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Engagement with children and young people – IICSA Report

The Inquiry is considering how children should be better protected by listening to the present-day experiences of young victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

The engagement team heard from 56 victims and survivors of child sexual abuse between the ages of 11 and 21, and 77 specialist child sexual abuse support workers.

Six key points emerged from the groups we spoke to.

We heard that young victims and survivors face delays in accessing support. We also heard that the government should consider the long-term negative impacts for victims and survivors who have not received earlier support. Specialist child sexual abuse support services told us that early intervention and specialist support services require adequate funding.

Young victims and survivors told us that the introduction of mandatory reporting could discourage children from disclosing their experiences of child sexual abuse. We heard that young victims and survivors would be less likely to disclose sexual abuse if they knew it would be reported to statutory services such as the police. Many young victims and survivors told us that they were looking for psychological support, rather than action through the criminal justice system. We heard that, for them, the personal cost of going through the criminal justice system was too high.

Young victims and survivors and the specialist social workers who support them want to see improvements in how statutory bodies respond to child sexual abuse and exploitation. Many young victims and survivors said their experience of the statutory services was traumatising and disempowering. We heard that young victims and survivors want control and choice in the decisions that affect them. They also want to be kept informed and have their privacy respected wherever possible.

We heard that premature or intrusive questioning causes further trauma and, in some instances, young victims and survivors may entirely disengage with the process. We also heard that statutory service professionals could improve their engagement with young victims and survivors if they had better training in child sexual abuse, safeguarding and the impacts of trauma.

We heard that there needs to be a cultural shift so that talking about sexual abuse becomes as acceptable to discuss as other subjects. We heard that the media’s tendency to sensationalise child sexual abuse and focus on the perpetrator detracts from the impacts on the child.

We heard that relationships and sex education (RSE) in schools does not reflect current challenges facing children, and is mostly inconsistent and inadequate. We heard that RSE should focus on appropriate touch and consent, and should start younger. Issues such as sexting, online safety and peer-on-peer abuse were also serious concerns. Some young victims and survivors told us that they would relate better to RSE if sessions were victim and survivor led.

Young victims and survivors told us that creators of social media apps and internet platforms must take greater responsibility. We heard that social media companies have a duty to better protect the children and young people using their apps. Young victims and survivors and support services explained to us that online services need to make their systems safer for children.

Executive Summary from IISCA Report: Engagement with children and young people – to read the full report download or view at https://www.iicsa.org.uk/document/engagement-children-and-young-people-report-24-june-2021

Earlier IISCA reports at https://www.iicsa.org.uk/publications/engagement

July 6, 2021

The family and criminal court system retraumatises victims – new report commissioned by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner

Key findings:

Of those surveyed as part of the report…

  • Almost 90 per cent of domestic abuse victims don’t get any support through the family courts
  • 71 per cent of victims don’t get any support through the family courts or criminal justice system (crown courts or magistrates courts)
  • One in five domestic abuse support workers (Independent domestic violence advisors IDVAs) is blocked from entering the courts
  • The impact of the pandemic will be felt by survivors and services for years to come – 67 per cent of services said they had noticed an increase in case length since Covid and backlogs are running into at least 2022
  • The single most commonly cited intervention that improved survivors’ experience of going through the courts was dedicated court domestic abuse support, yet there are still very few IDVAs who specialise in the family courts or criminal justice system

The Domestic Abuse Commissioner is calling for urgent long-term funding and more dedicated specialist court support after a new report revealed that 89 per cent of domestic abuse survivors don’t get any support when they go through the family courts.

The report also found that 71 per cent of domestic abuse survivors don’t get any support in any court at all including magistrates or crown courts.

Nicole Jacobs said it was time that Independent Domestic Abuse Advisors (IDVAs), who support and guide domestic abuse victims through the justice system, were seen as being an integral part of the family courts and criminal justice system.

All survivors going through the justice system should, if they wish, be able to access IDVA support. The government has committed to consult on a statutory duty to provide crucial domestic abuse support services in the community – these services must include the specialist court IDVAs described in the report (and sufficient funding must be allocated accordingly).

