Sam Whyte joins LimeCulture as Director of Sexual Violence Consultancy Services

This week, Sam Whyte joins the LimeCulture team as our new Director of Sexual Violence Consultancy Services, bringing with her 20 years of experience in policy, research and participation. She has worked in a range of roles across the charity sector and within government – including as head of policy at UNICEF UK, leading on children’s human rights and child trafficking and migration; and latterly, as sexual violence victims lead at the Ministry of Justice. Sam has worked extensively with the UN, UK and devolved governments, children and survivors, Parliamentarians, practitioners and influencers to bring about change.

Sam Whyte said:  

“I’m really pleased to be joining LimeCulture at a time when society is seeking to reshape how we understand and respond to sexual violence and abuse. I’m looking forward to working with the team and the wider LimeCulture family to help our clients better support victims of rape and sexual abuse, and to building partnerships across sectors to drive innovation and understanding.”

 

11 More ISVA / (CH)ISVA Services Join LimeCulture’s Independent Accreditation Programme

A further 11 ISVA and (CH)ISVA services have today joined LimeCulture’s Independent Accreditation Programme for ISVA Services. These services are provided by Yellow Door, Victims First Northumbria, East Kent Rape Crisis, First Light, SAIL and Mountain Healthcare.

Stephanie Reardon, LimeCulture CEO said

We’re absolutely delighted that these ISVA and (CH)ISVA services have today joined the Independent Accreditation Programme for the Quality Standards for ISVA Services.

As the only Quality Standards that are specifically focused on ISVA services, it’s fantastic that so many commissioners and providers of ISVA services have recognised the value of our independent accreditation as a way of demonstrating the quality of their ISVA and (CH)ISVA service provision.  More than 40 ISVA and (CH)ISVA services have now been awarded our Quality Mark, which is an incredible achievement for so many services. With more ISVA and (CH)ISVA services working towards achieving the Standards, we expect the consistency of these vital support services for victims/survivors of sexual violence to continue to develop and improve”.

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Background information

Since their launch in October 2018, the Quality Standards for ISVA Services have been adopted by ISVA Services across the country as the benchmark of what high-quality ISVA Services should provide to victims/survivors of sexual violence, regardless of whether they choose to report to the police or go through the criminal justice process.

More than 40 individual ISVA and (CH)ISVA services have been awarded the Quality Mark, meaning a significant proportion of ISVA services across the UK have already demonstrated that they have improved consistency, practice and the overall quality of their ISVA and (CH)ISVA services.

The Quality Standards and the Implementation Guidance for Commissioners and Service Providers are available online, free of charge and can be accessed by clicking here

There are 20 Quality Standards across four domains; Leadership & Governance, Access & Engagement, Service Delivery and Outcomes & Evaluation. They set out the expectations of the ISVA/(CH)ISVA service’s leadership, staff and also the client experience.  The Quality Standards create a framework and benchmark that can be used to develop and improve ISVA/CHISVA service provision.

Sitting alongside the Quality Standards is the Independent Accreditation Programme.   The Programme will award a Quality Mark to ISVA or (CH)ISVA services that demonstrate they meet the Quality Standards through a robust and independent accreditation process of documentary evidence review, interviews and site visits.

The maximum amount of time given for a service to reach accreditation is 12 months however services may achieve accreditation at various stages within the 12 months, depending on a number of factors including, for example, how far the service has to go to meet the Quality Standards, and/or how quickly the service can provide evidence to the independent accreditation team to show that they meet the Quality Standards.  Our Independent Accreditation Team work with services to identify the appropriate timescales, based on initial self-assessment, service capacity and functions and location of the services being accredited.

 

For further information or an informal discussion about joining the Independent Accreditation Programme please contact us on 0203 6330018 or email accreditation@limeculture.co.uk and we will be happy to discuss your requirements

LimeCulture to Host Event to Launch New Research Findings on the Work of ISVAs

Over the last 18 months, an important research study looking at the work of Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) has been conducted by Middlesex University and Canterbury Christ Church University with support from LimeCulture.

The study focuses on the impacts, effects, coping mechanisms and effective support systems for people working as ISVAs and ISVA Managers in supporting victims/survivors of sexual violence across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 121 ISVAs and ISVA Managers participated in the study and provided invaluable contributions.

The study’s findings are now ready and the report is due to be published on Wednesday 12 May 2021. The report contains a number of important key recommendations based on the findings that ISVA Service providers, Commissioners and Policy Leads will want to consider.

We will be hosting a launch event on Wednesday 12th May from 1 – 3pm. The event is free of charge and will be held online (using the Zoom Platform).

