ISVA Service Reaccredited with Quality Mark
Notts SVSS are pleased to share that our ISVA Service has been successfully reaccredited with the Lime Culture Quality Mark.
Supported by a Senior ISVA/SSS Administrator and an ISVA administrator our ISVA team consists of 8 Independent Sexual Violence Advisors, an ISVA and Survivors Support Service Manager and a Senior ISVA. Together this dedicated team provide support to survivors who are accessing the Criminal Justice System. This accreditation demonstrates the quality of support provided to survivors navigating one of the most difficult times of their life.
Work of an ISVA
With adult survivors of rape waiting on average 499 days to see their day in court, compared to only 284 days for other crimes, ISVAs are vital to the wellbeing of survivors. On the legal side, they communicate with the police and CPS ensuring clients are kept up to date with the process. They support requests for special measures in court and pre-trial visits, helping to ready the survivor for giving evidence.
ISVAs also support survivors to manage many other aspects of their life, which can be affected by this process. This can include support with talking to employers or educators, maximising benefits, and helping the survivor access healthcare and therapeutic support. Where cases are often adjourned, our ISVAs will support clients through their disappointment, helping them to keep engaged with the process.
“Thank you ISVA, I cannot thank you and the police officers enough who have always been there and worked hard to get me justice”
Right to Review
For those survivors whose case does not get carried forward by the police or CPS, the ISVA can support the survivor to challenge the decision. With the recent CPS announcement to expand a pilot Expedited Victim’s Right to Review Scheme nationwide, this will now see ISVAs supporting survivors to challenge the CPS before charges are formally and irreversibly dropped.
Unfortunately, my case didn’t get the justice it should have done. However, through all of this I have had my ISVA to support me. She is amazing and doesn’t realise how much of an impact she has made on my life and helped me keep going and feel heard. She has been there for everything I have needed.
We should be proud
The letter from Lime Culture states that ‘this is a fantastic achievement for which you should all be proud.’ The accreditation, which will remain in place for two years, will reassure survivors of the quality of the service they can receive from our team. But while we are (rightly) proud of this achievement, it is the survivors who we gain our inspiration from. In a system that is difficult to navigate, getting a sense of justice takes tenacity and courage and we are privileged to support these survivors in their journey.
“I feel really lucky to work for the ISVA service because of all the hard work the service does to support people who have been through such traumatic situations in their lives. I feel proud to be a part of that and to be able to directly support survivors as they navigate through the criminal justice system.”
Want to be part of an award-winning team?
We are currently recruiting to existing and new roles within our ISVA Team. If, after reading this article, you would like to join us in our vital work, why not download an application pack? Details on the roles can be found here.
