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Home - Addressing violence against women and girls - What services are already available if I need help?

What services are already available if I need help?

Victim and Survivor services

Domestic Abuse Victims Community-based Support services

Delivered by Independent Domestic Abuse Services (“IDAS”), support is available for anyone aged 16 years and over who is a direct victim or survivor of domestic abuse. Support is available for all genders and regardless of sexual orientation. The services offer:

  • Community engagement and Champion’s training to raise awareness of all forms of domestic abuse
  • Early intervention and prevention advice and support
  • Immediate advice, support and safety planning
  • 1 to 1 emotional and practical support, including support through any police investigation and/or court proceedings
  • Target Hardening where necessary to help victims remain safely within their own homes
  • Supported group work and peer support networks
  • Onward referrals and/or liaison with other agencies and support services as appropriate.

Referrals can be made by police officers and other professionals working with victims or survivors as well as self-referrals, and support is available whether individuals want to make a formal report to the police or not:

A ‘Whole Family Approach’ to Domestic Abuse – Support Services for Children and Young People Affected by Domestic Abuse

IDAS have been commissioned to develop a ‘Whole Family Approach’ to domestic abuse and provide support services for children and young people affected by domestic abuse. Support is available for all families with dependent children and young people living in households where domestic abuse occurs. Support is available for all genders and regardless of sexual orientation. The services offer:

  • 1 to 1 emotional and practical support for children and young people aged 10 years and over
  • Supported group work and peer support networks for parents/guardians
  • Referrals for parents/guardians and ongoing liaison with victim services to ensure that support plans are co-ordinated and support the family’s common goals
  • Onward referrals and/or liaison with other agencies and support services as appropriate.

Referrals can be made by police officers and other professionals working with families as well as self-referrals, and support is available whether individuals want to make a formal report to the police or not:

Sexual Assault Referral Centre (“SARC”) services

The SARC services are delivered by Mountain Healthcare Ltd who provide crisis support and forensic medical services to collect any evidence for all victims of rape or sexual assault aged 16 years and over. Support is available for all genders and regardless of sexual orientation. The services offer:

  • Immediate triage, advice and support
  • Specialist 1 to 1 Crisis Support
  • Forensic Medical Examination if appropriate to collect any forensic evidence
  • Onward referrals and/or liaison with other agencies and support services as appropriate.

The services are available 24/7 including Bank Holidays, however examinations are usually booked for daytime weekday hours (9-5) wherever possible. Referrals can be made by police officers and other professionals working with victims as well as self-referrals, and support is available whether individuals want to make a formal report to the police or not:

Child Sexual Assault Assessment Service (“CSAAS”)

The CSAAS is delivered by Mountain Healthcare Ltd and provides crisis support and forensic medical services to collect any evidence 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 and support services as appropriate.

Referrals can only be made by police officers, social workers or health professionals; it is not a self-referral service.

Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (“ISVA”) service

IDAS deliver a holistic ISVA service for all victims and survivors 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.

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:

Hand in Hand: Child Sexual / Criminal Exploitation and Missing service

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/or criminal exploitation. The support offered includes:

  • Targeted awareness raising in schools
  • 1 to 1 emotional and practical support
  • Supported group work
  • Onward referrals and/or liaison with other agencies and support services as appropriate.

The service accepts self-referrals and agency referrals. For further information or to self-refer contact Zoe Stephenson-Jones: Zoe.Stephenson-Jones@childrenssociety.org.uk

Parents of Child Sexual / Criminal Exploitation Liaison Officer (“PLO”) service

The PLO service is provided by Parents Against Child Exploitation (“PACE”). The service works with parents and carers of children who are or at risk of being exploited by individuals from outside of the family. The support offered includes 1 to 1 and groupwork in addition to targeted awareness raising in schools. Parents can also access a secure online forum and befriending scheme which connects and support affected parents who can often feel isolated, judged and blamed. The aims of the service are to:

  • Safeguard exploited children
  • Support the successful prosecution and disruption of perpetrators by providing specialist witness care
  • Recognise the impact Child Exploitation has on the whole family
  • Build co-productive relationships with services and statutory agencies
  • Empower parents to increase their resilience to provide long-term support for their child.

The PLO service accepts self-referrals and agency referrals. For further information or to self-refer contact Leah Entwistle: leah.entwistle@paceuk.info

Counselling and Talking Therapy Services for victims of crime

Community Counselling (North Yorkshire) Ltd deliver adult counselling and talking therapy services in Scarborough and Ryedale, as well as a countywide service for young people (aged 17 years and under).

Survive deliver adult counselling and talking therapy services in Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, York and Selby.

For more information contact Supporting Victims (details below).

Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire

Supporting Victims is a telephone-based service providing advice and support for anyone affected by crime in North Yorkshire, whether reported to the police or not. This includes victims, bereaved relatives, those aged under 18 years with consent, parents or guardians of victims aged under 18 years, and members of staff where a business has been a victim of crime.