LimeCulture would like to invite all ISVAs, ISVA Managers, Commissioners and Policy Leads to attend.

If you would like to attend and hear more about the research and the accompanying key recommendations, please book a place using the online booking system by following the link below

https://limeculture.co.uk/events/isva-research-event/

 

 

 

 

Bookings Open for the National Sexual Violence Liaison Officer (SVLO) Conference 2021

LimeCulture is delighted to share that we are hosting the National Sexual Violence Liaison Officer (SVLO) Conference on the 8th July 2021. The event will be held online.

As with the first SVLO Conference in December 2019, we will be highlighting some key learning and developments from across the sector and further afield, as well as acknowledging the outstanding contributions and achievements of SVLOs through our LimeLight Awards.

LimeCulture’s view is that SVLOs/SVMLOs and their services deserve to be properly recognised for the important, challenging and professional work they do to support those in the University community who have been subjected to sexual violence.  The LimeLight Awards are intended to be a first step in the direction of professional recognition of SVLOs and SVMLOs and their services.

 

Although the content of the day will be tailored towards supporting and informing SVLOs and other University sexual violence support workers, the sessions may also be valuable for a broader range of professionals working in the University and/ or sexual violence sector.

Please do book on if you feel as though it could be useful for you, and feel free to make contact with us if you have any questions or concerns at this time.

Details of the agenda will be added over the next few months; however, the day will start with a welcoming address, followed by plenary sessions specifically focused on disclosure and reporting processes in the role of the SVLO.

Moving into the afternoon, there will be an opportunity for attendees to attend smaller Elective Workshops, focused on more specific areas of working in the context of sexual misconduct in Higher Education. These workshops will give attendees an opportunity to ask questions and discuss with specialists in the field, as well as share best practice with colleagues, in a smaller group setting.

After the Elective Workshops, there will be further plenary sessions and opportunities to ask questions and share best practice with colleagues.

The Conference will conclude with our LimeLight Awards. More information on the LimeLight Awards to follow soon!

Places cost £85 +VAT , click here to see our booking page

If you require further information please contact us info@limeculture.co.uk

 

 

 

Spring update on the accreditation programme

We thought it was time for another update about our Independent Accreditation Programme. Whilst the country has continued to be in the grip of the Covid pandemic with all the disruption and home school that entails, the Accreditation team have been hugely impressed with the number of services that have continued their journey through the programme, achieving accreditation whilst continuously adapting their ways of working ensuring that clients and the safety of all are at the heart of everything they do.

Since the Autumn of last year, the Accreditation team have independently accredited 21 organisations consisting of 28 individual services across both the Quality Standards for Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) Services and the Male Survivor Partnership Quality Standards for Services Supporting Male Victims of Sexual Violence. That is now a total of 46 organisations and 62 individual services. A further 19 organisations with a breakdown of 25 services continue to work towards accreditation. Considering the ongoing challenges services are facing with the pandemic, those figures alone demonstrate the willingness and commitment to demonstrate they deliver a quality service.

Within those figures, two Sexual Violence Liaison Services (SVLO) based within the University setting have successfully achieved their accreditation. We are so pleased to have worked with the SVLO’s at London South Bank University & The University of Sheffield who have shown a great commitment to ensuring their students receive the best possible support.

Not only are services continuously progressing through the programme, but we also seem to have blinked and our first cohort of services who were part of the pilot project, have reached the expiry date of accreditation. We are so pleased to be welcoming six services onto the first re-accreditation programme which will see services look to retain the Quality Mark for a further two years.

And if that wasn’t enough……. We are now accepting applications to join the new cohort of services on both the

  • Quality Standards for Services Supporting Male Victims of Sexual Violence (closing date Friday 23rd April 2021)
  • Quality Standards for Independent Sexual Violence Adviser Services (closing date Friday 21st May 2020).
  • The Accreditation workshop will be held virtually using video conferencing on the following dates:

• Wednesday 12th May 2021 for the Quality Standards for Services Supporting Male Victims of Sexual Violence and,
• Wednesday 09th June 2021 for the Quality Standards for Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) Services.

Further details can be found at www.limeculture.co.uk/accreditation.

To discuss your service in more detail and apply to join the programme please contact accreditation@limeculture.co.uk.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Book now to attend the Spreading Excellence Online Symposium

‘Spreading Excellence’ is a Home Office funded project that was established by LimeCulture with the aim of improving the capacity and capability of the sexual violence sector to ensure high-quality and effective services are available for all. The project seeks to achieve this through the influence and engagement of service users, service providers, commissioners and policy leads working together collaboratively.

