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ISVA adult service

If you are aged 26 and over and have been raped or sexually abused at any time in your life, our Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service can offer you practical and emotional support to deal with your circumstances. Our aim is to help give you the confidence; support and information you need to take control of your situation and move forward.

Our service is available to all people, regardless of whether you have told the police or anyone else about the assault. If you are unsure what to do the ISVA will give you information to help you decide whether you want to report the incident(s) to the police. If you decide not to report the matter, we will still provide you with support.

What does the ISVA do? 
Your ISVA will arrange an initial meeting with you, usually at home but if that’s not appropriate you can choose a suitable location.  She will carry out an assessment of your safety and support needs and based on the information provided will come up with a support plan to help you. She will then work with you to help access support from other agencies, such as:

  • Specialist counselling
  • Health services
  • Housing or homelessness support
  • Financial support, such as benefits and debt management.

Your support plan will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure you are getting all the help you need. The ISVA works during office hours Monday to Friday and the service is supported by our 24/7 helpline in case you need to speak with a Crisis Worker during evenings and weekends. They can be contacted on 01603 276381.

All our ISVA are fully trained on the ISVA Development Programme which is an accredited professional course focusing on the core skills and competencies required to work as an ISVA. This training is accredited by awarding body, NCFE.

To report or not to report? 
If you have decided to report the matter to the police your ISVA will help you through the whole process, including working with the police and the criminal justice system.
The type of support your ISVA can provide includes:

  • Liaising with the police, courts, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and other public agencies
  • Keeping you informed of developments in your case
  • Advocating on your behalf
  • Supporting you before and during any court case
  • Help with applying for Criminal Injuries compensation (CICA) if applicable

 

 

ISVA - Adult Leaflet

ISVA Adult Leaflet

The Adult ISVA leaflet details the role of the adult ISVA supporting clients aged 26 years and over, and available to download in the below different languages: