2015 – A new year with lots to look forward to!

Happy New Year from the LimeCulture Team!  We are already a week into the new year and are very excited about 2015, which promises to be another wonderful year for LimeCulture. We hope that it is a great one for all our friends and clients too.

So what have we got planned for the coming year? Well, quite a lot of exciting stuff as it happens! You may – or may not – be aware that LimeCulture has 4 main areas of work, which are:

  • Training & Professional Development
  • Service Development & Design
  • Research
  • Bespoke Consultancy

block_juggleLimeCulture Training & Professional Development

Since LimeCulture was established in 2011, we have intentionally focused a lot of energy on the training and professional development aspects of our work. We have established very successful training programmes for ISVAs and Crisis Workers and frequently deliver bespoke training for professionals working with victims of sexual violence, such as police officers, doctors, SARC Staff etc. This year, we will continue to focus on our training programmes with as much enthusiasm as in previous years, but we will also expand the number of training courses that we offer, to ensure all those working in specialist sexual violence services have access to excellent training opportunities. More information about our new training courses will be announced in the coming months, so watch this space!

From now until the end of March 2015, we will continue to train our current 2 cohorts of ISVAs -who are half way through the ISVA Development Programmes. We are now the leading providers of ISVA training, having trained over 130 ISVAs since 2011. We will be running a further 2 ISVA Development Programmes in 2015 – one to start in the Spring and another to start in the Autumn (dates to be announced in the coming months). The Spring dates have now been confirmed and can be found on our website by clicking here.  Those of you who want to undertake professional ISVA training, get in touch with us for a booking form.

On 16 January, we will be holding a Workshop for ISVA Managers. This 1-day course is aimed at those who are responsible for managing ISVAs and/or ISVA Services. The demand for this Workshop has been huge since we launched this course back in 2012 and our 4th Workshop is fully booked. We will be holding another Workshop for ISVA Managers on 16 June 2015 and bookings are now being taken. Please contact us if you want to attend the next Workshop for ISVA Managers.

In February, we will be holding the Advanced Development Programme for experienced ISVAs. This 3-day CPD training event was piloted in July 2014 and the demand for places has been astonishing! We will be holding another 2 ADP courses during 2015/6 to try and meet the demand from trained ISVAs who are keen to expand their knowledge and skills. The next ADP will be held in September (dates to be announced soon) but there is already a waiting list in place, so for trained ISVAs who want to attend the next ADP, please get in touch to be added to the list! Please note, we will now only be accepting ISVAs who have completed professional accredited ISVA training on to this course.

Our bespoke training has grown from strength to strength, with services commissioning us to design and deliver training to meet the specific needs of their individual services. In 2014, we were privileged to deliver in-house training to a range of sexual violence services, including the SARCs in Northern Ireland, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. This year, we have already been commissioned to deliver bespoke training to a range of services including specialist sexual violence counselling services in the voluntary and community sector. We are also looking forward to working with the SARC staff at the Sunflower Centre in Hertfordshire later this week and next for their bespoke training.

We are delighted to be working in partnership with National Ugly Mugs this year. We have successfully secured funding to develop and deliver specialist training with them and we can’t wait!  Here at LimeCulture, we are passionate about ensuring each and every victim of sexual violence has access to high-quality support services, and that most definitely includes sex workers. We can’t think of anyone better to champion this important cause, so we are thrilled to be work with National Ugly Mugs. Details of the training will be announced soon.

 

block_treeLimeCulture Service Development & Design

Last year, we put in a lot of time and energy to our service development work and we will continue to do so this year. We believe there is a real need to continue to develop and enhance the specialist sexual violence sector in this country and this is the ultimate aim for our service development and design work. With more and more people reporting sexual violence, both recent and historic, it is important to ensure that each and every person who comes forward can be provided with the best possible service of support, wherever they may be in the country. There is no place for a post-code lottery of service provision.

We are really looking forward to working with Survivors Manchester between January and March 2015. LimeCulture has been commissioned to undertake an independent review of their male-only ISVA Service, which is currently being piloted by this highly innovative service based in Manchester. The findings from the review will be used to inform the development of their ISVA service going forward.

We are delighted to have been commissioned by NHS England to undertake a health needs assessment for children under the age of 13 who access sexual assault referral centres across East of England (Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk). This development work is hugely important to understanding the specific needs of child victims and ensuring they are appropriately met. We are really passionate about the role that SARCs have in supporting victims, and given all the experience we have of working with SARCs across the country, we are very pleased to have been successful in being awarded this work – we can’t way to get started! We will be taking this work forward over the next few months and will keep you posted as to the progress of this project which will inform the development of services in the region for children under the age of 13.

We are keen to progress the offer of Tendering Support for providers of sexual violence services which we launched at the end of last year and wrote about in a 2014 blog post, which can be found by clicking here. Through our Tendering Support work, we are able to support providers (or potential providers) to secure contracts or funding to help them in delivering their work. The support available from LimeCulture is tailored to meet the needs of the organisation but can for example include bid writing assistance or support to develop a proposal. We were very pleased to learn this week that RASASC (Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre), a specialist sexual violence service that we worked with to provide tender support in December 2014, have been successful in being awarded a 3-year contract for counselling and ISVA service provision in Cheshire. LimeCulture worked closely with RASASC to assist them in putting together an excellent bid for a commissioned contract that is jointly commissioned by NHS England and Police & Crime Commissioner in the North West.

LimeCulture Research

We will soon be publishing the findings for the National Audit of ISVAs, which we conducted with King’s College London between late August and September 2014. As huge supporters of the ISVA role, we are fed up with the lack of awareness and knowledge about this incredible workforce, so we decided to find out more ourselves! 146 ISVAs from across England and Wales and 1 ISVA from Scotland took part in the audit and told us all about their roles- and how they do their jobs, their clients and the services they work for. The findings are incredible and we can’t wait to publish this important piece of work in the next few weeks.

LimeCulture Bespoke Consultancy

This year, we plan to expand our bespoke consultancy work and build on the success that we have had in previous years in undertaking one-off or bespoke pieces of work, such as the work we have been doing for the Forensic Science Regulator of England and Wales. This work includes drafting the Guidance and Standards for forensic medical examination of adult and child victims of sexual violence. We hope to see these standards launched later this year, following a public consultation. We are delighted to have been involved in this important work as it will go a long way to raise the standards and ensure consistency in forensic medical examinations following sexual assaults. For more information about bespoke consultancy, please do not hesitate to contact us.

