Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking through the Health and Care Bill to ensure that Integrated Care Systems consider and meet the specific needs of victims of child sexual abuse.

We will build on the work of existing non-statutory integrated care systems by establishing integrated care boards (ICBs) and requiring the creation of integrated care partnerships in each local system area. This will empower local health and care leaders to co-ordinate the planning and provision of services, within the National Health Service and with local authorities and deliver more person-centred and preventative care, including for victims of child sexual abuse.

The Government recognises the merits of the child house model of support. We have provided approximately £7.5 million towards a pilot of the United Kingdom’s first child house, the Lighthouse. We are committed to working with other local commissioners, service providers and charities to further develop this model. Following the pilot, the Home Office published guidance for local partnerships seeking to adopt a child house approach.

We have also introduced an amendment to the Health and Care Bill which will require ICBs set out proposals to address the needs of both adult and child victims of abuse.