December New research on training for education staff to receive disclosures of sexual violence and harassment

Active* Consent and Galway Rape Crisis Centre report shows disclosure management skills training enhances confidence in supporting survivors

An evaluation of the ‘First Point of Contact’ Disclosure Management Skills Training has been published today, demonstrating how universities and other education providers can enable staff and students to receive informal disclosures of sexual violence or harassment (SVH).

The training is a collaboration between the Active* Consent programme at University of Galway and Galway Rape Crisis Centre.

First Point of Contact is a 12-hour psychotherapist-led training programme that prepares participants to receive disclosures of sexual violence and harassment and to signpost to relevant supports and services. It teaches people how to create a safe, informed, and supportive space for disclosures to be made.

The 2021 Higher Education Authority (HEA) national survey of staff in the sector showed that only about one fifth agreed that they were well informed about how to respond effectively to a disclosure.

Approximately 300 participants from the Higher Education, Further Education & Training (FET) sectors, and other organisations have completed the training so far. 

Gemma MacNally, Clinical and Therapeutic Lead of the Active* Consent programme, University of Galway, said: “The training was valued as a source of knowledge and skills by participants with minimal previous experience as well as those with previous training. First Point of Contact disclosure skills training sessions have hosted people across different backgrounds, from teachers, researchers and academics to students and professional support staff.”

 Dr Helen Maher, Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at University of Galway, said: “The training was flexible enough to be delivered online and in-person, to both our students and staff. Participants learned practical skills for how to respond to someone who is distressed, they felt safe during the training, and grew in confidence. We have had a sustained interest from people wanting to take part for three years now.”

Key findings from the report include: 

• Skill Development: 98% of survey respondents said they felt prepared to receive and respond to a disclosure after the training, using empathic communication and trauma-informed skills. 
• Widespread Satisfaction: 97% of survey respondents recommended the training to colleagues, citing its confidence-building and empowering approach. 
• Sustainability Needs: The report outlines strategies to enhance support for participants post-training, including refresher courses, peer networks, and clearer institutional policies

Recommendations for the future include maintaining psychotherapist-led delivery of the disclosure skills training; increasing the coverage of diversity, cultural change, and complex disclosure scenarios in the training; and formalising the First Point of Contact role in organisations so that young people and staff members can access informal support when they wish to make a disclosure of sexual violence or harassment. 

Professor Pádraig MacNeela, Co-Lead of the Active* Consent programme, University of Galway, said: “On completing their training, participants felt prepared to receive disclosures within the boundaries that had been set out. Those who later received disclosures were able to describe their use of techniques learned during the training. Further to this, individuals who took part typically said that they would like to have a continuing role receiving disclosures." 

 Cathy Connolly, Director of the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, said: "The First Point of Contact programme places survivors’ experiences at the heart of its design. By equipping individuals with the tools to provide supportive, non-judgmental responses, this collaboration with Active* Consent ensures that victims and survivors are met with empathy and respect." 

The full ‘First Point of Contact’ report is available to read here: https://www.consenthub.ie/research/first-point-of-contact-disclosure-management-skills-training-research-evaluation-study/

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