Rape and Sexual Violence Strategic Governance Group Standards Developed by members of the West Midlands Rape and Sexual Violence Strategic Governance Group

Vision ‘’Our vision is to reduce and prevent all forms of sexual violence and abuse, and reduce the incidents of rape and sexual assault’’. Work will be done to ensure that West Midlands area offers multi-agency, holistic and seamless service to the victims of rape and sexual violence and abuse; to enhance service provided to victims through the criminal justice pathway, to provide therapeutic support to victims to help them rebuild their lives, and to hold offenders to account.

Definition ‘Sexual violence and or sexual abuse’ can be both defined as any behaviour perceived to be of sexual nature that take place without the consent or without understanding. It encompasses a broad range of activities, physical, visual and verbal, that are: of a sexual nature; takes place without consent or without understanding; are experienced, at the time or later, as a threat, invasion or assault and that take away the ability to control intimate contact’. Gender-heterosexual males-LGBT community.

Core Standards All relevant partner organisations across the West Midlands subscribe to the following standards in their individual and collective practice. This provides a basis for organisations to develop their professional practice, improve services, shape commissioning of future services and develop the right response. This highlights that how services are delivered is as important as what is delivered.

Service Standards aim to achieve a minimum level of service and consistency. A criminal justice response: protecting the safety of victims and children and controlling abusers. Protecting the safety and needs of adults and children. An informing and supportive response: providing women and child-centred advice/information, help lines, outreach, group work, early identification and signposting. A health and therapeutic response: dealing with

..crisis, short and long term physical and mental health consequences and counselling. An employer’s response: providing a safe and supportive working environment. A preventative response: public education campaigns, community engagement, educating children and young people, school and youth programmes.

Key Data for West Midlands 210 children/Young people have been SE or at risk of SE in the first 6 months of 2014. One in 11 of those were male, 68% were LAC, average age was 15 (West Midlands Police CSE Problem Profile , 2014). 32,289 children identified as at risk of suffering harm or abuse. 1 in 4 women experience DV, and only 1 in 4 report to the police (the crime in E and W survey). 24,00 adults have been sexually assaulted, and only 13% of victims reported to the police the crime in E and W survey). 40% of women with mental health problems report being a victim of rape or attempted rape in adulthood, and 10% being a victim of SA in the last year (Pettit el al , 2014) One hosp., in Birmingham UK., saw 349 cases of FGM in 2013 (freedom of info ,Heart of England NHS). CSA costs UK economy more than £3b a year, largely through productivity and healthcare costs.

More work, more understanding ! Trauma Informed Care,