The report by SafeLives showed that many survivors currently feel retraumatised by the court process.

Understanding Court Support for Victims of Domestic Abuse report shows that lack of understanding of domestic abuse and the attitudes of court professionals’ was the most common answer given by those going through the family court when asked what had a negative impact on their experience.

Many survivors said that poor safeguarding, special measures or other safety concerns had also had a negative impact. The report said this was exacerbated in the family courts because of poor interaction with CAFCASS (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service).

It also highlighted that in many cases “survivors said they felt perpetrators were using the system for coercive control”. 

One in five IDVAs was prevented from supporting their clients in the courts, findings showed. This was partly because perpetrators did not want them to be included or they were prohibited from entering proceedings by court officials including judges.

The report recommended that all courts are ‘trauma-informed’ and cultural change programmes (including training) should be introduced for all professionals involved, to improve understanding of domestic abuse and coercive controlling behaviour throughout the justice system (criminal, family and civil) to mitigate trauma experienced by victims and their children, to ensure the risk posed by offenders is fully recognised and mitigated.

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the failings of the system to protect victims and hold perpetrators to account and this will continue in the wake of the pandemic unless action is taken. The report found that 67 per cent of domestic abuse services said they had noticed an increase in case length since Covid.

The report found that the single most commonly cited intervention that improved survivors’ experience of going through the courts was dedicated court IDVA support, yet there are still very few IDVAs who specialise in the family courts or criminal justice system.

It also found that community IDVAs often don’t have capacity or specialist knowledge to provide support to survivors during court cases especially given backlogs and the length of cases.

Report recommendations:

  • Need for urgent action on court backlogs and increased long-term investment.
  • Recognising the role of IDVAs as an integral part of court systems
  • Realising ‘trauma-informed’ courts and cultural change training for all professionals
  • Better strategic support, coordination and understanding of sexual violence.

Read the report: Understanding court support for victims of domestic abuse

Part of a longer press release at https://safelives.org.uk/understanding-court-support/press-release

July 6, 2021

Deeply anxious and traumatised: how pregnant women were let down by COVID-19 restrictions in maternity care – BPAS Research

The COVID-19 pandemic saw radical changes to NHS maternity services to protect pregnant women and people from transmission which included less face-to-face antenatal and postnatal contact; using virtual care appointments; closing midwifery units and stopping home births; and restrictions on partner and family visits.

The report explores women’s experiences and the emotional consequences of COVID-19 risk messaging and ‘socially-distanced’ maternity care. Whilst a small number of women were unphased by COVID-19 maternity restrictions, for most, the strict changes resulted in feelings of distress, anxiety, and isolation during an already-difficult time for pregnancy.

The role of maternity services to meet the emotional and physical needs of pregnant women and people was found to have been sacrificed to some extent during the pandemic.

While recent recommendations to relax partner and visitor restrictions are welcomed, allowing local interpretation of rules risks the continued use of stringent measures by organisations and individuals. BPAS are concerned that this may lead to a continued ‘patchwork’ of restrictions in maternity services across the UK.

Many women who had an ultrasound scan during the pandemic found attending alone to be distressing, particularly when a problem was identified, if they had experienced a previous pregnancy loss, or if the care was unscheduled:

Women found attending emergency antenatal care alone particularly distressing. They described having to attend when bleeding in pregnancy, for reduced fetal movements, and in other situations when they could be informed that their baby had died – all without a partner for support:

Nearly a quarter of women surveyed (23.3%) felt their needs were not at all met by virtual healthcare appointments:

Generally, women did not feel they went home before they were ready, but many reported being unhappy whilst in hospital:

Overall, participants reported negative feelings towards policies of restrictive visiting on postnatal wards, with 71.9% feeling lonely, 43.7% being very unhappy and 57.5% feeling they needed visitors to provide practical help not provided by staff.

The survey did not specifically ask about use of private care but several women commented on accessing private care so their partner could attend without restrictions.

