Lived experience consultants to a child sexual abuse inquiry: Survivor epistemology as a counterweight to legal and administrative proceduralism.

Background: The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in England and Wales was the first major child abuse inquiry internationally to appoint survivors to a formal role. The appointment of the Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel (VSCP) reflects growing recognition of the value of lived experience expertise and a broader shift in the policy domain towards public involvement and co-design.

Objective: This article draws on research that sought to understand both the experiences of a group of victims and survivors with related professional expertise consulting to a public inquiry, and the impact they had on the operation of the inquiry.

Voluntary sector specialist service provision and commissioning for victim-survivors of sexual violence: results from two national surveys in England.

Background: In England, voluntary sector specialist (VSS) services are central to supporting victim-survivors of sexual violence (SV). However, empirical evidence is lacking about the scope, range and effectiveness of VSS provision for SV in England.

Objectives: To undertake national surveys to map SV VSS service provision and describe arrangements for funding and commissioning.

Working the Edge: The Emotional Experiences of Commissioning and Funding Arrangements for Service Leaders in the Sexual Violence Voluntary Sector.

The specialist voluntary sector plays a crucial role in supporting survivors of sexual violence. However, in England, short-term funding underpins the sector's financial stability. This article examines sector leaders' ways of coping, resisting and being affected by funding practices.

The effectiveness of sexual assault referral centres with regard to mental health and substance use: a national mixed-methods study - the MiMoS Study.

Background: Sexual assault referral centres have been established to provide an integrated service that includes forensic examination, health interventions and emotional support. However, it is unclear how the mental health and substance use needs are being addressed.

Aim: To identify what works for whom under what circumstances for people with mental health or substance use issues who attend sexual assault referral centres.

Disclosure of non-recent (historic) childhood sexual abuse: What should researchers do?

Non-recent (historic) childhood sexual abuse is an important issue to research, though often regarded as taboo and frequently met with caution, avoidance or even opposition from research ethics committees. Sensitive research, such as that which asks victim-survivors to recount experiences of abuse or harm, has the propensity to be emotionally challenging for both the participant and the researcher. However, most research suggests that any distress experienced is usually momentary and not of any clinical significance.

The identification and treatment of mental health and substance misuse problems in sexual assault services: A systematic review.

Background: Specialist sexual assault services, which collect forensic evidence and offer holistic healthcare to people following sexual assault, have been established internationally. In England, these services are called sexual assault referral centres (SARCs). Mental health and substance misuse problems are common among SARC attendees, but little is known about how SARCs should address these needs.

Supporting survivors of sexual violence: protocol for a mixed-methods, co-research study of the role, funding and commissioning of specialist services provided by the voluntary sector in England.

Introduction: The voluntary sector provides a range of specialist services to survivors of sexual violence, many of which have evolved from grass roots organisations responding to unmet local needs. However, the evidence base is poor in terms of what services are provided to which groups of survivors, how voluntary sector specialist (VSS) services are organised and delivered and how they are commissioned. This will be the first national study on the role of the voluntary sector in supporting survivors in England.