CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS INDEPENDENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE ADVISOR (C&YP ISVA) SERVICE

What is a Children and Young Persons Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (C&YP ISVA)?

A C&YP ISVA is a person who is trained and experienced to look after your needs following an experience of rape or sexual assault.

They specialise in looking after young people, living on the Isle of Wight (under the age of 18), who have suffered any unwanted sexual experience, regardless of when the incident happened, if you have reported to the police, or other characteristics such as gender or sexuality. They are there to assist you in the weeks and months after you were raped or sexually assaulted. They provide emotional and practical support and liaise between the police, courts and other agencies.

A C&YP ISVA is there to help you decide what next steps are best for you. Find out more…..

A C&YP ISVA can give your parents information and relevant support. Find out more…..

Most importantly, the C&YP ISVA will constantly be looking after your wellbeing and those who care for you. They will be there for you with regular contact (telephone, text, face to face). They are there to keep supporting you for as long as you need it and will make sure they take the best actions based on your individual situation and needs.

How can an C&YP ISVA help you?

They will listen to what’s going on for you and clarify what your needs are. They will take time to speak with you, not judge you and will treat you with respect. They provide impartial information to you and help you make informed decisions about your next steps and about all the options available. They will be understanding of the effects that your assault will have had on you and will know how to support you sensitively.
They will help you draw up what they call a “support plan,” which is a detailed plan of how to best support you after the assault
They will help you to understand that what happened to you was not your fault and only the person to blame is the person who assaulted you.
They will make sure that you are no longer at risk of abuse and take action if they think you may still be at risk.
They offer emotional and practical support, advocacy, and assistance with appointments. This may include information regarding emergency contraception and access to the sexual health clinic or liaising with police, parents, education establishment or referrals to other agencies, counselling, for example.
They can talk to you about the criminal justice system. They can help you to understand some of the processes such as; reporting to the police, providing a statement, communicating with the police and help you during all aspects of a court trial. This can be very helpful for anyone who is thinking about reporting but unsure of the process. If you choose to report to the police, your C&YP ISVA can be there to support you through it. However, there is never any pressure or obligation to report to the police.
They will provide information about claiming compensation for the trauma you have suffered.
They are there to ensure your family/carers receive care, understanding, information and guidance.

It is important to remember that it wasn’t your fault. Sexual violence is a crime, no matter who commits it or where it happens.

It is important to remind yourself that you are not to blame. Nothing that you have done can make a person rape or sexually assault you. You are not responsible for someone else’s actions.

There is no right or wrong way to respond in situations of sexual assault. Common feelings after rape or sexual assault include self-blame, guilt, fear, anxiety, shame and anger. These are natural emotional responses and usually reduce gradually over time.

When your safety has been violated, it is important that you begin to feel safe again and able to make your own decisions. For example, it is your right to take the process at your own pace, stopping at any time you feel you need to.

What can you expect?

Appointments

You and your C&YP ISVA will agree how often you meet and contact each other.

Contact between sessions

Contact between sessions will be agreed by you and your C&YP ISVA, in your support plan.

Confidentiality

We offer confidential support. When you agree to the support, you will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement (this will be explained to you by your C&YP ISVA). Please note, if there is a concern that you or anyone else is at immediate risk of serious harm, we are obliged to share your details with other services or agencies (normally social care, police or General Practitioner) in order to maintain yours’s and the public’s safety. If we needed to do this we will endeavour to discuss this with you first to gain your permission and explain the process, but sometimes this is not always possible. If this is the case, we will inform you as soon as it is safe and practical to do so. Read more…..

The Children and Young Person’s ISVA team:

Here's Judi our Children and Young People's ISVA Judi – Children and Young Person’s ISVA.