So all in all lots of great things planned for 2015, with lots more things in the pipelines that we are not yet ready to be anounced

block_cardContact LimeCulture

If you would like to contact LimeCulture to discuss any of our work- or indeed to enquire about how we can support any of the work that you or your organisation do – get in touch with us! We’d love to hear from you.

You can contact us by email – info@limeculture.co.uk

or via our website  – www.limeculture.co.uk

or by completing the contact form below and one of the LimeCulture team will get back to you as soon as possible!

 

 

LimeCulture expands to provide ‘Tendering Support’

Due to the vast experience of LimeCulture Community Interest Company (CIC) in working with Commissioners (NHS, Police and Crime Commissioners and Local Authority), we have been approached by specialist sexual violence organisations asking for support and assistance with the tendering process.

In light of the new commissioning arrangements that have taken place over the last few years, LimeCulture CIC is worried by the increase of non-specialist organisations bidding for sexual violence support contracts, which we believe are most effectively delivered by specialist sexual violence organisations. However, while many of the (often small) specialist sexual violence organisation have years of experience, knowledge and skills to work effectively with victims, they do not always have the time, capacity or resources to enter into complicated bidding arrangements in order to secure contracts or funding to continue their important work. Sadly, this could mean that more and more specialist sexual violence services have to close if they are not successfully winning contracts that fund the delivery of their service provision.

As a result of this, LimeCulture has recently expanded the focus of our work to include a ‘Tendering Support’ package for providers of sexual violence services. The aim of this is to offer bespoke support to voluntary and community sector organisations who are putting together proposals, tenders or bids to provide services for victims of sexual violence as part of their local commissioning processes.

LimeCulture can now offer providers a range of bespoke support to ensure the services can demonstrate they are able to deliver high-quality service to support victims of sexual violence and to enable them to make a strong case for investment. LimeCulture’s support is tailored to meet the requirements of the individual service and can include a range of options and services, such as bid-writing assistance, support to develop proposals, independent service reviews, help with the development, collection and measuring of meaningful outcome information and data etc.

For more information about the Tendering Support that is now available to providers of sexual violence services, please contact Stephanie.Reardon@limeculture.co.uk.

What our recent clients have said about the Tendering Support that we provided to them “Your support has been great and we felt that by approaching a company such as yourselves we would be ensuring that we got the best quality advice and guidance.”

block_juggle

 

 

 

 

…and breathe. LimeCulture is back to blogging!

We are sorry to say that a few months have passed since we last posted a blog. The only excuse that we have is this… since our last blog post back in July, here at LimeCulture we have been absolutely and utterly snowed under!

Over the summer months and into much of the autumn there has been precious little time for anything over and above keeping up with all the exciting stuff that has been going on here at LimeCulture….let alone keeping up to date with blog posts. So huge apologies for our silence! Now that we have more capacity, we will make a concerted effort to stay on top of our blogging! We really are keen to keep everyone in the loop with what we are getting up to, so from now on, we’ll try to stay on top of the blog. Promise.

So why have we been so busy over the last few months? Well, mainly things have become crazy recently because we took a decision to increase the number of courses that we are running! The demand for our training has grown from strength to strength over the last few years so we really wanted to focus on increasing the number of courses so that we were not leaving anybody disappointed.. We are so pleased with the increased demand for our courses, and we are so proud that so many people want to attend our training! We spend a lot of time reviewing the content and monitoring our courses to make sure they are as good as they can possibly be. Ensuring that all our material is up-to-date and inclusive of current thinking and practice from around the world is really important to us. Its time consuming but its definitely worth doing to make sure that we really do have the best courses on offer.

photo 3So back in July (our last blog post) we wrote about the fact that bookings were open for the 7th ISVA Development Programme. Our 7th course was an additional course that had been added to try and meet the demand from ISVAs who wanted to attend as our 6th course (which started in May 2014) had been fully booked. Well, by the end of July, the additional course was fully booked too with still more ISVAs wanting to attend a course! We made a decision to add another additional course to our 2014/2015 training programme, our 8th ISVA Development Programme- which by the way is also fully booked! So to cut a long story short, we are running 3 separate ISVA Development Programmes together in order to meet the demand (our 6th, 7th and 8th courses since 2011). This takes a lot of time and effort and due to the restrictions that the Home Office put in place for the ISVAs whose training they are funding, they all have to complete the training by the end of the financial year! So we are currently working with 66 ISVAs who are attending one of the 3 ISVA Development Programmes that we have underway! It is fantastic though and we are enjoying every minute we spend with the ISVAs. These 3 cohorts are brilliant to work with, the questions and scenarios they ask us really keep our trainers on their toes! We’ve had some brilliant discussions and suggestions for how they would like to see the role of the ISVA develop and evolve over time.

We are about to start planning our ISVA Development Programme for 2015/16, so we will let you know about the new dates over the coming months!

 

photo 1July also saw us deliver the first ever Advanced Development Programme (ADP) for ISVAs, a 3-day continued professional development course that is intended to provide vital ongoing training for experienced ISVAs. The focus of this training is providing effective support for men and boys who have experienced sexual violence (unit 1a), providing effective support for sex workers who have experienced sexual violence (unit 1b), working with young women who have been affected by gangs (unit 2a), working with victims who have been sexually exploited (unit 2b) and responding effectively to people with mental health problems who have experienced sexual violence (unit 3).

This course was attended in July by 12 experienced ISVAs from across the country and it went fantastically well! The ISVAs loved it and the feedback they provided about the course was outstanding. They loved our wonderful trainers (Duncan Craig from Survivors Manchester, Alex Feis-Bryce from National Ugly Mugs, Abigail Billinghurst from Abianda and Dr Sam Warner who is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and part-time fellow at Manchester Metrolitan University). We are thrilled that the trainers got such wonderful feedback from the ISVAs because as a training and development organisation, this is the most important thing for us to get right.

