Specialist Counselling & Therapy for Victims & Survivors of Sexual Violence & Abuse in Nottinghamshire

Sexual violence and abuse is a crime which can have a devastating impact on victims and survivors who require support to help them recover from the harm they experienced. The PCC for Nottinghamshire has been working with local authorities, clinical commissioning groups & NHSE England for several years to increase and improve the support available for victims and survivors.

Demand for sexual violence support has risen in recent years and there are currently long waiting lists for therapeutic support in Nottingham/Nottinghamshire. In recognition of the additional demand created by Nottinghamshire Police's Operation Equinox, and the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Nottinghamshire Hearings, the PCC has secured funding from NHS England's High Volume Fund to provide specialist sexual violence counselling and other psychotherapy for survivors who are on waiting lists for therapy following specialist sexual violence and abuse support.

The PCC has awarded a contract to deliver counselling and other psychotherapy for victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse. As a mandatory requirement, all therapeutic provision must be delivered by qualified therapists who are registered with a recognised UK psychotherapy accreditation body. The contract will run from January 2020 to March 2021. The provider may be asked to support children and young people as well as adults and must work closely with existing specialist sexual violence support services in Nottinghamshire. In addition, as this is one off funding, all survivors must have completed therapy by the end of March 2020 and be safely supported into other support services if required.