Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (): It is a shameful truth that some of the most
alarming health inequalities are those faced by victims and
survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. They can find it
harder to get help from NHS services and have higher risk of poor
health. This cannot continue. As this government launches its
Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, the health commitments
within it set out how the NHS will play its part in keeping the
most vulnerable in our society alive, safe and well.
The Prime Minister and the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence
Against Women and Girls are leading a robust cross-government
approach to tackle the scourge of child sexual abuse and
exploitation which are among the most devastating crimes any
child can endure. They sit at the crossroads of violence against
women and girls, safeguarding, and public health—and the
consequences are profound. The trauma inflicted can echo
throughout a child's life, affecting their mental health,
relationships, and overall wellbeing. Protecting children from
these abhorrent crimes, and supporting those who have suffered
them, is not only a moral duty—it is a collective responsibility
that rests with all of us.
Child House Model
In April, as part of our response to recommendation 16 of the
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, we set out ambitious
proposals to strengthen therapeutic support for victims. Today, I
am pleased to announce a further step in delivering on that
promise. The Government will provide up to £50 million in new
funding to expand the Child House (Barnahus) model to every NHS
region in England. This internationally recognised model—rightly
viewed as the gold standard for supporting children who have
experienced sexual abuse—will ensure that wherever a child lives,
they can access the specialist, trauma-informed care they need to
begin recovering and rebuilding their lives.
The Child House model puts children, regardless of gender, at the
heart of the support they receive, bringing mental health
professionals, social workers, police, justice services, and
specialist advocates together under one roof. Instead of being
passed from service to service, children receive holistic,
compassionate support in a safe, welcoming environment—reducing
trauma and strengthening justice processes to hold perpetrators
to account.
By creating a single place where services come to the child, the
model prevents repeated retelling of experiences and offers
wraparound support for families. Non-abusing parents and carers
also receive counselling, practical help and guidance, enabling
them to be strong, supportive pillars in their child's recovery.
Currently, England has just one Child House in North London. By
expanding the model across every NHS region, we are addressing
this inequality head-on and treating child sexual abuse as the
healthcare priority it is.
This investment sits alongside our wider work to transform
children's mental health services. We are committed to reducing
waiting times for CAMHS support, accelerating the rollout of
Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges, and
investing an additional £13 million to pilot enhanced training so
school-based teams can better support young people with complex
needs, including trauma.
Steps to Safety
As health services are often the first place people turn to for
help, it is vital that survivors are able to access the
specialist support they need when it matters the most. We are
also training NHS staff to spot the telltale signs of abuse –
and, to help victims and survivors take the first steps to
safety, we will roll out a new referral service across GP
practices nationwide.
From April 2026 we will begin a phased roll out of this
initiative to make sure that support services are established in
every region before expansion. Regions will offer: training to
all staff in the GP practice so they can identify and respond to
domestic abuse and sexual violence; a specialist support worker
linked to a group of general practices to support GP practice
staff and support and advocacy for victims; clear links with
local specialist services to refer people into. This builds on
innovative approaches already operating in England and we will
aim to ensure dedicated referral services exist in every area of
England by 2029. This phased rollout will end the current
postcode lottery where support depends on location.
In addition to this we will be launching a new mandatory
safeguarding learning programme for the entire NHS workforce in
2026. It will cover all aspects of domestic abuse and improve
support for victims across the health system. This will help me
ensure that whenever and wherever a victim or survivor contacts
the NHS, it is there for them and treats them with compassion,
care and dignity.
I am also delighted that the Honourable Member for Lowestoft is
bringing her considerable expertise to bear as an advisor to my
department on treating violence against women and girls, so that
we deliver on this plan and seize opportunities to go further,
faster.
We are clear. The full power of the state will be deployed in the
largest crackdown on violence perpetrated against women and girls
in British history. These actions mark a decisive turning point:
recognising child sexual abuse as a critical healthcare priority
and ensuring victims and survivors of violence and abuse receive
the best support to rebuild their lives.