As a result of the successful ADP, we have agreed to include this course in our regular training programme. The next ADP is set for February 2015 and amazingly, is already fully booked with 25 ISVAs booked to attend.  A further ADP course will be held later in 2015, with the dates to be announced in the new year. We are already operating a waiting list for this course, so ISVAs who are keen to attend should ask to be added to the waiting list so as to avoid disappointment. All our courses have maximum numbers, so once they are full, we will not increase the number of places for that course to preserve the quality of the training.

We want to make it very clear to everybody that the ADP is intended as continued professional development for experienced ISVAs. Importantly, it is not intended to replace the ISVA Development Programme or equivalent professional ISVA training. Therefore, ISVAs who have not completed their professional ISVA training will not be eligible to attend this course. We have received a number of new ISVAs who have not yet completed their professional ISVA training but who are wanting to attend the ADP instead of the ISVA Development Programme. We think it is important that they should not be accepted on to the course until they have completed the full ISVA Development Programme or equivalent professional ISVA training.

To add to our increase in courses, we’ve also been quite busy with our bespoke training, which is training that is delivered in-house to meet the specific needs of the staff of a particular service who are being trained. For example, we deliver a lot of Crisis Worker training for Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) up and down the country. The bespoke nature of our training means that we are able to tailor the training to meet the exact needs of the staff. Over the last few months, we have been commissioned to deliver bespoke training to the following SARCs, Bedfordshire SARC- the Emerald Centre, Cambridgeshire SARC- Oasis@Riverside, Hertfordshire SARC – Sunflower Centre, Suffolk SARC- The Ferns,  Norfolk SARC – The Harbour Centre. We have provided bespoke training for other SARCs across the UK over the last few years too. Given LimeCulture’s roots in the development and delivery of SARCs, the training of SARC staff is part of our work that we hold very dear to us.

So this blog is a bit of an excuse as to why we’ve neglected our blog. I hope it is a useful insight into what we have been getting up to since the summer! On top of the work we have been doing on our Training Programmes, we’ve also been really busy with work on our Development Programmes and our Research Programmes over the last few months too. We are itching to tell you about this, but will save those updates for another blog post for another day!!

 

Lime logo_cmyk-reverse

 

LimeCulture is the leading provider of ISVA training having now trained over 180 ISVAs since 2011. For further information about the training available visit our website https://www.limeculture.co.uk/training-development/ or email info@limeculture.co.uk

LimeCulture’s (7th) ISVA Development Programme now open for bookings!

The dates for our 7th Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) Development Programme have been confirmed and we are now taking bookings.

block_juggleThis 6-module specialist accredited training will be held between October 2014 and March 2015 in Rugby. Our current course is being held in Rugby and the feedback from ISVAs has been excellent, saying that the the connections by road and public transport to the venue are excellent. The training will be held once again at the Golden Lion Hotel, who have offered our delegates a reduced rate for overnight accommodation if ISVAs need to stay over night.

 

Course Dates

Module 1 – Weds 15 & Thurs 16 October 2014

Module 2 – Weds 12 & Thurs 13 November 2014

Module 3 – Weds 10 & Thurs 11 December 2014

Module 4 – Weds 14 & Thurs 15 January 2015

Module 5 – Weds 11 & Thurs 12 February 2015

Module 6 – Tues 3 & Weds 4 March 2015

The cost of the full ISVA Development Programme is £2,000 plus VAT

If you would like to book a place, please email info@limeculture.co.uk for a booking form

For further information about the ISVA Development Programme and the content of the training, please visit our website or click here

Please note- the LimeCulture ISVA Development Programme meets the requirements for the Home Office ISVA Training fund (which is now open – please email isva@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk)

LimeCulture is now the leading provider of ISVA training. Having now trained over 140 ISVAs and Managers since 2011. We ensure that our practical training is up to date and includes all the latest developments to ensure that ISVAs are equipped with knowledge and skills to enable them to carry out their role in supporting victims of sexual violence.

 

Call for ISVAs – LimeCulture collaborates with King’s College London to audit ISVA provision

We are pleased to announce that LimeCulture and King’s College London will be joining forces to collaborate on a project looking specifically at the role of ISVAs. The first part of this project will include an audit of current ISVA provision in the UK and will take place over the next few months.

Sadly, there has been very limited research into the role of the ISVA,  which we believe is a pivotal role in the support of victims of sexual violence. We hope that the audit being conducted alongside Kings’ College London will go towards making the case for further support and investment into the ISVA workforce.

We hope to be able to include ALL ISVAs in the audit, which will seek to find out information about the services they provide and where they are located. Although we are in contact with many ISVAs, unfortunately there is no comprehensive register of ISVAs in the UK, meaning that it will be difficult to ensure that all ISVAs have been given the option of being included in the audit. Therefore, we are asking ISVAs to contact us via email with their contact details so that we can ensure they are included in the audit.

ISVAs are asked to email info@limeculture.co.uk as soon as possible to provide their contact details and ensure their inclusion in the audit. Please use the title ISVA Audit in the subject box.

If you have any queries about the audit, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Lime logo_cmyk-reverse

6th ISVA Development Programme gets off to an excellent start!

Module 1 of our 6th ISVA Development Programme took place  this week on 6 and 7 May. The course was fully booked, with 20 ISVAs coming together from around England and Wales to start their 6-module professional accredited course that will see them train for 2 days per month through until November 2014.

block_treeThe 2 days’ training could not have gone any better. The venue was fantastic, set in rural village in Rugby, ideal for training of this nature. The staff could not have done more for us- keeping us fed and watered for the 2 day duration. Some of the ISVAs stayed overnight at the venue, so were able to socialise together after the training had finished.

The ISVAs themselves were a fantastic bunch! They come from a variety of places across the country, from as far as Devon and Middlesbrough, from Liverpool to Oxfordshire, and they come from a range of employing organisation, so the experiences that they bring with them are rich and diverse. Some of the ISVAs were incredibly experienced, having done the job for several years, while others were brand new in post or have only a few months as an ISVA under their belt. This all added to a great contribution from the ISVAs who were clearly keen to share knowledge and experiences, something which we at LimeCulture think is vital for the ISVA workforce to be able to do to enhance learning and overcome solutions collectively.

