Children and Young People’s Service Executive
3
10th June 2011
Update on Response to Sexual Violence
1.
Purpose
1
The purpose of this report is to:

Provide the Executive with an update on progress to developing the Response to
Sexual Violence.
2.
Background
2.
The National Support Team (NST) for Response to Sexual Violence was set up in
2008/09. The remit of the NST included visiting local area partnerships that had
recently developed a Sexual Assault Referral Centre to ensure that adequate support
was provided during the early stages to comply with the National Service Guidelines
for Developing Sexual Assault Referral Centres (2005).
3.
The National Support Team for the Response to Sexual Violence visited Leicestershire
in October 2009. Following this visit a raft of recommendations across strategic and
operational issues were made. The three main strategic recommendations were:

The NST recommended that an Executive Board be established as a priority,
ensuring that the Strategic Partnership Boards are directly accountable and
report to them;

The recommended Executive Board and the Strategic Partnership Board
could consider appointing a (time-limited) designated Project Manager to coordinate the recommendations and to ensure that a future SARC model for
Leicestershire is developed and sustained in line with the Revised National
Guidance (2009);

Existing sexual assault services are reviewed and developed to meet
minimum requirements for investigation, forensics, medical, child protection,
prosecution and victim care.
3.
Update
4.
The NST revisited Leicestershire in March 2011 (via a teleconference). Progress
towards the recommendations of the NST visit are:
Establishment of an Executive Board
5.
An Executive Group has recently been established. It has a remit to oversee the
development and delivery of a SARC network to provide the women, men, girls and
boys of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland with equality of access to the
appropriate, quality assured service they may require in the event of a serious sexual
assault, provided by a stable, robust LLR partnership. Essentially, it should provide the
strategic direction for the response to sexual violence in Leicestershire, setting the
agenda for the Serious Sexual Offences Group. The objectives of the group are:
6.

Coordinating the activities required to deliver the SARC in accordance with
NST criteria

Monitor progress of the programme plan

Exchange national, regional and local information, share training opportunities
and good practice

Recommend actions for inclusion into relevant strategy across LLR, raising
the profile of the SARC network
Membership of the group is drawn from LLR wide partners involved in the delivery of
SARC activities. Current representation includes:





Police
NHS
Local Authorities
Third Sector
Public Health
Appointment of time limited project manager
7.
The Response to Sexual Violence project manager came into post in April 2011 (6
month post). A pre-teleconference stock-take has shown that progress towards the
detailed recommendations of the original report remains variable. The stock-take
outlined the key areas the project manager must tackle in order to fulfil the commitment
the NHS must make within the NHS Operating Framework 2011/12:






8.
SARC Stakeholder Analysis & Engagement
SARC Funding Analysis
SARC Commissioning
SARC Pathway(s)
SARC Transformation Plan
SARC Development Transition Plan (from 1st Sept 2011)
A stakeholder workshop has been organised for July with a full Needs Assessment in
relation to sexual violence underway for completion by end of July 2011. Funding has
been secured from NHS LCR and NHS LC to develop the NHS services that form part
of the SARC ‘offer’, with an intention to develop clear pathway and referral criteria.
Additionally robust commissioning arrangements will be put in place.
NST feedback
9.
NST Feedback was positive. There was recognition that an Executive Board has
recently been established, that a Project Manager had been appointed and was
coming into post and that the Police had done a great deal of work to ensure that their
service was up to standard.
4.
Recommendations
10.
That the Executive :

5.
Note progress on implementing the recommendations of the NST for the
Response to Sexual Violence
Officer to contact
Mike Sandys, Consultant in Public Health, 0116 30 54239
Mike Sandys
June 2011