Talk Therapy Dublin wants to ensure that children and young people are protected and kept safe from harm while they are in contact with this service.
We do this through adhering to;
– Children’s First Guidelines
– Best Practice Guidelines in Recruitment and Supervision of practitioners
1. Service details
Service name: Talk Therapy Dublin
Legal entity: D6W Counselling Solutions Ltd.
Nature of service: Counselling and psychotherapy services, including child and adolescent mental health support, provided in person and online
Location: Republic of Ireland
This Child Safeguarding Statement has been prepared in accordance with the Children First Act 2015 and Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017).
2. Commitment to safeguarding
D6W Counselling Solutions Ltd., trading as Talk Therapy Dublin, is committed to safeguarding children and young people and to promoting their welfare as a core part of therapeutic practice.
We recognise the particular vulnerability of children and adolescents accessing mental health services and aim to provide a safe, respectful, and developmentally appropriate therapeutic environment, whether services are delivered in person or online.
3. Child and adolescent mental health services
Talk Therapy Dublin provides therapeutic services to children and adolescents, which may include:
• One-to-one counselling or psychotherapy
• Work with emotional, behavioural, relational, or developmental difficulties
• Support during periods of psychological distress or transition
• Collaboration with parents or guardians where appropriate
All work is conducted in line with professional training, competence, ethical frameworks, and best practice in child and adolescent mental health.
4. Risk assessment
In line with the Children First Act 2015, a written assessment of potential risks of harm to children and young people has been completed.
Identified risks include:
• One-to-one therapeutic work with children and adolescents
• Emotional distress arising during therapeutic exploration
• Disclosure of abuse, neglect, or self-harm
• Boundary misunderstandings within therapeutic relationships
• Online or remote therapy sessions, including privacy and digital safety
• Transitions between parents/guardians and therapeutic settings
• Misunderstandings regarding confidentiality and its limits
Below is a more detailed list of the areas of risk identified and the list of procedures for managing these risks.
| Risk identified | Procedure in place to manage identified risk | |
| . | Unsuitable person working with young person or children | Vetting process for all appropriate staff. All our counsellors are trained by reputable colleges and members of well established accreditation bodies with detailed codes of ethics particularly around working with minors. Practitioners must attain certain standards to be allowed to provide counselling. |
| . | Non-reporting of concerns of risk of harm or not being recognised by staff/volunteers | Child protection training for all relevant staff. Circulation of Safeguarding Statement to all relevant staff. |
| . | 1-1 counselling with a young person including remote therapy | Ensure appropriate counsellor with relevant experience and professional insurance is appointed. Training and experience for ethical use of online counselling to be completed by all practitioners including use of external clinical supervision and support of practice manager and clinical supervisor Ravind Jeawon |
5. Safeguarding procedures
To manage and reduce these risks, the following procedures are in place:
• Adherence to Children First (2017) and all relevant legislation
• Compliance with professional ethical codes and scope of practice
• Clear consent processes involving parents/guardians and young people
• Age-appropriate explanation of therapy, confidentiality, and safeguarding
• Clear professional boundaries within all therapeutic relationships
• Secure record keeping in line with GDPR and professional guidance
• Regular review of safeguarding and clinical procedures
Safeguarding concerns are responded to promptly, sensitively, and appropriately.
Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice. In addition to the procedures listed in our risk assessment, the following procedures support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of our service:
- Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children;
- Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm;
- Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla;
- Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are mandated persons;
- Procedure for appointing a relevant person.
6. Online and remote therapy safeguards
Where counselling or psychotherapy is provided online or remotely, additional safeguards include:
• Use of secure, GDPR-compliant platforms
• Clear guidance to children and parents regarding privacy and safe spaces
• Confirmation of the child or young person’s physical location at the start of sessions
• Clear procedures for responding to risk or safeguarding concerns during online sessions
• Parental awareness of online therapy arrangements
Online therapy is offered only where clinically appropriate and in the best interests of the child or adolescent.
7. Mandated persons and reporting
Practitioners working within or listed and affiliated with Talk Therapy Dublin are Mandated Persons under the Children First Act 2015.
All practitioners understand their responsibility to:
• Make mandated reports to Tusla where thresholds are met
• Make non-mandated reports where there is reasonable concern
• Act in the best interests of the child or young person at all times
Safeguarding obligations are explained clearly to children, adolescents, and parents or guardians.
8. Confidentiality and information sharing
Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of therapeutic work. However, it is clearly explained that confidentiality may be breached where:
• There is a risk of harm to the child or others
• Disclosure is required by law
Any information shared is limited to what is necessary to protect the welfare of the child or young person.
9. Training and professional competence
D6W Counselling Solutions Ltd. ensures that:
• Practitioners working with children and adolescents have appropriate training and competence
• Children First training has been completed
• Ongoing professional development supports safe, reflective practice
Safeguarding is embedded within clinical supervision and professional reflection.
10. Implementation and review
This Child Safeguarding Statement is:
• Reviewed at least every two years
• Reviewed sooner if services change or new risks are identified
• Available on request and accessible to service users
Implementation is an on-going process. Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our service.
Signed: Ravind Jeawon MIACP Talk Therapy Dublin
11. Relevant person
In accordance with the Children First Act 2015, the Relevant Person is:
Name: [Ravind Jeawon MIACP, SIACP]
Role: Director / Practice Manager
Organisation: D6W Counselling Solutions Ltd.
Email: [office@talktherapy.ie]
The Relevant Person is responsible for ensuring this statement is implemented and maintained.
12. Date
This Child Safeguarding Statement was last reviewed on: [01/02/2026]