The topics covered in Module 1 are based around the roles and responsibilities of an ISVA. In theory this should be a fairly straight forward area to cover but in reality it is the module with some of the toughest material to consider. The ISVA role has evolved over time, meaning that the responses from ISVAs is varied across the country. Although there is clear support for the role, and a push from Government to expand the role, there has never been a professional framework to guide ISVAs in how to conduct their roles- nor is there an nationally agreed job description to ensure they are all adopting the same role. However, the good news is that the ISVA role is now fairly well understood, but it is complex and multi-faceted. The role of the ISVA should not be underestimated. They work in tough circumstances, to provide practical and emotional support to often very vulnerable people, having experienced sexual violence. Their role should not be confused with Crisis Workers or Counsellors. They are Advocates and with this comes a complex set of responsibilities and rules. The criminal justice process is a large element of their role, and therefore the strict rules and regulations that apply there must be fully understood by the ISVA. Clear boundaries and communication are key.

block_juggleModule 1 explores all of these knotty issues in great detail and the ISVAs are encouraged to reflect on their current practice. The result of this is that even the most experienced ISVAs on the course question what they do as part of their job and why they do it. They are encouraged by the trainers to think about potential issues they have never considered before. Importantly, the ISVAs begin to see where their role sits amongst a bigger picture of professional responses to victims of sexual violence and by the end of Module 1, the ISVAs are clear about what they should be doing as part of their role and importantly, what they shouldn’t be doing! This is all, of course, extremely important to ensuring ISVA responses are safe, effective, efficient and appropriate. It also works towards building a consistent ISVA approach across the country.

We designed the course with the aim of supporting a robust, specialised and knowledgable workforce who are highly trained and can stand up to professional challenge (and challenge other professionals where necessary) in support of victims of sexual violence. We aim to improve the confidence and competence of the ISVAs and Module 1 plays a big part in achieving this aim. At LimeCulture, we don’t believe that ISVAs need to be bogged down in theoretical study to help them deliver their important services to victims. We don’t believe the best way to train a professional workforce to to set essays for them- they are busy enough as it is! We believe that what they need is practical knowledge and information that assists them in doing their jobs and impacts on their everyday practice and enhances their skills. Module 1 is just the beginning! We are really looking forward to working with this excellent group of committed ISVAs until the end of November 2014.

LimeCulture is the leading provider of ISVA training, having now trained over 120 ISVAs since 2011. Our current course is now fully booked. However, we are now operating a waiting list for the next course which will start later in the year. We will be announcing new dates shortly- so watch this space!

LimeCulture has also launched a new professional course, the Advanced Development Programme (ADP) for ISVAs. This 3 day accredited course is aimed at experienced ISVAs  to support their continued professional development. For further details about this course please click here The first ADP will be taking place in Manchester on 14, 15 and 16 July and costs £500 plus VAT per person. There are currently a few places left on this course. Once it is fully booked, we will operate a waiting list and announce additional dates. To book, please email info@limeculture.co.uk

Lime logo_cmyk-reverse

 

Interview with an ISVA: Sian Scarborough

Sian Scarborough is an ISVA employed by Hertfordshire Constabulary and is based at the Herts Sunflower Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Sian provides support to men and women over the age of 18 who self refer and over the age of 13 if they come to her via a police referral. She covers the following geographical areas: Dacorum, Watford and Three Rivers, Welwyn and Hatfield, St Albans and the Hertsmere area. Sian currently has a case-load of 45 clients. Sian has been an ISVA for almost 3 years and was part of the first cohort of ISVAs trained by LimeCulture in September 2011. Sian successfully completed her accredited training in March 2012.

 Sian ScarboroughWhat does your average workday consist of?

When I arrive at work, the first thing I do is turn on my work mobile to read and answer the texts that have come in from my clients since the last time I was on duty. I find the use of text messages an easy and non-pressurised way for clients to communicate with me. I spend the first hour of the day (when the phones are generally quiet) to write up any notes from the day before and to read and write any emails or letters to clients or agencies. I then start making welfare calls to clients and action any needs they might have. Some phone calls can be quick, but some take a while, depending on the needs of the client and where they are in their journey. Some clients may need a multi-agency approach, so I then call the relevant services and ensure they are up to date on what is occurring for the client.

I call any new clients and introduce myself, normally leaving the clients that have had medicals (forensic medical examinations) overnight until a little later in the day, as they need a chance to rest.   New clients often need extra security on their properties, such as a marker on their property to ensure the police respond appropriately should they call for assistance, and a personal attack alarm. I can sort that out for them and arrange for them to have extra security. Keeping them safe is a priority. I will then contact any other agencies that they are already working with – or agencies that they would benefit from working with – such as housing and legal advice. If a client needs more time and attention that I am able to give, I refer them to our befriender service, the befriended will call them weekly and be a friendly voice on the phone or in person. I can also refer the client’s supporter(s) if they need extra support themselves. The supporter is the person that is helping the client, so it is not unusal for them to need a little support too.

Although I am Independent, I can spend a lot of time contacting the police officers in the (SOIT) Sexual Offence Investigation Team at our Headquarters. They keep me up to date on the police cases, whether an offender has been arrested or not, how the client is appearing to them and if there is any concerning behaviour. We will also do joint visits to enable the client to feel more comfortable and supported. Sometimes if there is news to deliver to the client, the SOIT officer will ask me to attend with them.

I meet with clients in our premises as well as Children Centres, Council offices and other safe locations. This can take up quite a large part of my day.I often do talks to agencies to promote awareness of our service.

I have many court cases coming up with clients. I shall be sitting with them in the Witness waiting room, helping them and their families, then sitting with them in court to help keep them calm and be a friendly face.

What is your favourite thing about your role?

I really like helping the self-referral clients. They generally contact us to find out what support is available and what their options are. They can go from being quite upset and feeling desperate to feeling empowered and happier by knowing what their options are and knowing they have support whether or not they wish to report to the police. In my experience, by giving them a safe, non-judgemental places to talk about how they are feeling, can really help them emotionally and be good for their well-being. Therefore, I usually invite them to come into the Sunflower to have a chat with me.

What is the hardest/most challenging thing about your role?

The hardest thing for me is when I can see that a client is extremely vulnerable and that the environment they are living in is not helping to keep them safe.   Until they can see this themselves, it can be hard to help them. However, I find that by being a consistent support and by contacting the relevant agencies, this can often offer them the assistance they need to change things if they wish to do so.

