Preliminary outcomes resulting from the 'Review of pathway following sexual assault for children and young people in London'

ObjectivesMultiagency care pathways for children affected by sexual abuse in London: a complex and diverse city of 10 million people divided administratively into 33 local authorities, were found deficient when reviewed in... [ view full abstract ]

Objectives

Multiagency care pathways for children affected by sexual abuse in London: a complex and diverse city of 10 million people divided administratively into 33 local authorities, were found deficient when reviewed in 2014/15 (1). The NHS(England) commissioned review showed that while children disclosing acute sexual abuse were seen promptly in a central sexual assault referral centre (SARC), local follow up services for their medical and psychological needs were patchy, as were services for children disclosing historic abuse. Many children, especially those under 13 years, received no further care after their forensic medical examination.

Results

Prior to the review, on average, 90 children under 13 years and 180 children 13 to 15 years were seen annually (2). Estimates of the number of children affected by sexual abuse suggest that almost 5 percent of London’s 2 million children will be affected by contact sexual abuse at some time during their childhood (3).

The review led to funding of enhanced SARC services for children from May 2016, including follow-up care, access to psychological counselling and multiagency care pathway coordination*.  Numbers seen in the first 9 months of this service show 250% projected annual increase in services provided to under 13 year olds, 25% increase for 13-15 year olds and 110 episodes of care pathway coordination (2). The review also led to £7.2 million funding for two London ‘Child Houses’ opening in 2017,  participation of the UK in the EU PROMISE project and ongoing work with the judiciary to consider processes for young children in the English adversarial system.

Conclusions

Review of pathway following sexual assault for children in London led to increased awareness of and funding for services for children affected by sexual assault. Early data suggest the service is meeting previously unmet needs, including providing a central multi-agency care coordination resource.