Page 7 - SafeLinkEvaluation

The LD ISVA service was launched in 2017 with the aim of providing specialist support to enable survivors to
- Tell their story in the way best for them
- Have help with benefits
- Have help with housing
- Have help with reporting to the police
if they wish
- Learn about healthy relationships
- Have help to start putting their life back together
- To access specialist support
The ISVA role also had an educational element in the wider care community –sharing information and resources on how best to support survivors of sexual violence with LD.
Below is a summary of a typical day for the ISVA
A day in the life of an ISVA
08.30: Started in office. sent a referral and safeguarding update from previous day’s appointments. Then
head off to my first appointment.
09.30: Picked up client with mild learning disability, psychosis, and complex PTSD from home and drove to police interview suite for a familiarisation visit and intermediary assessment. Reminded her of what would happen; checked she was happy to go ahead; looked at ‘who’s who’ booklet that her Speech and Language Therapist compiled to remind her of who we were meeting today. Checked understanding and then headed to appointment. Client hadn’t slept well due to nightmares and flashbacks, so we agreed
on a safe word for if she needed to suddenly leave. Had a look around, and client sat in interviewee seat to see how it felt. Showed her the building so she could get her bearings. Then met with intermediary. Client suddenly became very anxious, so I requested a break and went outside with her. Reminded her who was who and why we were there. Did some grounding exercises and then headed back inside. Intermediary then did an assessment. Afterwards
I dropped her off at her local LD support service where I checked she would have access to support for rest of day.
11.30: Visited another client with severe LD and autism at her activities group. Wanted to keep appointment
5 | Safe Link