Rebecca Blaylock, Research and Engagement Lead at BPAS and one of the study authors, said:

“We have seen time and again how the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced existing inequalities in our society, and sadly we have found the same to be the case within maternity care. On the whole, partners were not permitted to attend NHS scan appointments, but those who could afford to pay for private scans were able to access a service where their partners were welcomed. Similarly, those who were able to pay for the enormous expense of an independent midwife were able to continue with their plans for homebirth. This is not right or fair – having your partner with you during your pregnancy should not be a luxury afforded to the rich.”

Part of a longer press release at https://www.bpas.org/about-our-charity/press-office/press-releases/deeply-anxious-and-traumatised-how-pregnant-women-were-let-down-by-covid-19-restrictions-in-maternity-care/

 

July 1, 2021

Why health for women experiencing homelessness is such an important issue – St Mungo’s

The average age of death for women sleeping rough or living in emergency accommodation is just 43 years old – that’s nearly 40 years younger than women in the general population.

These numbers reflect the devastating reality that in far too many cases, the health needs of women experiencing or at risk of homelessness are too often forgotten.

The Government recently held a public consultation on their women’s health strategy. And, working together with Crisis, Groundswell and Homeless Link, we submitted a series of recommendations to make sure that our clients’ needs are brought to the forefront.

Hidden from help

In 2021, 81% of women in St Mungo’s housing-related support services had a mental health support need, 49% had a drug support need, and 57% had a physical health support need.

It’s also important to recognise that women’s experiences of homelessness – and the traumas they face – are vastly different from men’s. Their trauma is often rooted in gender-based violence and abuse. A 2015 study from Ireland found that as many as 92% of homeless women had experienced violence or abuse during their lifetime.

Many women are hidden whilst homeless or rough sleeping. They find secluded sleep sites or may be forced to stay with strangers who expect sex in return for shelter.

Hiding from harm means that women are also hidden from help. They are missing from homelessness services and statistically invisible, but the problems they’re facing are considerable.

Despite all of this, there aren’t enough homelessness services that cater specifically to the needs of women. In 2019, only ten percent of accommodation services in England provided women-only accommodation.

Trapped in a cycle

How can women feel safe in healthcare settings when they are constantly facing reminders of their experiences of violence and abuse?

We know that trauma and abuse can impact women’s attitudes and experiences when dealing with support and mental health services. It can leave women trapped in a cycle of homelessness and poor health as their problems are aggravated.

Women recovering from domestic abuse might struggle to feel comfortable in services which are mostly male-dominated. Some of our clients are also known to be involved in selling or exchanging sex, which can place them at greater risk of physical harm and sexual health issues, including sexual violence. Some women might also feel too ashamed or embarrassed to engage with support.

Grief, shame and guilt

Another big challenge is supporting women in discussions and decision-making around childcare. Feelings of shame and stigma can make it harder for women to access contraceptives.

Not to mention the complex feelings surrounding decisions to continue with an unplanned pregnancy in challenging circumstances, coupled with potential judgement from others.

For many women experiencing homelessness, a lack of support means they are separated from their children permanently – a situation of unimaginable grief, shame and guilt, which can alienate them even further from health and support services.

All of this highlights why it was so important for us as homeless organisations to share the knowledge and experience from our clients’ lived experience and that we have gained working on the frontline.

  • We need the Government’s Women’s Health Strategy to recognise and meet the needs of women experiencing homelessness, and engage directly with women with lived experience of homelessness and rough sleeping.
  • There needs to be adequate funding for women’s specialist services across the country, including provision of accommodation. Providing the right accommodation is a health intervention in itself – along with women-only services and drop-in sessions in mixed provision being available in every local area.
  • The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to provide increased long-term funding and additional training so services can offer better support for women with complex needs who are trying to sustain or gain access to their children.
  • We need health and homelessness services to be trauma and psychologically informed.
  • Better research into women’s homelessness and data collection to build a clear picture of the problems around women’s homelessness and healthcare.

Women’s lives depend on a Women’s Health Strategy that meets the needs of women experiencing homelessness. Funding is needed so that these women aren’t forgotten or side-lined, even within the homelessness sector. And a focus on women’s health is needed now more than ever.

https://www.mungos.org/we-must-not-let-the-health-needs-of-women-experiencing-homelessness-be-forgotten/

 

July 1, 2021