To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) the availability of; and (ii) funding for psychological and trauma-informed services for survivors of sexual violence, including access times in each of the Health and Social Care Trusts.

i) NEXUS NI provides a regional counselling services to adult victims and survivors of sexual abuse and violence, commissioned by the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG). Following an initial assessment each individual will be offered up to 12 counselling sessions, based on presenting need. This provision is currently specifically focussed on supporting individuals who have been victims of sexual abuse and are at the stage of their journey where therapeutic interventions are most likely to have the best outcome. This service accepts referrals from a number of agents, including, self-referrals, GPs and Health and Social Care Trusts. NEXUS apply a 13-week target but mostly engage within the first number of weeks. A longer wait can occur based on the client’s preference for counsellor and geography.

The regional Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for Northern Ireland is based at the Rowan Clinic in Antrim Area Hospital site. The centre is jointly funded by Department of Health and Department of Justice. The team delivers a range of support and services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to children, young people, women and men who have been sexually abused, assaulted or raped, whether this happened in the past or more recently. The Rowan receives victims following allegation of sexual assault for forensic medical and therapeutic examinations including sexual health examination. For further specialist psychological support victims are referred, if they consent, to Nexus for counselling services. All those aged under 18 years attending The Rowan are referred to social services. The Rowan will also discuss with the child and their family other referral agencies such as NSPCC, Letting the Future In and referral, if consented, to Child Independent Sexual Violence Advocate, Victim Support Northern Ireland.

ii) There is variation across Trusts; with some providing support to survivors of sexual violence either directly, or via contacts with third sector providers, or a combination of direct service provision and contracts; or via more general psychological services. For example, Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) have services to support service users who have experienced sexual violence. For psychological assessment and intervention, referrals can be made to the most appropriate Psychological Services department within Adult Mental Health. Clinicians are trained and skilled in delivering trauma informed and trauma specific psychological interventions. Western Health and Social Care Trust’s (WHSCT) Moving On and Recovery team provide trauma informed support and therapy to children and their parents who have experienced sexual abuse, with varying wait times between 0-8 weeks. Psychological services within Adult Mental Health receive referrals and provide psychological therapies for adults who have experienced trauma, to include sexual violence. They are skilled in delivering trauma informed interventions and specific psychological therapies for traumas. Referrals are prioritised based on clinical risk and need.