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Decision details
Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advisor for Street Sex Workers
Decision Maker: Director: Communities & Public Health
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
Street sex workers are often reluctant to
present at services due to fear of judgement, disclosure of
personal information or/or repercussions from the criminal justice
system and are more likely to approach dedicated sex-work
projects.
Bristol City Council has funded a specialist IDSVA for street sex
workers for the past 8 months. The IDSVA provides intensive support
for these highly marginalised women who have experienced domestic
abuse and/or sexual violence. The IDSVA also supports women at the
Respite Rooms, a 10-bed facility offering immediate safe spaces to
women who have experienced domestic abuse and/or sexual violence
and are experiencing, or at risk of, street homelessness. In order
to support street sex workers in Bristol, it is important that
specialist support continues.
The OPCC fund a number of ISVAs who deliver a support plan of
practical and emotional support to those who have experienced
sexual violence according to the nationally recognised ISVA model.
We have decided to co-commission the Specialist IDSVA for Street
Sex Workers from April 2025 due to the following benefits being
identified:
•Allow the specialist IDSVA to work collaboratively within the
OPCC ISVA model for both resilience and support.
•Align contract management across services.
•Allow Bristol City Council a greater stake in the ISVA
operating model.
Bristol City Council and the OPCC are both committed to working
with in partnership with specialist organisations to meet the
diverse needs of victim/survivors particularly those who are
hardest to reach.
Regarding value for money, this role has the potential to reduce
the need for medical care/ admissions to hospital and can support
people get back into work, which has positive economic
implications. In the report ‘Saving lives, saving money:
MARACs and high risk domestic abuse’ (CAADA, 2010), it was
suggested that MARAC could save £6 for every £1 spent
annually (Link)– with an IDSVA referring into MARAC, the role
has the potential to be cost-effective.
Decision:
Agreement to continue to fund an Independent
Domestic and Sexual Violence Advisor (IDSVA) at One 25 (current
provider) to work with street sex workers at a cost of
£37,577 (£50,103 per annum) for 9 months - 1st July
2024 - 31st March 2025 (procuring with advice from BCC procurement
team)
Authorisation to join the Office of the Police and Crime
Commissioner (OPCC) from 1st April 2025 onwards as co-commissioners
for the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) Service (along
with NHS England ) investing £50,103 p.a. to fund specialist
Street Sex Worker Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advisor
(IDSVA) provision in Bristol as part of the ISVA Lot under a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for two years in the first
instance, subject to break clauses.
Alternative options considered:
•A Non-Specialist post: Street sex
workers are often reluctant to present at non-dedicated support
services, a specialist IDSVA is crucial to meet the needs of those
who are street sexing working and at risk of serious harm.
•Continuing to commission the role without the OPCC: The IDSVA
role currently funded by Bristol City Council operates outside of a
wider OPCC commissioned ISVA service, co-commissioning would avoid
this fragmented provision and allow for further
collaboration.
Publication date: 25/03/2024
Date of decision: 14/03/2024