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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 02/10/2026

EPIC's Board of Directors is seeking a board member with expertise in strategic partnerships. The ideal candidate will have experience in fundraising, philanthropy, grants or corporate partnerships. Find out more: www.boardmatch.ie/board-vacanc...

Join the EPIC Board! 🤝

EPIC's Board of Directors is seeking a board member with expertise in strategic partnerships.

The ideal candidate will have experience in fundraising, philanthropy, grants or corporate partnerships, along with knowledge of the Irish or UK funding landscape, strong networks and experience in the charity or social impact sector.

Find out more: https://www.boardmatch.ie/board-vacancy/board-member-strategic-partnerships

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 01/10/2026

Work with us! EPIC is seeking a Youth Engagement and Participation Worker to join our team, based in Donegal 📣 The successful candidate will work to deliver a youth engagement and participation programme with children seeking international protection. www.epiconline.ie/news/yep-wor...

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 30/09/2026

“Vetting is the first line of defence in the protection of children in care. If that basic standard is not met or avoided, that would be a breach of trust that EPIC would believe it is difficult to move past." - Wayne Stanley, CEO Read more: www.dublininquirer.com/tusla-report...

dublininquirer.com

Tusla reported seven companies that run children’s homes to Gardaí over Garda-vetting concerns

“Any organisation that does not rigorously enforce Garda vetting for every adult working with children is failing in its fundamental duty of care," says Terry Dignan, of the Children's Residential and...

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 25/09/2026

Budget 2027 is an opportunity to turn commitments into action and make sure children in care and care-experienced young people get the support, stability and opportunities they deserve.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 25/09/2026

We’re calling for investment in advocacy, aftercare, housing, disability supports, mental health, education, foster care and frontline services, alongside joined-up action across Government.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 25/09/2026

EPIC have released our Pre-Budget Submission 2027! Our submission is shaped by what children and young people tell us about the challenges and gaps they face when accessing support and services. Read here and let your local representatives know you support our recommendations ⬇️

epiconline.ie

Pre-Budget Submission 2027

Pre-Budget Submission 2027 Introduction to EPIC’s Pre-Budget Submission Meeting the Challenges and Opportunities Ahead EPIC’s Pre-Budget Submission 2027 is grounded in our direct engagement with child...

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 09/09/2026

Budget 2027 must address these pressures. Government must invest in Tusla to increase foster care, residential care, special care and step-down capacity, alongside the frontline workforce needed to support children in care.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 09/09/2026

EPIC sees the impact of these pressures every day through our National Advocacy Service. Care placements remain one of the main issues children and young people in care seek advocacy support for, with some waiting for suitable placements or remaining in placements that do not meet their needs.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 09/09/2026

HIQA also found that children living outside Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow were more likely to experience delays and limited in-person contact with a social worker through Tusla’s out-of-hours service.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 09/09/2026

A new HIQA report has raised concerns about children being placed in hotel rooms when appropriate emergency placements cannot be found, including the additional safeguarding risks these arrangements can create. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...

irishtimes.com

Tusla housing children in hotel rooms poses ‘significant’ safety risks, says watchdog

Children outside Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow receive poorer level of service, according to Hiqa

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 02/09/2026

Applications for these job posts close this Friday at 5:00 PM ⏰ EPIC is looking for an Advocacy Officer (Dublin Regions) and an Advocacy Administrator (Based in Dublin or Cork). Learn more on our website: www.epiconline.ie/work-with-us/ #EPIC #Care #Children #YoungPeople #Ireland

EPIC (Empowering People in Care) is hiring for two roles. Advocacy Officer (Dublin Regions) and Advocacy Administrator (Dublin or Cork). Applications close on 4 September. Apply now via the EPIC careers page.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 27/08/2026

They can help you understand what supports are available and connect you with the right services to help you make the most of your college experience 💜 You can find contact details on your college or university's website, or by visiting in person 👋

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 27/08/2026

Congratulations to everyone who received a CAO offer this week! 😊 If you're care-experienced, it's worth getting in touch with your Access Office when you start college 📌 (⬇️)

Person studying at a desk with books, notes and a computer. Graphic promoting EPIC's resource, "Access offices support care-experienced students in higher education".

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 25/08/2026

Every young person in care has rights. Do you know yours? 📢 Next set of cards from 'Hear Me Out', a rights-based card game based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Discover all 18 Hear Me Out cards and learn more at epiconline.ie 🎴

Graphic showing a fan of children's rights cards, text that says "Hear Me Out! A Rights-Based Card Game", conversation speech bubble icons, and logos for EPIC and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.