The project is overseen by a National Working Group.  The first project had a specific focus on improving knowledge around the commissioning process relating to sexual violence support services.  Our guidance document developed from the 2018/19 project is available free HERE.

This year we were asked by the Home Office to focus will be on support services for children and young people who have experienced child sexual abuse (CSA), to align with the Home Office Tackling CSA Strategy.

National Working Group

The project was overseen by a National Working Group. Membership is drawn from a range of professionals working in child sexual abuse (CSA) including includes policy leads, academics, service providers and commissioners.

Workshops

The project included a series of workshops that examined commissioning and providing services and multi-agency working, to meet the needs of children and young people who have experienced child sexual abuse (CSA).

With expert speakers addressing each workshop, participants worked together to identify the main challenges within these key areas, and sought to identify solutions and/or best practice.

Symposium

The report of findings from the project, alongside a series of related recommendations to policy makers, commissioners and providers will be presented at a free online symposium on the 30th March, starting at 10am.

Panel Membership

The symposium will include a panel discussion with experts from:

  • Lincolnshire Office of Police and Crime Commissioner
  • The LightHouse, London
  • Imara, Nottingham
  • The Green House, Bristol
  • Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse (CSA Centre)

Questions for the panel can be submitted at the time of booking.

Who should attend?

Strategic Leads in CSA support services (CHISVA, Children and Young People Counselling Services and Social Care Safeguarding Leads), Commissioners of CSA services and Researchers in Practice.

A flyer for the event can be downloaded  – Spreading Excellence Symposium Flyer

Please book online for this free event at  https://limeculture.co.uk/events/spreading-excellence-symposium/

 

 

 

 

 

National Sexual Violence Liaison Officer (SVLO) Conference 2021

LimeCulture is delighted to share that we are hosting the National Sexual Violence Liaison Officer (SVLO) Conference on the 8th July 2021.

As with the first SVLO Conference in December 2019, we will be highlighting some key learning and developments from across the sector and further afield, as well as acknowledging the outstanding contributions and achievements of SVLOs through our LimeLight Awards.

LimeCulture’s view is that SVLOs/SVMLOs and their services deserve to be properly recognised for the important, challenging and professional work they do to support those in the University community who have been subjected to sexual violence.  The LimeLight Awards are intended to be a first step in the direction of professional recognition of SVLOs and SVMLOs and their services.

LimeCulture acknowledges that the past year has been like no other and this will have impacted heavily on SVLO colleagues across the UK. For this reason, we want you to tell us how we can best support knowledge sharing and development at the conference in July. We also want to give you an opportunity for a platform to share what you know and do best.

Please complete the following survey to share your thoughts around what and who you would like to hear about and from.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SVLOConference2021

The survey deadline has been extended until the 1st of April 2021.

(Please note, completing the survey does not equate to registering your attendance at the conference. Registration details will be shared shortly.)

 

 

LimeCulture Invites ISVA Service Managers to attend Online Workshop to discuss ISVA Training

LimeCulture would like to invite ISVA Service Managers (and/or Team Leads) from across the sector to attend one of two (identical) workshops to discuss ISVA training needs/requirements.
We will be holding these (online) workshops on the following dates:
  • Tuesday 23 March at 10.30am – 12noon
  • Thursday 25 March at 10.30am – 12noon
As the leading provider of training for ISVAs, we want to ensure that our training continues to meet the needs of ISVA Services, and as part of a review of our training provision, we would like to invite ISVA Service Managers to share with us their views and suggestions about training for ISVAs.
The aim of the workshops is to discuss the following:
  • Key learning from online ISVA training (due to covid restrictions)
  • Views/suggestions about how ISVA training should be delivered post-covid
  • Views/suggestions about ISVA training needs/requirements (including training portfolio for ISVAs including continued professional development, gaps in knowledge/skills, any other specific training needs/requirements).
If you are a Manager of an ISVA Service and would like to attend one of the above workshops, please confirm your attendance by emailing info@limeculture.co.uk as soon as possible (and by no later than Wednesday 17 March please).
Please confirm which workshop you would like to attend, and we will ensure that you are sent a link to the correct workshop in advance.
Thank you!

Join the LimeCulture Core Team – We’re recruiting a Director of Consultancy Services

About LimeCulture

LimeCulture is an international sexual violence and safeguarding training and consultancy organisation based in the UK. Our vision is to improve the professional response to sexual violence and safeguarding. We achieve our vision by working with professionals and services by embracing our core values in everything we do:

  • Learning: we develop and deliver high quality training and resources for professionals
  • Innovation: we are at the forefront of identifying emerging themes and are instrumental in creating change
  • Management: we support leaders to design, provide and evaluate world-class services
  • Excellence: we strive to enhance quality in everything we do

Working for us

We have an exciting opportunity to recruit an exceptional and dynamic professional to join our passionate, talented and committed team as our new Director of Consultancy Services.

