Agenda item

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Communities which  presentation which informed the Members of the advice, support and counselling services offered through RASASC for the benefit of men, women and young people affected by any form of sexual violence.

The Board was advised that The Safe Place Project had successfully set up a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.  SARC’s were a national initiative and care for people who had suffered rape or serious sexual assault.  The crisis service went live on 1 April 2011 and was located at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester and was provided by Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.  

The Board was also advised that the aftercare service was provided by the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre. The Pan-Cheshire aftercare service was also funded 50% by the local authorities and went live on 1 October 2010 covering Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.   

It was reported that the SARC was a dedicated facility staffed by specialist medical personnel and experienced support staff who provided crisis and aftercare services to anyone who had been raped or experienced serious sexual abuse now or in the past. 

The SARC provided a comprehensive and co-ordinated forensic and counselling service to men, women and children.

          The service included the following:-

·       Immediate crisis support;

·       A forensic medical examination;

·       Emergency contraception and pregnancy testing;

·       Information relating to infection and sexually transmitted diseases;

·       Support through the criminal Justice system;

·       One to one counselling; and

·       A 24 hour advice and information line.

RASASC was the aftercare service offered to those aged 13 plus in Halton who had experienced sexual violence. RASASC also accepted self-referrals and referrals from other agencies.

It was also reported that during the period 1^st April 2012 – 28^th September 2012 Halton RASASC had received 95 new referrals, with 15 of those under the age of 17.

All SARC clients had been contacted within 24 hours of referral and all other clients had been contacted within 72 hours of the referral.  Where phone contact could not be made, a letter had been sent to the client therefore the longest wait time for contact had been between 3-5 days. 

In addition, it was reported that 74 initial meetings had been arranged.  Fourteen of these meetings had been cancelled by clients and rebooked with a DNA figure of 15. It was also reported that ISVA hours for this quarter had 390; counselling hours were 353.

The Board also received a presentation from Helen Wardman and Julie Evans, Rape and Sexual Assault Support Centre (RASASC) on the services they provide.  A summary of the services that were provided was circulated at the meeting.

The Board noted that the staff information line was only open Monday – Friday 9.00 am – 4.30 pm. The Board also noted that the information given ensured that prosecution cases were not compromised.  It was also reported that there was a 24 hour line available for people who had been recently raped.

The Board noted that the service was widely advertised in numerous ways such as in GP surgeries, yellow pages and leaflet drops. The Board requested that the information leaflet be distributed to all Members of the Board for information.

RESOLVED: That

(1)        The report and comments raised be noted;

(2)        The presentation be received; and

(3)        Ms Helen Wardman and Julie Evans be thanked for their informative presentation.