Independent Sexual Violence Advocacy Service – West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Independent Sexual Violence Advocacy Service – WMRSASC
INDEPENDENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE ADVOCACY SERVICE (ISVA) – PROVIDING SPECIALIST SUPPORT WHEN IT’S NEEDED, FOR AS LONG AS IT’S NEEDED.
An ISVA is an independent advocate who can provide practical and emotional support to survivors, aged 5 or over, who have experienced any form of rape or sexual abuse at any time in their life.
ISVAs are specially trained to explore any options that may be available and to provide information to enable the survivor to make informed choices. The ISVA offers free, non-judgemental support.
The ISVA can provide the opportunity to talk in a safe and confidential environment.
The ISVA can:
- Offer free, confidential support by phone, online or in person.
- Provide information about any options that may be available and support to make informed decisions.
- Provide the information needed to make decisions on whether to report to the police and the information about the legal process and rights.
- Complete risk and need assessments and individual support and safety plans to ensure that we support survivors with the correct client-led package.
- Provide information and support for accessing services. These may include counselling, drug and alcohol services, sexual health and housing options. We can also support with the Victims Right to Review Scheme, Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority claims and anonymous reporting.
The services are accessible to all and have a team with a breadth of specialist knowledge around additional needs, those who identify as from the LGBTQIA+ community and those from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) communities.
We will look after any personal information that you share with us. This is central to our values as an organisation. We want everyone who supports us, or who comes to us for support, to feel confident about how any personal information they share, will be looked after or used.
You can be confident that:
- We only use personal information in the ways we need to and that is expected of
- We will keep you up to date with our work, including how we are campaigning to improve services, raising awareness, promoting understanding as well as our fundraising activities. We only use your personal information to do this if you have previously told us that’s
- We will never release your information to organisations outside WMRSASC for marketing
- We will be especially careful and sensitive when engaging with vulnerable people or those we have reason to believe might be
- We take all reasonable care to safeguard your personal information through security policies and secure business
- We may need to disclose your information if required to do so by law, but we will always ask for your consent. We will not pass on your details to anyone else without your express permission except in exceptional circumstances. Examples of this might include anyone reporting serious self-harm or posing a threat to others, children contacting us and sharing serious incidents.
WMRSASC is independent of any other agency so you do not have to worry about the police or any other agency or person (including your loved ones) finding out about your assault. Our staff will treat anything you say to them with confidentiality. The only time we may need to break confidentiality is if we believe you or someone else is at risk of serious harm. We would keep you informed of this wherever possible. We will need to share information with other agencies if we believe a child has been or is at risk of serious harm.
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Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA)
An ISVA is an independent advocate who can provide practical and emotional support to survivors, aged 5 or over, who have experienced any form of rape or sexual abuse at any time in their life.
ISVAs are specially trained to explore any options that may be available and to provide information to enable the survivor to make informed choices. The ISVA offers free, non-judgemental support.
The ISVA can provide the opportunity to talk in a safe and confidential environment.
The ISVA can:
- Offer free, confidential support by phone, online or in person.
- Provide the information needed to make decisions on whether to report to the police and the information about the legal process and rights.
- Complete risk and need assessments and individual support and safety plans to ensure that we support survivors with the correct client-led package.
- Provide information and support for accessing services. These may include counselling, drug and alcohol services, sexual health and housing options. We can also support with the Victims Right to Review Scheme, Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority claims and anonymous reporting.