What is your greatest achievement in relation to your role?

On a daily basis I experience clients thanking me for my help and saying they feel much better just to have been able to normalise their feelings. Their body language speaks a thousand words too, they can literally be sitting folded up and then gradually they become comfortable with me and the surroundings and feel safe enough to open up and become more relaxed.

Also, when another professional asks me to help a client that will not speak to them or engage with other workers and I make contact with the client and then, gradually, they start to open up to me and I can then get them the help they need. For me, this is a massive achievement and one that always makes my arms goose pimply!

When a client says, ‘you are the only person that has helped me and you really get me’, I find that very humbling. Unfortunately, some people find it hard to engage with professionals and I am completely humbled to have been the professional that has been able to help them take steps towards improving their life and moving forward. I can recall one specific client, who was a teenage girl, I supported her and her family for a year until her case went to court. I sat with her whilst she was in court. Her mum and dad brought me flowers afterwards with a note that said “thank you for being our rock”.

I have recently been supporting a transgender client, this has been a great learning experience for me as I have not had the opportunity to work with a transgender client before.   I have seen for myself some of the frustrations that my client has experienced with regards to her gender change. I have helped her receive the assistance and support that she deserved from the agencies that previously felt all her problems were related to her gender change. As a result, my client is now more empowered to ask for support from the relevant agencies and has a new found confidence. Being a part of this journey with her has been a real privilege.

If there is one thing that you could change relating to your role, what would it be?

I would like to be able to do home visits when necessary. Some clients suffer from extreme anxiety and panic attacks and I feel this would help their situation.

I would also like to see the Herts Sunflower SARC get medicals (forensic medical examinations) back for those who wish to self refer. This was such a great thing to be able to offer clients, with no commitment to reporting to the police if they do not wish to do so.

How would you like to see the ISVA role developed in the next 3-5 years

I would like to see ISVAs in hospitals and GU Clinics. I am aware that a lot of people find them a safe place to disclose, without informing the police. I think this would help “spread the word” about the help that is available to victims of sexual assault and rape.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your role with other ISVAs?

I feel I have learnt so much in the past 2 ¾ years. Helping people who have suffered a sexual assault or rape can be very challenging but thoroughly rewarding when you can help them move their lives forward. However, regular Supervision is needed to help you off-load any stresses and emotions. Taking regular lunch breaks and trying hard to leave on time! This helps keep you healthy and ready to tackle the next task.

I always find is that people are reluctant to ask for support from their friends and family. I often ask my clients this question, ‘can you think of 3 friends? If this was to happen to them, how do you think they would react? what would you do to support them?’ They generally answer that they think their friends would be struggling too but that they would support their friend. I then say, so let them support you in the same way you would support them.

Finally, a colleague of mine brought this question to our risk assessment “What are you doing to help improve your wellbeing”. This is a really important question as it really helps the client to think about their own actions and to begin to help themselves.

 

Sunflower Herts

http://www.hertssunflower.org

 

Sian was interviewed by LimeCulture as part of our new blog series “Interview with an ISVA’. LimeCulture is the leading ISVA training provider, having successfully trained over 120 ISVAs since 2011. LimeCulture is a huge supporter of the ISVA role, which we believe to be a vital part of the response to victims of sexual violence. The aim of this new blog series is to showcase the important and varied work that is done by ISVAs across the country in support of victims. 

Last month’s Interview with an ISVA can be found by clicking here. If you are an ISVA and you would like your work to be featured in ‘Interview with an ISVA’, please email info@limeculture.co.uk.

Interview with an ISVA: Ishah Jawaid

Ishah Jawaid is an ISVA at Women and Girls Network, West London Rape Crisis.

Ishah works with women and girls in West London that have experienced any form or sexual violence, including: rape, child sexual abuse, gang related sexual violence, prostitution, trafficking, or any other sexual violence experience that has had a negative impact. She can offer support for current or past experiences and is currently working with 15 clients.

Ishah has been an ISVA for just over 16 months. She started the LimeCulture ISVA Development Programme in October 2013 and has one more module to complete before she is accredited.

What does your average workday consist of?
‘WGN believes strongly in empowering women and girls to make positive informed choices, working holistically, in a multicultural and feminist setting that puts the needs of women and girls first. The work I do as an ISVA, incorporates all of these values and strongly influences the way I work with my clients. There is no day that is the same at West London Rape Crisis, so as an ISVA my day to day schedule is extremely varied. I generally start the week by catching up on, and responding to any e-mail and telephone queries that may have come over the weekend, and then planning and organizing what I am going to be doing for the next five days.

Although there is a lot of structure in the way that I work, I try not to make it so that I cannot be flexible, as the women I work with are over 18 and the majority tend to either be in full time education or working, so it can be difficult for them to meet me during the day. Much of time is spent contacting clients, making welfare calls and arranging to meet women face to face at our centre. The centre itself runs in many ways as a refuge would. Located at a safe address in West London, the centre offers a safe non-judgmental and non-directive space in which women can explore their experiences, participate in psycho educational work, and allow women to discuss what options there are with regards to seeking redress within the criminal justice system and beyond. Following any communication or face to face meetings with women, I often find that a lot of work is generated from this and it is commonly where much of my work begins. After completing risk assessments and support plans, I liaise with a number of external agencies, particularly the police, and more so with the CPS, working in a multi agency capacity, ensuring that a woman is comprehensively supported throughout the various stages of the criminal justice system.

Part of my role also requires me to carry out outreach work with external agencies such as the police, solicitors, statutory and other voluntary agencies. I deliver training to organisations, educating them about the role of the ISVA, sharing best practice and creating referral pathways to ensure that women and girls are informed about all support services that are available to them by an independent advocate. At West London Rape Crisis, we are able to offer a complete support package encompassing, specialist counselling, holistic therapies, workshops, advice and advocacy, all of which are free. I liaise closely with my colleagues, as quite often, my clients do not just need to access the ISVA service, but a broad range of services to promote their total and sustainable recovery. My role as an ISVA is to guide and facilitate, offering a range of interventions on a woman’s journey of healing, according to the expressed needs of each individual woman’.

