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Home - The number of services commissioned for Child Victims of Child Criminal & Sexual Exploitation

The number of services commissioned for Child Victims of Child Criminal & Sexual Exploitation

Information provided

Our Ref: Our Ref: NY8410 - Date: 02.05.2023

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: NY8410

I write in connection with your request for information that was received by the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire (OPFCC) 30 March 2023.

I note you seek access to the following information:  

We would like information regarding the number of services commissioned in the past 12 months.

We are looking to find:

  1. The number of services commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in the past 12 months for:
  2. Child Victims of Child Criminal Exploitation
  3. Child Victims of Child Sexual Exploitation

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information 

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within the OPFCC.

I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by the OPFCC.

Decision 

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you.

Services commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in the past 12 months for Child Victims of Child Criminal Exploitation and Child Victims of Child Sexual Exploitation:

Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) Service – IDAS – £142,000

The PFCC for North Yorkshire, North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council have jointly commissioned a single, holistic, all age ISVA service for all victims and survivors of all forms of sexual violence or abuse. The service is delivered by Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS) and includes access to a specialist ISVA to support BME women & girls employed by the Halo Project. Support is available for any victim or survivor of all forms of sexual violence or abuse, including historic child sexual abuse. Support is available for all ages and genders, regardless of sexual orientation. The service offers:

  • Immediate advice, support and safety planning if required
  • 1 to 1 emotional and practical support, including support through any police investigation and/or court proceedings
  • Support for (non-abusing) parents/guardians of young victims aged 12 years or under
  • Supported group work and peer support networks
  • Onward referrals and/or liaison with other agencies and support services as appropriate

The overall objective of the ISVA service is to enable all victims and survivors of sexual abuse, assault and rape to cope with the immediate impacts of crime and recover from the harm experienced; and reach out to more people to encourage an increase in self-reporting to get the help they need. The aim is for victims and survivors to be able to support themselves independently or through an appropriate peer support network by the end of the provision of support. Referrals can be made by police officers, SARC or CSAAS and other professionals working with victims and survivors as well as self-referrals, and support is available whether individuals want to make a formal report to the police or not:

  • Online: make-a-referral
  • Email: info@idas.org.uk
  • Phone: 03000 110 110
  • Daily Live Chat web chat facility via the IDAS website

All referrals will initially be reviewed by specialist staff in a centralised referral hub who will complete an initial assessment looking at risk and need, providing triage, immediate advice, support and safety planning as required. For those that require further support, the hub team will refer on to a Lime Culture Accredited ISVA to provide specialist 1 to 1 support to meet their individual needs.

Counselling service – Survive and Community Counselling – £243,500

An all age, counselling and talking therapy service to support victims of crime to cope and recover. The service aims to enable victims to either support themselves independently or be supported through an appropriate peer support network by the end of provision. Community Counselling deliver adult (aged 18 and over) services in Scarborough and Ryedale as well as a countywide service for young people (aged 17 and under). Survive deliver adult services in Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, York and Selby.

Child Sexual Assault Assessment Service (CSAAS) – Mountain Healthcare Ltd – £89,000

The CSAAS provides crisis support and forensic medical services to collect any evidence for all child victims of rape or sexual assault. The PFCC for North Yorkshire and NHS England have jointly commissioned a single CSAAS for North Yorkshire. The service is delivered by Mountain Healthcare Ltd. Support is available for all children and young people aged 0 to 16 years who have disclosed sexual abuse or assault, or where it is suspected that it has happened. Older young people up to their 19th birthday may also be seen by the CSAAS if they have additional needs or it is deemed to be clinically appropriate. The service offers:

  • Immediate professional advice and support
  • Specialist 1 to 1 Crisis Support
  • Forensic Medical Examination if appropriate to collect any forensic evidence
  • Non-forensic Medical Examination if appropriate
  • Onward referrals and/or liaison with other agencies for aftercare and support services as necessary

Referrals can only be made by police officers or Social Workers; it is not a self-referral service.

Both Forensic and Non-forensic Medical Examinations can be carried out at North Yorkshire’s specialist SARC premises which will include a full detailed clinical history and examination.

Young People aged 13 years or over can be seen by specialist Forensic Nurse Examiners 24/7 including Bank Holidays; however examinations are usually booked for daytime weekday hours (9-5) wherever possible.

Children aged 12 years or under are seen by specialist Forensic Paediatricians at weekly clinics at North Yorkshire’s specialist SARC premises, or West Yorkshire CSAAS premises if an urgent examination is required outside these hours.

Child Sexual / Criminal Exploitation and Missing service – Hand in Hand – Children’s Society – £200,000

The Hand in Hand service is provided by The Children’s Society. The service works with children and young people affected by or at risk of, child sexual and criminal exploitation and those who go repeatedly missing from home. The support offered includes one to one and group work in addition to targeted awareness raising in schools. The aim of the service is to reduce the harm and incidence of child exploitation and provide support and safety planning for those affected. The service accepts self-referrals or agency referrals.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that the OPFCC’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.

Complaint Rights

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of complaint.

If you have any queries concerning this request, please contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

 

Tina James-McGrath

Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, North Yorkshire