RASASC NW ISVA

What is an ISVA?

An ISVA is an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor; a trained specialist who offers nonjudgemental, practical and emotional support to survivors of sexual abuse.

It is the ISVA’s role to work with survivors and help them access other support services and address long and short term needs.

What we do

• We listen, we believe and we support

• Together assess your needs, develop a plan for your safety and well being

• Provide you with impartial information to enable you to make choices

• Explain the police process, the Criminal Justice Process and what to expect if you choose to report.

• Refer and can liaise closely with other agencies involved

• Accompany you to important appointments

• Support your next steps after the legal process

• Ensure you are supported throughout the criminal justice process

How to Access support ?

If you are a survivor of recent or non recent sexual violence or are supporting someone that is already accessing RASASC NW counselling, call or email the service or speak to your counsellor.

Your ISVA will usually contact you by your preferred method of communication to introduce themselves and arrange your first appointment in a neutral location. In this appointment they will talk you through the service and answer any questions you might have.

Can I only have an ISVA if I choose to report to the Police?

No, you can still have an ISVA even if you choose not to report. If you do decide to go ahead, they can ensure that you will have support through this process.

RASASC NW ISVA Options for reporting (or not)

If you are unsure whether you want to report a sexual assault to the Police, you may find talking to RASASC NW’s Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) helpful. They will talk to you about your options and support whatever decision you make.

Your options are:

Reporting directly to the Police. You can call 101, giving some details about what has happened and what you wish to report. An officer will then arrange to meet with you and take an account of what happened from you. After this you would make a recorded statement. This is where you give a more detailed account. Following your statement, the Police would carry out a thorough investigation. An ISVA can support you through the Police process if you wish. If the Police think they have enough evidence, the case is then sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). This is the agency that takes the case to court. 

Continuing to work with an ISVA but not reporting to the Police. Your ISVA will help you look at alternative coping strategies such as counselling, trauma therapy and understanding the impacts of sexual violence

You could make a “first account” with a member of police staff, (someone who is not a Police Officer, as they would have a duty to investigate a crime). The police staff member would try to ascertain from you the “who, what, when & where”. Obviously some people cannot remember or don’t know many details, which is fine. This account is recorded on paper and is stored securely at the SARC. From this first account you have additional options, including reporting as above or by anonymous intelligence. 

Giving anonymous Intelligence, which means that any reference to you is taken out of the statement, before being stored on a national computer system. If anyone else reports a crime against the same person, or gives anonymous intelligence about that person, the computer will match the information. If this happens, the Officer will then go to the SARC and ask if they can speak to you. At this point the Police still do not have your information so cannot come to you directly. The SARC will ask you if you would be willing to speak to the Officer and make a full statement. You can then decide if you wish to do so without feeling pressured. If you decide to go ahead, you will then be asked to make a statement. This is usually a recorded statement which, if the case gets to court, is used as your evidence

Confidentiality

This service is confidential, what you tell your ISVA will remain between the two of you.

Confidentiality is only limited in respect of policies pertaining to safeguarding, further details will be discussed at your first meeting. Every effort is made to promote your privacy and dignity.

Frequently asked questions:

Does the ISVA work for the police?

No, the ISVA works independently of the police and courts. They work to support you.

Does the ISVA provide legal services?

No, ISVA’s provide emotional and practical support for your long and short term needs and impartial information.

How long will my appointments be?

Appointment times are flexible to suit your needs.

Does the ISVA offer a stand alone or drop in services?

No, due to the different locations and duties of the ISVA, only pre-arranged appointments can be made.  The RASASC NW ISVA will just work with those accessing RASASC NW counselling service.

Does the ISVA provide out of hours services?

No, the ISVA service is available Monday to Friday office hours, with some evening appointments available. The advocate will contact you to schedule the appointment at a time that is convenient for you.

If I don’t want to report, can I still access the ISVA services?

Yes, ISVA services can be requested at any time during your counselling journey to help you make decisions about your experience.

Are you worried about attending your cervical screening?

A smear test can feel very scary for various reasons, particularly if you have experienced sexual violence. Our ISVA’s can offer support to attend a cervical screening or any medical appointment of a sensitive nature.

ISVA Document (PDF)