What is your favourite thing about your role?
‘For me, it is essential that women and girls are offered a safe, woman centered space in which they can explore their experiences and access a range of holistic and support services from an independent advocate. Many of the women that I work with are in a vulnerable place when they come to access the ISVA service. As an ISVA, my role is not to just offer practical support to women around the criminal justice system, but to teach women to recognize their own strength and tenacity, and help them understand that their experiences do not define who they are. I believe that I have an educational role when working with women, and utilizing this skill, I hope to empower women to make informed choices, supporting a woman to take control of her recovery, and helping her transform from being a survivor of violence, to someone who thrives following on from her experiences. I also enjoy advocating for women on a second tier level, on both local and national levels, helping to influence policy and challenging social norms and public opinion around gendered violence, including myths around rape and sexual assault, and working towards eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.

Unfortunately, not all the women I work with have had positive experiences with institutions and the authorities, and many are unsure of what their rights are and how to challenge negative decisions. I work with a number of solicitors who help women take action against authorities, when cases have not been investigated correctly, or some error of law has taken place. As an ISVA, I feel that it is important for me to educate women on what their rights are, and to help them navigate a complex system, particularly when they decide to challenge institutions and hold those in authority to account. For me this is an important extension of my role that allows me to support women to empower themselves and seek other forms of redress’.

What is the hardest/most challenging thing about your role?
‘I think the most challenging thing I find as an ISVA, is when I have a woman who has already experienced a traumatic event such as a rape or childhood sexual abuse, who reports to the police, but no further action is pursued by them or the CPS; or when a case does go to court, and a perpetrator is acquitted, and how to support a women with all the emotions that leaves her with. Despite some encouraging changes being made at a policy level, and by the CPS and ACPO, the criminal justice system is still complicated to navigate, and much more needs to be done to make the system more accessible and less threatening. I often find that regardless of how often the CJS at all its levels is explained to a woman, it can still be a perplexing system to understand. Even when I arrange for pre court visits with women, this still never really prepares them sufficiently for what will happen when they stand in a witness box and are cross examined themselves. It is quite challenging at times to balance supporting and advocating for a woman without becoming so involved, that there is a risk of being seen to be coaching a woman, by the defence. Many women who have had not had the positive outcome they hoped for, often state that they have lost faith in the justice system, and say that should anything happen to them again, they would not even consider reporting anything to the authorities. When cases do go to trial, particularly after cross examination by the defence barrister, women often say that they feel as though it was them who were put on trial, not the perpetrator, and that they felt that they had been raped or abused all over again. Being able to support a woman when she is left in this vulnerable position, particularly if she has other complex needs, often feels as though all the months work that you have done to empower the women and support her recovery, needs to begin all over again. However, it is not an impossible task, and with the ISVA service being able to support women after court as well, and WLRCC having its own in house therapy service, as an organization we are able to offer continued support long term to women and girls.

For some women, where their cases have not been pursued to CPS or court, or their cases have not been investigated correctly, I can assist women with asking for the agency concerned to review or re-open cases and can refer women to legal representatives who specialise in taking action against the authorities, when there has been an error of law. Some women have needed criminal defence solicitors, as they have been wrongly criminalised themselves during a police investigation. However, WGN has been able to build a close partnership with criminal solicitor who has successfully written to the CPS to have all charges against the women dropped, due to it not being in the public interest. All women who access the ISVA service are advised about their right to apply for criminal injuries compensation, and I work closely with a large legal firm who work on a pro bono basis in assisting women to seek other forms of redress for example, by applying for compensation’.

What is your greatest achievement in relation to your role?
‘There are a number of things that I feel have been great achievements in relation to my role. Being able to incorporate holistic working models within my advocacy work has at times been challenging, and although this is very much work in progress, the benefits of this style of working is essential in order to help women and girls empower themselves and promote sustainable recovery. Delivering outreach work to the police and statutory agencies, working in a multi agency capacity and raising the profile of the ISVA with certain agencies has been really beneficial to the women I support. Many women are not aware of the rights they have, so working with legal experts, some of who work pro bono, has been invaluable.

More recently, my colleague and I were asked to speak at an event where legal experts, academics and other leading women’s NGOs raised issues around barriers to justice, and ways in which women can seek redress through the criminal justice system. A member of Women’s Aid attended the conference and after hearing us speak, invited WLRCC to give oral evidence at the House of Commons, All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Domestic and sexual violence. I attended the APPG along with other leading national and local women’s NGO`s, the CPS and the police, and gave oral evidence to a panel of MP`s raising concerns about the failings around the criminal justice system. The APPG outlined the discrimination women and girls face when they do not have access to justice, and highlighted how the CJS can at times, undermine Women and girls human rights. This is particularly concerning, as violence against women and girls is internationally recognized to be a violation of a women and girls human rights, so it is vital that the police and criminal justice system acknowledges this, and challenges its working practices. Furthermore, I, along with other experts, gave recommendations to the panel of MP’s on how the criminal justice system needs to change in response to the evidence presented at the APPG. The APPG has now published a report following the inquiry, and has developed a charter which outlines the treatment of women and girls survivors of sexual violence, and what they should expect from the criminal justice system. The report will be used to urge the government and all those involved in the criminal justice system to sign up to the charter’.

The report can be found by clicking here

If there is one thing that you could change relating to your role, what would it be?

‘I would ask for more funding to be made available for more ISVA`s to be recruited and trained, and for ISVA`s to have the recognition that they deserve. Although there has been some progress from the government and criminal justice system around the role of ISVAs, much more needs to be done. I believe that it is important for people who already work within the CJS, to be educated about the role of ISVAs, and of the positive impact an ISVA has on a woman and girl, when she receives specialist independent advocacy support. ISVAs need to be recognised as having a professional role when supporting women and girls through the CJS. However, this should not mean that we become so entrenched in the criminal justice system that we lose our independence. For me it is essential that working within the CJS does not mean having to have to compromise the holistic, feminist and multicultural values of the WGN and West London Rape Crisis’.

How would you like to see the ISVA role developed in the next 3-5 years?

‘It would be very encouraging to receive continued long term funding for ISVAs, but I also think that it would be really beneficial to have ISVAs who specialize in other areas. For example, having more ISVAs who have expertise in mental health, specialist BAMER ISVAs and Young Women’s ISVAs etc. ISVAs are trained and skilled experts in the advocacy we offer, much the same way as other professionals who work within the CJS, and this needs to be recognised. It is unfortunate that the vital role that ISVAs have in the CJS is not validated by the very system that we work within. In addition, the creation of specialist sexual violence courts, where the ISVAs role is recognized and where we could offer expert advocacy support would further support women and girls through the CJS.

