1. Future Commissioning of Services for Victims
Market Engagement Event
Thursday 29th November 2018

2. Purpose of Today
We want to consult relevant Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and other agencies on how best to improve the current arrangements by building on what has worked and making changes to meet the needs of victims that are not being well met at present
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) took over the commissioning of support services for victims of crime from April 2015
Thames Valley PCC sought to engage the VCS as key partners from the outset
The first round of commissioned contracts is due to end in March 2020
What next?

3. The Challenge
Although only 20% of victims want support (Crime survey England and Wales), of those:-
Many victims have crime types or complex/multiple needs which do not fit the present arrangements and are not being well met, e.g. stalking/harassment, cyber-blackmail, ASB.
Many of the issues seen are compounded by mental health problems.
Even some domestic violence victims (e.g. inter-familial, historic), and some sexual violence victims (e.g. males) are hard to find services for despite the availability of specialist services in those fields.
Whole family support rarely available (e.g. aggravated burglaries),
Very young children are least served of all.

4. Learning from elsewhere
The value of the voluntary sector - brings independence and opportunities to increase the reach to people from diverse communities or presenting with differential support needs.
Good leadership and clear governance is needed for the range of services and provision to be actively coordinated if it is to meet victims’ needs.
People with complex needs want to relate to a key worker to get a supportive, coordinated response and help to navigate a complex system.
Co-location of staff with different professional skills is helpful in providing joined up coordinated responses to complex need

5. Victims Services Re-Design
Phase 1 (2017 – 18)
Creation of an internet-based victim’s portal and the Victim’s First brand.
Planning phase to co-locate ‘Victims First’ Hub with the Thames Valley Police (TVP) Witness Care Unit (WCU) on 1st April 2018.
Re-scoped existing specialist services and applied contract extensions for 1st April 2018 (RJ, ISVA, Young Victims).
Co-commissioned integrated Domestic Abuse Services with Local Authorities. Local Authorities fund ‘core’ services (refuge, IDVA, outreach); OPCC fund additional services (complex needs support, medium risk safety planning, BAMER outreach).
Commissioned new VF Emotional Support and Advocacy Service (VFESS) supporting victims with lower level needs, began 1st April 2018.
Commissioned Exploitation and Other Complex Needs Service – The Willow Project began 1st July 2018.

6. PHASE 2 (2018-19) Establish the Victims First Hub.
Development of ‘Victims First Connect’: a network of informed professionals and community ‘touchpoints’ where members of the public can access or receive information on support services, or receive support to access the Victim’s Hub.
Use of social media to increase awareness
Piggyback on other relevant community resilience projects (e.g. Adopt a Post Office, Safe Places schemes)
Expand Hate Crime 3rd Party Referral Centres
Coercive control campaign (NotLove)

7. Victims First Hub
For those who want support, the VFH meets the PCC’s statutory obligation to provide a police referral mechanism, but which is also easy to access by partner agencies, friends/families, and victims (through variety of methods)
conduct an initial needs assessment to identify vulnerability and support needs
provide short-term telephone support, crime prevention advice, to those who request it
liaise with and work in partnership with statutory agencies when required (including Witness Care, Safeguarding, and other CJ agencies)
Support access to most appropriate organisation(s) for longer term/more specialist support (PCC- funded and other services)

8. PHASE 3 (2019-20) Planning Phase
To provide specialist support to all who need it regardless of crime type
Provide support appropriate to the needs of an individual, or a couple or family
To meet the needs of vulnerable victims, and/or those who have developed more complex needs and/or have multiple support needs that require different interventions of more than one type
Provide a key worker or peer navigator who works alongside them to coordinate and sequence a care plan, and monitor progress
To provide appropriate support throughout and after CJ process, or when no CJ process taking place, for as long as it is required

9. Commissioning – Apr 2020
We need to go out to tender for a range of services by Summer 2019.
Our thinking is to set up three to four satellite hubs which could support victims currently supported by:
The Willow Project – Exploitation & Complex Needs
Independent Sexual Violence Advisory (ISVA) service
Restorative Justice provision
Potentially, some Domestic Violence services
Potentially, Counselling Services
Do we continue to maintain services for young victims, and lower level support as separate contracts but aligned with the Hubs?

10. Satellite ‘Hubs’: How might they look?
Three or four local collaborations or co-located multi-disciplinary teams (‘satellite hubs’)
A lead manager/senior practitioner to co-ordinate the hub/team and multi-agency working
Local key workers from range of agency backgrounds/skills (secondment/part-time etc)
Flexibility in application of key worker skills to different modalities
Potential to draw on other workers or services with complementary skills as required outside of PCC funded services

11. Person is a victim of crime
80% do not want or need additional support
Illustrative example
Person is a victim of crime
Case resolved if no other problems or issues
Half want information and or practical help
Quarter want someone to talk to – moral support
Quarter want safety/protection from further victimhood
Victims First Hub
Victims First Hub and/or referral
Victims First Hub and police/other agencies
Victim identifies complex and multiple needs
These may be triggered by the crime or may be pre-existing and exacerbated by the crime
Most needs met through referral to existing specialist agency
Approximately 20% needs not met and referred to Key Worker in Satellite Hub 
20% want or need additional support
May be co- located
Assessment by key worker located in Satellite Hub
Action plan to meet needs drawing on relevant skills of range of professionals
Key worker manages the case and ensures needs are met
Coordinator connects services and professionals
Specialist support/ service

12. Questions
Is there a role for a lead-partner to run the satellite hubs collectively, or for a lead-partner to run each satellite hub?
Is there a role for a hub manager/senior practitioner to manage and co-ordinate the case load in each Hub/multi-disciplinary team?
Where is the best place to locate key workers – e.g. co-located in the satellite hubs, or placed in existing services (co-ordinated through the satellite hub)?
How will the satellite hubs connect to other relevant agencies and wider services?
Which victims services should be included within the Hubs – e.g. all services, services dealing with complex cases only?

13. Questions (cont’d)
How should the contractual arrangements be set out to deliver the service?
A framework agreement of agencies to subcontract?
Key workers/navigators (full or part time) seconded to the lead agency?
Further support workers on secondment, contracted hours, or volunteer capacity from agencies?

14. Commissioning

15. Next Steps January to March – feedback and development of the model
April to June – preparations for tender of services
Summer – OPCC go out to tender for services
Autumn – Award contract
April 2020 – new services commence

16. Thank you www.victims-first.org.uk