The team

Crisis Workers

Crisis workers are there to support you through a forensic medical examination, if this is what you require, within 7 days following rape or sexual assault. They will help you to make sure you understand the process whilst also taking into account how you are coping and what support you need after the examination. Crisis workers are trained to offer you emotional and practical support throughout and you are their priority.

Our crisis workers are also on the end of the phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to give you any advice or information you need about the support at Spring Lodge or if you need other specialist support, they will be able to signpost you to other agencies.

Daytime Support Workers

A daytime ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Adviser) Support worker can be reached between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday in lieu of an ISVA. They can offer advice and information to anyone looking at their options and needing to know what they can do following rape or sexual assault.

For example you may wish to not report these crimes but instead give anonymous intelligence to the police. You may just need help accessing sexual health or counselling in Lincolnshire and we can help you with this.

Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)

Our independent sexual violence advisors (ISVA) are highly skilled and trained to an accredited standard. They work with survivors of:

• rape
• sexual assault
• sexual abuse

whether you wish to go legal or not.

They are independent of the criminal justice system and can therefore give accurate and impartial advice. They support everyone in a non judgemental way and will work with you to assess your needs. Meeting or talking over the phone with an ISVA may help you to be heard and understand more about what options are avaialble to you. The service is free and open to anyone over the age of 18.

The ISVA can:

• Meet with you whether you decide to report to the police or not.
• Support you if you decide to report a rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse to the police, whether it happened recently or in the past.
• Discuss the criminal and civil options with you, including giving any intelligence to the police annonymously.
• Support you further in a police investigation you may already be involved in.
• Help you arrange to attend a sexual health clinic to be screened for sexually transmitted infections or to get contraception.
• Provide referrals or signposting to other specialist support services you may benefit from.
• Help with any safety planning or protection you may need for you or others, including children.
• Assist in other matters of concern such as housing, benefits etc.

The ISVA will:

• Listen to what YOU want and provide pratical and emotional support.
• Help you develop a support plan to address your risks and needs.
• Work to find the best solution for you.
• Support you in making your own choices
• Explain things to you.
• Help you to ask for yourself.
• Treat you fairly irrespective of:
  • age
  • gender
  • race
  • disability
  • religion and belief
  • sexual orientation
  • gender reassignment.