On a strategic level, I would like ISVAs to be able to at the forefront of leading the agenda on how the role should be developed, and to outline exactly how the government and CJS need to be supportive of ISVAs. I also think that government bodies need to co-ordinate, and put guidelines and policies into place to ensure that the role of ISVAs is validated, and that support mechanisms are put into place for us’.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your role with other ISVAs?

‘I would suggest that all ISVAs ask their organisations to review their service and referrals, in order to tailor support to the specific needs of the women and girls. It is essential to have structures and policies in place to enable you to support clients professionally and competently, but also in a way that empowers your clients to make informed choices about how they wish to be supported. It is important to develop the ISVA service and to monitor and review your own progress, not just to measure the number of referrals you receive, but to also ensure that you are offering a high quality service.

As an ISVA, I do not believe that our role is to simply support clients through the CJS in just a fundamental way, but that we ensure that when needed, we challenge where appropriate, and act as campaigners and raise awareness of the impact sexual violence has on women and girls within the CJS’.

WGN

www.wgn.org.uk

Ishah was interviewed by LimeCulture as part of our new blog series “Interview with an ISVA’. LimeCulture is the leading ISVA training provider, having successfully trained over 100 ISVAs since 2011. LimeCulture is a huge supporter of the ISVA role, which we believe to be a vital part of the response to victims of sexual violence. The aim of this new blog series is to showcase the important and varied work that is done by ISVAs across the country in support of victims. I

Last month’s Interview with an ISVA can be found by clicking here. If you are an ISVA and you would like your work to be featured in ‘Interview with an ISVA’, please email info@limeculture.co.uk.

Interview with an ISVA: Claire Kerman

Claire Kerman is the ISVA Team Leader at St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester. She has been an ISVA for 3.5 years and completed her ISVA training with LimeCulture in March 2012.  Claire’s Team (pictured below) includes 4 ISVAs working with males and females over the age of 13 (one of the ISVAs specifically works with adolescents). Her team also works alongside a Child Advocate for under 13 year olds and a Young Persons Advocate for those involved in child sexual exploitation who are based at St Mary’s.

20140321_100244-1

Claire has approximately 80 clients that she is actively in touch with regularly, although she points out it is difficult to say what her average case load is as it will depend on the outcome of a support needs assessment and also the stage at which the case is at.  For example, in cases where the court case is delayed or where there has been an adjournment, the client will need flexible support throughout their journey.  Claire explains that some clients have excellent support systems in place already and need minimal input, however the support they require is frequently reassessed and tailored to meet their needs. Claire explains that the ISVAs at St Mary’s do not close cases, as clients who felt they did not need to access support often come back further down the line, especially if they have a court case coming up. 

The ISVA service based at St Mary’s SARC runs in parallel with the SARC counselling service and enables them to be flexible about the support that is offered to clients. Claire explains that clients will often take up the ISVA support in the early stages of the case, then access counselling and return for more ISVA support at a later stage, while other clients will access the counselling and ISVA support simultaneously if there is a need.

What does your average workday consist of?

“On an average day I start work at 8am and look at my emails.  I catch up on some paperwork, making phone calls to clients or police officers.  At 9.15am every weekday morning we have a multidisciplinary team meeting consisting of a Crisis Worker, Counsellor, ISVA, Doctor, and member of the Admin Team, a member of the Child Team and often the Manager and Clinical Director.  In this meeting we review the cases that have been referred over the previous 24 hours or weekend. We can frequently review between 10 and 20 cases on a Monday morning. The meeting gives us the opportunity to ensure that all actions and treatments have been made and that any follow up management is addressed. Safeguarding decisions are often complex so we discuss safeguarding referrals and allocate further actions between the team.

We take a holistic approach to our client’s recovery and, as I work at a SARC, our client’s journey with us often begins with a medical examination.  With regards to physical health we can use the notes to tell us what follow up the client needs and remind them of any appointments they need to make on recontact.  We can refer clients to our counsellors for assessment or look at other agencies that may be appropriate or if the client is already involved with and liaise with them.  After this meeting, I generally have a MARF (multi agency referral form) to complete and a list of recontacts or other related jobs.  I also have planned face-to-face support session during the day and a list of around 10 or more telephone recontacts to do.

I spend lots of time liaising with police officers and making referrals to other services, such as social care or community alcohol teams.  I am also regularly in touch with the Witness Service teams at the 2 Crown Courts in Manchester making appointments for pre-court visits or arrangements to attend court with clients.  We have seen a marked increase in the number of court attendances we are making. My colleague Gail and I had 5 court cases booked in for one week in January!

We are a very busy Centre and during the working day have many phone calls from people wishing to gain information or access the Centre.  We also have a people dropping into the Centre from time to time, so despite having a plan for the day we never quite know how things are going to pan out.  As we are part of a Team, we have to be adaptable and in cases where we are short staffed I may do some Crisis Work during the day or help out with the Child Clinic’.

What is your favourite thing about your role?

‘My favourite thing about the ISVA role is seeing the difference in someone from when we started working together to when they are ready to finish working with me or my colleagues.  I suspect this is the same for most ISVAs, but to be a part of helping someone in their recovery is a real privilege.  Some clients require very little input and some need a much larger proportion of time but I think all are supported in the knowledge there is a specialist service to help them. When you have that connection with the client and see such a change in them, it really serves to reinforce your belief in the power of humans to overcome huge adversity.

I really enjoy working as part of a team and while we might all come from different backgrounds, academically or professionally, we are all striving to ‘get it right’ for the client.  I also think working in a multi-disciplinary team has really helped me to broaden my knowledge and thought process’.

What is the hardest/most challenging thing about your role?

‘I sometimes find it challenging to help a client get back on their feet after they have given evidence in court if they have had a particularly tough time in the witness box. I often share the client’s frustration at the way they have been spoken to or about the line of questioning but in order to remain professional I must push my feelings to one side to help the client with theirs.  I think it can be a real balancing act sometimes to acknowledge things had been tough for them but not enter into a ‘barrister bashing’ discussion, which would only serve to frustrate the client further.

