Family Matters

The PCC has commissioned Family Matters to provide support to victims who have experienced rape or sexual violence.

The support is available to all victims across Kent and Medway - irrespective of whether they reported the crime to the police, when the crime took place, or the position of the case in the criminal justice system.

There are three elements to the service:

• An Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) provides independent support, advocacy, and impartial advice and information. This might include explaining available options, such as reporting to the police, accessing Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) services or providing information on other services such as health.
• A Child Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (CISVA) offers the same help as above, but to under-18s. They also work with the victim's family or carers to ensure they are able to help the victim cope and recover.
• Further bespoke support is provided collaboratively with the ISVA. This could include specialist counselling, crisis intervention, therapeutic services; or specialist support for male victims, LGBT victims, child victims, and those with learning disabilities or mental health needs.

This is a £450,000-a-year contract for three years, with the option to extend for up to three more years.

It is a requirement of the contract that the service evolves through the lifetime of the contract. This is to ensure it is able to respond effectively to new and emerging trends and working practices.

Case study

Kurt Trevillion from Family Matters explains how the PCC-funded ISVA service previously helped one terrified victim of gang-related sexual violence in Medway:
 
‘This particular victim - a teenage girl - had recently moved in to live with foster parents for her own safety, and to mitigate against reprisals from the gang members. She had learning difficulties and mental health issues, and felt extremely fearful of being located by the gang and having to face the repercussions.
 
‘Our ISVA met with her and her foster family to assess the situation. Initially she did not feel ready to make a report to police, but later she felt able and ready to proceed to trial and our ISVA was on hand to support them.’