Card of Article 8 (Preservation of Identity), with a graphic of an exclamation mark and question mark. Card of Article 12 (The Right to Be Heard), with a graphic of a megaphone.

Card of Article 13 (Freedom of Expression), with a graphic of lips and a speech bubble. Card of Article 14 (Freedom of Religion), with a graphic of the Earth surrounded by religious symbols.

Card of Article 16 (Protection of Privacy), with a graphic of a padlock. Graphic introducing the Hear Me Out! rights-based card game, featuring a link to epiconline.ie, the game box artwork.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 24/08/2026

Join the EPIC team! 😊📣 We are currently hiring an Advocacy Officer (Dublin Regions) and an Advocacy Administrator (Dublin or Cork) 🤝 Learn more and apply: www.epiconline.ie/work-with-us/ Applications close for both roles: Friday, September 4th at 5:00 PM #EPIC #jobfairy #irishjobs #advocacy

EPIC recruitment advertisement. Applications close September 4th. Open positions: Advocacy Officer (Dublin Regions) and Advocacy Administrator (Dublin or Cork). Apply now. EPIC Empowering People in Care.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 21/08/2026

This is a huge milestone and the start of an exciting new chapter. Congratulations, and best of luck with your next steps forward 💜

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 21/08/2026

It's Leaving Cert Results Day! We're thinking of you and cheering you on today 👏 No matter the outcome, be proud of all you have achieved. Reaching this point has taken a lot of hard work, resilience, and determination, and that's worth celebrating 😊

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 21/08/2026

Children need stability and continuity of care, with the opportunity to build and maintain relationships with staff supporting them. As corporate parent, the State has a responsibility to ensure that children in care receive the care, stability and support they need.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 21/08/2026

EPIC continues to call for increased investment in Tusla to enable the recruitment and retention of staff, and increased capacity to ensure children can access appropriate placements when they need them.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 18/08/2026

Don't miss out ⏰ Applications close this Friday, August 21st at 5:00 PM. Learn more here: www.epiconline.ie/work-with-us...

Recruitment advertisement for a Research and Policy Officer position in Dublin at EPIC Empowering People in Care, with a call-to-action to apply now.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 05/08/2026

We're hiring! 📣 We are currently recruiting for three roles: - Advocacy Administrator (Cork or Dublin) - Advocacy Officer (Dublin Regions) - Research and Policy Officer (Dublin) To find out more and apply, visit: www.epiconline.ie/work-with-us

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 31/07/2026

Visit epiconline.ie/know-your-rights to explore all 18 cards and learn more about the project. This project was funded by the Department of Children, Disability and Youth. #EPIC #Care #Children #YoungPeople #Rights #Ireland

Card of Article 6 (Survival and Development), with a graphic of a growing plant.

Graphic introducing the Hear Me Out! rights-based card game, featuring information about the resource, a link to epiconline.ie, the game box artwork, and logos for EPIC and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 31/07/2026

These cards explore who rights apply to, protection from discrimination, making decisions in a child's best interests, putting rights into practice, and every child's right to life, survival and development.

Card of Article 3 (Best Interests of the Child), with a graphic of people meeting around a table.

Card of Article 4 (Implementation of Rights), with a graphic of a government building.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 31/07/2026

While developing the cards, young people picked out the most important rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Today, we're looking at those first five cards 👇

Card of Article 1 (Definition of the Child), with a graphic of the number 18 shaped as a balloon.

Card of Article 2 (Non-discrimination), with a graphic of an equals sign.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 31/07/2026

Knowing your rights is the first step to using them 🗣️ Young people in care came together to develop Hear Me Out, a rights-based card game that helps care-experienced children and young people discover, understand and talk about their rights.

Graphic showing a fan of children's rights cards, text that says "Hear Me Out! A Rights-Based Card Game", and conversation speech bubble icons.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 30/07/2026

If you're a young person with experience of CAMHS, a parent or carer, a mental health professional, or service provider, your feedback can help shape the final standards. Take part here: easy-feedback.de/s/2146998/xo... 🔗

easy-feedback.de

Public consultation on the draft National Standards for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 30/07/2026

The Mental Health Commission has launched a public consultation on the draft National Standards for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

mhcirl.ie

New draft standards for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Public Consultation | Mental Health Commission

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Reposted by EPIC Empowering People in Care

Ombudsman for Children's Office @ocoireland.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Have you seen the news? The OCO is campaigning for the full and direct incorporation of the UNCRC into Irish law. To make children’s rights real. Find out how YOUR organisation can get involved in our campaign, here: www.oco.ie/childrens-ri...

