person has a physical examination by a nurse or doctor. This would occur following a concern or disclosure of sexual violence.

A.S.S.C. aims to provide emotional and practical support during this examination. This service is volunteer-led and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A.S.S.C. also provides phone support and advocacy after the examination.

Currently, the forensic accompaniment service is provided in:

• Child & Adolescent Sexual Assault Treatment Service (CASATS) forensic unit in Barnahus West Galway (0 – 14 years old)
• The Rotunda Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU), Dublin (14 – 15 years old)
• Cork Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) – (0 – 18 years old)

See further details on these services below.

Barnahus West is an interagency service supporting children, young people and their families who have experienced child sexual abuse. At Barnahus, we want to make sure that children and young people receive the right help and support by coordinating and providing all the services needed under one roof. We bring together Tusla, the HSE and the Garda Síochana, the agencies responsible for child protection. By responding in this way, the services can gather the best evidence and help prevent any further trauma to the child by limiting the amount of times they have to tell professionals what has happened to them. It also provides the support children and families need to ensure overall better outcomes.

Barnahus West is the only dedicated unit in Ireland to provide a 24-hour service for young people from ages 0-14 who have experienced or been harmed following sexual violence by providing an integrated forensic medical service for children and their families. This service addresses the forensic needs of children for the purposes of wellbeing, investigation and recovery. The service is provided to children who are victims of rape, sexual assault or suspected sexual abuse following either recent or historical abuse.

Our service in Barnahus (Galway) West

A.S.S.C. provides onsite volunteers to support young people and their families whilst they attend Barnahus West. This service is provided by a 24-hour rota throughout the whole year. During a family’s time at Barnahus West, they can avail of an A.S.S.C. volunteer who can answer any questions and provide them with emotional support.

Essential Information:

Eircode:	H91 VW84
Weekday Phone:	091 76 57 51 or 087 63 38 118 from 8am to 4pm
Out of Hours Phone:	091 75 76 31 or 091 524222 after 4pm and weekends – ask for SATU

Rotunda SATU provides an integrated forensic medical service for children and adults, who have been harmed by sexual violence. A.S.S.C. provides accompaniment to young people in Rotunda SATU from ages 14 -15 years old. This service addresses the forensic needs of children, who are victims of rape, sexual assault or suspected child sexual abuse, for either recent or historical abuse. A.S.S.C. provides accompaniment support for these young people and their families.

Our service in the Dublin Rotunda SATU

A.S.S.C. provides onsite volunteers to support young people and their families whilst they attend the unit. This service is provided by a 24-hour rota throughout the whole year. During the family’s time at the unit, they can avail of an A.S.S.C. volunteer who can answer any questions and provide them with emotional support.

Essential Information:

Eircode:	D01 P5W9, located in the Rotunda Hospital complex
Weekday Phone:	01 817 1736 from 8am to 5pm
Out of Hours Phone:	01 817 1700 after 5pm and weekends

A.S.S.C. has extended this service to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in Cork.

Essential Information:

Eircode:	T12 X23H , located in South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital
Weekday Phone:	021 492 6297 from 8am to 4.30pm
Out of Hours Phone:	021 492 6100 weekends and after 4.30pm, ask for SATU