Terms of Reference and Statement of Purpose of the In Care and Institutional Abuse Survivors Sub Group

The In Care Abuse and Institutional Abuse Survivors Sub Group has been appointed by the National Strategy for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse.

Our aim is to highlight the long-term effects, as well as current and future needs of in care abuse survivors who have been subject to any form of abuse whilst in care. To achieve this aim, our purpose is to ensure that there are appropriate and effective long-term support, information and advocacy services in place for these survivors.

By 'In Care', we mean any residential care setting, be it local authority children's homes, approved schools, hospital care, kinship care, those ran by charitable organisations, religious orders and foster care placements. By abuse, we mean neglect, physical, emotional, psychological and sexual.

• To review the health and social needs of in care and institutional abuse survivors and to identify how they have expressed their need for support
• To evaluate the availability, accessibility and appropriateness of existing support services
• To identify the gaps in provision and how they may be filled by existing resources, reconfiguring resources or by creating entirely new resources
• To recommend to the Reference Group proposals for improving existing services, for filling gaps in existing services and provision of new services where necessary
• To develop improvements for accessing the files and records of children who have been in care by the creation of a transparent and accountable service concerning data storage and access consistent with current legislation
• To propose a set of guidelines for adoption by agencies to establish the minimum content of children's records during their period whilst in care in line with current legislation
• To create and maintain a knowledge base of data and research on in care abuse that accurately reflects the incidence and extent of this form of abuse
• To invite providers and institutions to contribute to the Sub-Group's proposals by attending meetings, contribute ideas and share good practice