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 24/07/2026

It was a positive and productive meeting 🙌 Thank you to Kate Duggan for taking the time to listen to and address the concerns raised by our Youth Council! 😊

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 24/07/2026

Yesterday, members of the EPIC Youth Council met with Kate Duggan, CEO of TUSLA, in our Limerick office to follow up on previous discussions. The Council raised concerns about the accessibility of aftercare services and media consciousness about the language used when discussing children in care.

Group photo taken at EPIC Empowering People In Care's Limerick office showing six members of the EPIC Youth Council alongside Kate Duggan, CEO of TUSLA, and Katie Fleming, EPIC Youth Engagement and Participation Worker. The group stands in front of large windows in a meeting room, wearing a mix of casual and smart casual clothing.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 23/07/2026

We are looking for a Research and Policy Officer to join our team 📢 This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong research and analytical skills who is passionate about children's rights and committed to influencing positive change 😊 Find out more: www.epiconline.ie/work-with-us...

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 13/07/2026

Great to see EPIC Advocate Brenda and EPIC Youth Council member Andrea at the Irish Foster Care Association Conference in Moycullen this weekend. Thanks to @irishfostercare.bsky.social for a fantastic event and for having us! 💜

EPIC Advocate Brenda and EPIC Youth Council member Andrea stand together in front of an EPIC banner at the Irish Foster Care Association Conference. The banner highlights EPIC’s mission, “empowering people in care,” and its values of being empowering, rights-based, inclusive and ambitious.

EPIC information stand at the Irish Foster Care Association Conference featuring advocacy resources, care information booklets, publications, badges and promotional materials displayed alongside an EPIC banner outlining the organisation’s mission and values.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 09/07/2026

As Wayne Stanley, our CEO, said: “Better regulation and oversight of Special Emergency Arrangements is a positive and necessary step forward. But this alone will not address the underlying capacity crisis that has left too many children living in temporary and unstable arrangements.”

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 09/07/2026

This is not the end point. The reliance on SEAs arose because of shortages in appropriate placements. While this addresses a significant gap, these services are not to the same standard of staffing and support that Tusla’s own residential services are required to meet.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 09/07/2026

EPIC welcomes Tusla’s announcement that Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs) are to be subject to greater regulation and oversight. Bringing emergency placements within an inspection and governance framework is an important step towards strengthening safeguards for children in care.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 02/07/2026

📖https://ifca.ie/working-together-making-a-difference-pre-budget-submission-2027/

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 02/07/2026

EPIC supports IFCA's call for greater investment in foster care and the practical measures needed to better support foster carers, children and young people. Strengthening foster care is essential to building a care system that can meet the needs of children and young people.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 02/07/2026

Our CEO Wayne Stanley was delighted to attend today's launch of the Irish Foster Care Association's Pre-Budget Submission 2027.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 29/06/2026

We had so much fun at Dublin Pride on Saturday! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Thank you to Belong To for inviting us to breakfast and for walking with you in the parade 🙌 We marched for all LGBTQ+ young people in care and with care-experience 💜

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 29/06/2026

"Accountability and investment are not mutually exclusive. Children in care and young care-leavers deserve both." Read our CEO Wayne Stanley's letter to the editor in today's Irish Times: www.irishtimes.com/opinion/lett...

irishtimes.com

Letters to the Editor, June 29th: On dirty Dublin, private maternity care and World Cup water breaks

As a taxpayer and as someone who genuinely loves this city, I am embarrassed

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 26/06/2026

Huge congratulations to the young people in Include Youth’s Give and Take Programme in Tallaght 🥳 The programme supports young people in aftercare to build skills, confidence and real opportunities for the future 🙌 Members of EPIC’s YEP team were delighted to join such a brilliant day 💜

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 29/05/2026

Thomas and Katie were delighted to be invited by a young person to celebrate completing a full month of Play All May at Ballydowd Special Care Unit 👏 A month of daily movement, fun activities and confidence building, finished with a BBQ, ice cream van and bouncy castle 🥳

Thomas and Katie from EPIC's Youth Engagement and Participation Team. They are each holding an ice cream with strawberry sauce and a chocolate flake. They are wearing EPIC and rainbow lanyards.

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 26/05/2026

EPIC is inviting proposals from qualified and regulated financial advisory firms to provide independent pension, financial and governance advice to the organisation and its pension scheme members. Submission deadline: 5pm, Monday 15th June 2026 📅 Learn more: www.epiconline.ie/work-with-us...

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EPIC Empowering People in Care @epiconline.ie · 23/05/2026

“We’re very resilient. If I’m having a bad day, I’m like, ‘Well, I’ve come this far.’” Four members of the EPIC Youth Council spoke with Patrick Freyne for @irishtimes.com about their experiences growing up in care and their work advocating for other young people.

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