Our Consultancy Services Division has a vibrant and varied portfolio of work and the Director of Consultancy Services is responsible for:

  • Overseeing the Consultancy Services Division as a whole
  • Developing a programme of consultancy work in line with LimeCulture’s Strategy
  • Seeking business development opportunities and increasing the income generated by the Consultancy Services Division
  • Overseeing, promoting and growing the Independent Accreditation Programme
  • Recruiting/line managing staff and consultants to deliver the Consultancy Services Division’s programme of work to the highest standard

About this role

To find out more about what this exciting role as a LimeCulture Director entails, please see the attached Director of Consultancy Services Job Description & Person Spec

This Director role is a full time (40 hours per week) post. You will be based at home with frequent national travel (subject to covid restrictions). The successful candidate will initially be given a 12 month fixed-term contract, which will then be made permanent on renewal.

The salary for this role is circa £60,000 per annual and you will be entitled to 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (which may be taken at any time).

If you would like to discuss this role with us, then please email info@limeculture.co.uk and we’ll arrange for you to have an informal discussion with us at a suitable time.

How to apply

If you believe you have the skills and competencies required to be our next Director of Consultancy Services, then we’d love to hear from you!

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and a covering letter that explains to us why you would be right for this role and how you meet the person specification.

CV and covering letters should be emailed to info@limeculture.co.uk with the subject heading ‘Application for Director of Consultancy Services’ by 6pm Friday 26th March 2021. First stage interviews will take place during the week commencing 12th April 2021.

LimeCulture Welcomes 30th Cohort to ISVA Development Programme

This week LimeCulture has welcomed their newest cohort of Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) to the first module of our ISVA Development Programme. This cohort of ISVAs are the 30th group to embark on our specialist training course for ISVAs since the accredited course was launched in September 2011.

LimeCulture’s ISVA Development Programme has been developed and delivered by our expert trainers, who have all either worked as an ISVA,  managed a team of ISVAs or regularly work along side ISVAs in their professional roles. The demand for our ISVA Development Programme has continued to grow year on year, with the majority of ISVAs services across the UK choosing LimeCulture to training their ISVAs.

LimeCulture has supported hundreds of ISVAs since 2011 by providing specialist training that arms them with the skills and knowledge to undertake the ISVA role effectively and safely. We’re absolutely delighted to begin training for our 30th group of ISVAs.

LimeCulture’s Training Division continuously review and monitor the ISVA Development Programme to ensure that the course content and materials are up-to-date and relevant. Our review cycle ensures that the ISVA Development Programme is updated to reflect and incorporate operational developments and any changes in ISVA practices so that ISVAs are able to embed their learning into operational practice.

LimeCulture is delighted that the ISVA Development Programme is consistently rated as ‘excellent’ by ISVAs who attend from across the sector.  We ask for regular and honest feedback from the ISVAs attending the course. To improve the course and ensure that it continues to support ISVAs as effectively as possible, we ask ISVAs to provide specific feedback as they complete each of the 6 modules of the ISVA Development Programme. We carefully analyse and consider all of their views and suggestions to ensure the course is as good as it can possibly be from the ISVAs point of view.  

In the last 12 months (since January 2020) LimeCulture’s ISVA Development Programme has been attended by 150 individual ISVAs. These ISVAs come from over 65 different ISVA services across the UK, creating a fantastic and unique opportunity for ISVAs to share learning and experiences from operational practice with their peers as a significant element of their training.

Due to the current restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ISVA Development Programme was adapted for online delivery in summer 2020 and is currently being delivered using an online platform to ensure the safety of the ISVAs and our staff.

For more information about our training, please email us on info@limeculture.co.uk

 

Our Upcoming Courses for ISVAs

ISVA Development Programme – the next available course will start in May 2021. Please click here to book a place.

Advanced Development Programme (ADP) Elective 1 for ISVAs supporting clients with specific needs – the next available course will take place on 17, 18 & 19 March 2021. Please click here to book a place.

Advanced Development Programme (ADP) Elective 2 for ISVAs supporting children and young people – the next available course will take place on 2, 3 & 4 February 2021. Please click here to book a place.

Workshop for ISVA Managers – the next available course will take place on 16 & 17 March 2021. Please click here to book a place.