Supporting Victims staff are trained and experienced in helping victims understand what has happened and supporting them to cope with the immediate impact and recover from the harm experienced. Individuals can self-refer to Supporting Victims and agencies can make direct referrals. This includes immediate practical and emotional support over the phone, onward referrals into specialist services and signposting to other support organisations as appropriate. Supporting Victims is also the Independent Reporting route for victims of hate crime (whether reported to the police or not):

Perpetrator and Offender Services

Crossroads: Adults Diversion scheme

Provided by Humankind, the Crossroads Diversion scheme diverts people from the criminal justice system by offering support to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour. The scheme works with women and men aged 18 years and over to offer trauma-informed support to address criminogenic needs. Each individual will receive a tailored support package, the intensiveness of which will be responsive to their assessed needs. A dedicated keyworker will be allocated who will provide direct interventions, advocate and signpost into specialist agencies where necessary.

The scheme has two elements. Firstly, a community-based support scheme for individuals who may be at risk of entering the criminal justice system or are known to North Yorkshire Police. The scheme engages with the individuals, at an early stage before criminal behaviour becomes habitual and engagement is on a voluntarily basis. The community-based scheme is open to those who are not yet offending or have been involved in antisocial behaviour or have previously committed low-level offences. Referrals can be made via a referral form and Humankind welcome self-referrals. To self-refer, request a referral form or for further information:

Secondly, a formal out of court disposal at point of arrest or voluntary attendance at police custody. This is an alternative to prosecution, and if the individual accepts the referral to the scheme, then engagement is mandatory, otherwise the individual may be referred back to North Yorkshire police to face prosecution. Only North Yorkshire Police can refer to this element of the scheme.

+Choices: Support Services for Adult Perpetrators of Domestic Abuse

Delivered by Foundation UK, support is available for anyone aged 16 years and over, who is a low-medium risk perpetrator of domestic abuse and wishes to voluntarily address their abusive behaviour. Support is available for all genders and regardless of sexual orientation. The service offers:

  • Triage and emergency, temporary (up to 7 nights) accommodation, with support to secure longer term accommodation where required
  • 1 to 1 motivational interventions to support perpetrators to recognise and acknowledge their abuse behaviour
  • Tailored Perpetrator Behaviour Change Programmes, including both 1 to 1 and group delivery options
  • Support to address wider needs such as housing, finance, substance misuse and mental health through onward referrals and/or liaison with other agencies and support services as appropriate.

Referrals can be made by police officers and other professionals working with perpetrators, their families or victims (with consent) as well as self-referrals:

Respect: Support Services for Young People Displaying Abusive Behaviours

Delivered by IDAS, support is available for young people aged 10 to 16 years who are demonstrating abusive behaviour towards their family members and/or within intimate relationships with other young people. Support will also be offered to their parent/guardians where required. Support is available for all genders and regardless of sexual orientation. The services offer:

  • Short-term telephone support for parent/guardians and Parent Information Packs providing advice on safety planning, boundary setting and behaviour management
  • Respect Young People’s Programme which uses a ‘whole family approach’ to address adolescent to parent violence and abuse
  • Specialist Young Perpetrators Programme which uses a tailored 1 to 1 approach with older young people using abusive behaviours within intimate relationships with other young people
  • Onward referrals and/or liaison with other support services as appropriate.

Referrals can be made by police officers and other professionals working with young people and their families (with consent) as well as self/parent-referrals:

Dual and Multiple Needs Services

Women’s Centre, York

Find out more about the Women’s Centre

Provided by Changing Lives, any woman can access services, particularly those who may:

  • be involved with, or at risk of entering the criminal justice system
  • have multiple or unmet needs
  • be chronically excluded
  • be sex working
  • be at risk of or a victim of sexual exploitation

The service offers gender-specific, trauma informed support via brief intervention, 1 to1 key work or group work. Women can also drop into the centre simply to have a warm drink and to make use of the facilities which include a kitchen, shower and laundry.

The Women’s Centre provides a safe, homely, woman-only environment where a whole system of support can be offered across a range of needs to improve outcomes for women. The service accepts self-referrals and agency referrals. To refer or to find out further information contact Stephanie McCusker: Stephanie.McCusker@changing-lives.org.uk 

Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice brings those harmed by crime and those responsible for that harm into communication with each other. This enables everyone affected by the incident to play a part in repairing the damage and finding a positive way forward. Research shows that Restorative Justice reduces reoffending and helps to reduce harm in our communities.

The service is focused on the delivery of victim-led, face to face victim offender conferencing and indirect restorative justice where appropriate, giving any victim of crime in North Yorkshire the opportunity to meet with their offender, with the support of a Restorative Justice professional to enable cope and recovery after crime.

For more information contact Supporting Victims (details above) or Restorative Solutions by email: RJNorthYorkshire@restorativesolutions.org.uk or by phone: 01423 546175.

Other

Further details of all the specialist support services commissioned by the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, including interventions for offenders, can be found on our website: OPFCC Commissioned Services