safe link independent sexual violence advisors service walking the journey
TRANSCRIPT
SAFE LINK
Independent Sexual Violence Advisors Service
Walking the Journey
Safe Link ISVA Service
• ISVA Team• 1 Team Leader• 3 ISVAs working with adults • 1 Young People’s ISVA aged 16 and 25• 1 children and young people’s ISVA aged 0 – 18• 1 Peer support worker• Volunteers
• Supporting• women, men, children and young people• current and historic cases• whether they report to the Police or not• immediate response
Working in hubs across Avon and Somerset
• PROTECT• Lighthouse• SARSAS
• Monday – Friday 9 – 5pm• Saturday – 10 – 4pm• Out of hours - telephone on call• 03 numberTake self and other agency referrals
Aims of the Service
• Victim focussed• Support victims to cope and recover• Provide emotional and practical support• To support victims through the criminal
or civil justice process• To signpost to other support services
“An ISVA is like the glue”
•Stand alongside the victim•Help them to get control back •What they want - not what we want, the police want or the family want•There for the whole journey•One person provides consistency•Builds trust
“My world inside and my life outside was blown apart”
Impact both internal and external
ISVA focus on the external world
Loved ones• Supporting the whole family• Partner/ Parents• Children• Friends/Neighbours
Holistic support
•Safety planning•Housing•Employment•Health•Counselling•Education •Reporting and liaising with the police•Support through whole court process and after
Partnership Working
•Police – PROTECT•Lighthouse•Bridge•SARSAS•Counselling Services•Voluntary Sector •Equality Groups•CYPS•Sexual Violence MARAC for complex cases
Criminal Justice Process
•First disclosure•Reporting to the Police•Forensic experience•Video Interviews
Perception of courts •pre-trial visits and special measures •liaison with officers, the Witness Service and CPS•Criminal Injury Claims
Preparing for the verdict with family•Victim’s response•Reflecting on the process•Taking the power back
Feedback from victims
• “The best thing about the ISVA service is I felt believed at the start”
• “My son has so many questions. You have helped him to understand”
• “Before I met my ISVA worker I had not reported to the Police, I didn’t feel strong enough. She gave me confidence to report and I feel so much happier about myself”
How to contact us
• Email: [email protected]• Tel: (0117) 925 0680• Fax: (0117) 929 3290• Text: 07714 290 011• Link House, 5 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1
4JQ• www.safelinksupport.co.uk
SAFE LINK