I would really like to see things change for vulnerable victims in terms of the Criminal Justice System, I think the ISVA role goes a long way to providing a huge support here but the system itself needs constant review if we are to change the experiences of some of the most vulnerable people who have experienced sexual violence.

On a less serious note when it comes to being challenged, sharing an office with a Gary Barlow fan isn’t great, especially when she is also a Manchester City supporter!!’

What is your greatest achievement in relation to your role?

‘There have been many achievements I can think of within this role.  Some may seem small to others, but sometimes just engaging with a client who had given up on services and being able to give them hope can feel like a huge achievement.  It’s those times when the job feels really worthwhile and you feel you can really make a difference to the direction someone’s life takes.  I am currently working with a young person who finds it very difficult to engage with people in general.  My client has many issues and finds it very hard to communicate what they need.  We have built up a really good relationship over time and we have worked through some real difficulties.  I see this as a huge achievement and hope that their trust in me, and the rapport we have built, will continue to help when the time comes to attend court.

I have also had a couple of achievements in terms of my personal development within this role. Becoming the ISVA Team leader has been both challenging and rewarding. I have started to master my public speaking fear by doing presentations at courses run here at St Mary’s’.

How would you like to see the ISVA role developed in the next 3-5 years?

‘I am hoping that ISVAs can be seen in a more professional light and have a higher profile. I have worked closely in the past with barristers and CPS when there has been a difficult case, and it has been very beneficial for the client as I have been able to advocate for the client or empower them to communicate their wishes.  I would like to see a more joined up approach between ISVAs and other professionals so we can work together to provide the client with more choice, better information and a solid platform to communicate their wishes.  I would like to see the criminal justice process change for victims of sexual violence and I am passionate about ISVAs being part of this.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your role with other ISVAs?

‘It’s really valuable to work as part of a dedicated team.  I am very grateful to be able to reflect with my colleagues on the best course of action and discuss cases.  We have group supervision every 6 weeks but without the support of my colleagues I think I would find this job overwhelming.  I think it is important for ISVAs to support but also allow ourselves to be supported by colleagues as vicarious trauma can be a big problem in roles such as these and we can find ourselves lost in the world of the client’.

image003

http://www.stmaryscentre.org

Clare was interviewed by LimeCulture as part of our new blog series “Interview with an ISVA’. LimeCulture is the leading ISVA training provider, having successfully trained over 100 ISVAs since 2011. LimeCulture is a huge supporter of the ISVA role, which we believe to be a vital part of the response to victims of sexual violence. The aim of this new blog series is to showcase the important and varied work that is done by ISVAs across the country in support of victims. I

Last month’s Interview with an ISVA can be found by clicking here. If you are an ISVA and you would like your work to be featured in ‘Interview with an ISVA’, please email info@limeculture.co.uk.

 

LimeCulture launches Advanced Development Programme for ISVAs

Yesterday saw LimeCulture launch its new professional training course. There has already been significant interest from a range of ISVAs who want to continue their professional development and enrol in this professional training.

The Advanced Development Programme (ADP) is an intensive 3-day training programme for experienced ISVAs leading to a professional certificate of accreditation. The ADP is practice-oriented and aims to strengthen the competencies and skills of ISVAs wishing to continue their professional development.

The training will take place on Monday 14, Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 July 2014 and will be held in Manchester. The cost of the course is £500 plus VAT per person.

ISVAs are encouraged to enroll for the ADP to upgrade their skills and knowledge to enable them to appropriately support victims of sexual violence with complex needs. The ADP is directly relevant to the needs of ISVAs located within the voluntary and community sector (third sector), SARCs, NHS, Local Authority and Police.

About the ADP training

The course has been designed specifically for ISVAs to enable them to support clients who have experienced sexual violence and have complex needs. The training includes the following modules:

1a-Providing effective support for men and boys who have experienced sexual violence

1b- Providing effective support for sex workers who have experienced sexual violence

2a- Working with young women who have been affected by gangs

2b- Working with victims who have been sexually exploited

3- Responding effectively to people with mental health problems who have experienced sexual violence

Each unit contains a comprehensive syllabus of challenging content aimed at equipping ISVA’s with further practical skill and knowledge in which to embed and influence their everyday practice.

The course is delivered by leading UK experts sourced by LimeCulture and appointed based on their depth of experience and knowledge of sexual violence.

Further accredited training to support ISVAs

The ADP course has been developed by LimeCulture as a result of requests from ISVAs wanting to continue their professional development and have access to more in depth training that is tailored specifically to the ISVA role. This is the first course of its kind and has been developed and designed especially for experienced ISVAs.

The ADP is accredited under our NCFE Investors In Quality (IIQ) License, which was awarded to us to provide formal recognition for our courses.  This means that ISVAs attending this course will benefit from being awarded a certificate of achievement, which supports professional development.

To allow ISVAs to consider the depth of study, difficulty and level of achievement involved, the course measurable learning outcomes have been benchmarked at Level 4 (using Ofqual’s Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) level descriptors).

NCFE is an awarding organisation that is regulated by:

  • Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England.
  • The Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) in Wales and the Council.
  • Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland.

Entry Requirements

All delegates are required to provide information about their time in service as an ISVA and details of training previously completed at the time of booking. This information will be used to ensure that each delegate receives information and tutoring at a level appropriate to their knowledge and skill.

To book a place, email info@limeculture.co.uk

Maximum numbers will apply, so early booking is recommended.

LimeCulture is the UK’s leading provider of ISVA training, having now successfully trained over 100 ISVAs since 2011. Our 6th ISVA Development Programme will start in the spring of 2014.

LimeCulture was established in 2011 as a specialist sexual violence organisation working across the UK and internationally to provide support to frontline professionals (and their organisations) working with victims of sexual violence.

We know that the professionals who work with victims of sexual violence have the most challenging, responsible and rewarding of jobs in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our society. We believe that these professionals deserve to be supported to carry out their important roles to support victims.

LimeCulture’s aim is to make sure that these professionals have access the tools, skills, knowledge and materials, through up-to-date training and professional development to enable them to have the confidence and competence to effectively support victims of sexual violence.

www.limeculture.co.uk