COSICA plays an important role in promoting access to appropriate supports and services for victims and survivors.
Access to Supports and Services
While the Office of the Commissioner is not a direct service provider, it can provide information and guidance to victims and survivors on how to access available supports and services.
Services can:
- Improve physical or mental health
- Help to manage addiction
- Provide counselling
- Improve literacy or numeracy
- Provide education and training or enable individuals to access work
Supports and services are available to eligible victims and survivors of historical institutional child abuse, regardless of whether they live in Northern Ireland or elsewhere, and whether or not they have applied for redress.
If you would like information about accessing supports and services, please contact the Office on +44 (0) 28 9054 4985 or email info@cosica-ni.org.
Encouraging the Provision and Coordination of Services
One of COSICA’s key responsibilities is to encourage the provision and coordination of relevant services for victims and survivors. This includes considering current levels of provision and identifying gaps in services.
The Office regularly engages with victims and survivors to better understand the challenges they experience when seeking support and to ensure their views inform discussions with those responsible for commissioning and delivering services.
Through consultation, engagement and research, COSICA seeks to highlight the needs of victims and survivors and advocate for services that are accessible, responsive and trauma-informed.
Consultation on Supports and Services to Victims and Survivors of Non-Recent/Historical Institutional Child Abuse
The Office conducted a consultation to better understand the experiences and priorities of victims and survivors in relation to supports and services.
The findings of the consultation have provided a better understanding of the needs of victims and survivors and COSICA will use these valuable insights to have conversations with those who commission and provide supports and services.
You can read the full consultation report here.