Updated and expanded guidelines for sexual violence crisis support services

Te Ohaakii a Hine – National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together (TOAH-NNEST) has published updated guidelines for mainstream crisis support services responding to survivors of sexual violence.

Good Practice Responding to Sexual Violence Guidelines for ‘mainstream’ crisis support services for survivors - Round two (2016) updates the previous Good Practice Guidelines published in 2009.

The purpose of the revision, involving sector feedback and consultation along with the latest evidence, was designed to:

• review and update the original principles of good practice for provision of crisis support services to survivors of sexual violence
• update the research evidence for the principles
• provide additional guidelines specific to working with survivors from diverse communities.

The updated guidelines were written by lead researchers Julie Wharewera-Mika and Kathryn McPhillips, with input from an advisory group and community researchers.

Principles - The guidelines outline 15 principles and include practice examples for each one:

• Principle 1: welfare and well-being of the victim/survivor is paramount
• Principle 2: client-centred and empowering practice
• Principle 3: value based services
• Principle 4: client-centred and empowering practice
• Principle 5: culturally informed and resourced
• Principle 6: gender choice
• Principle 7: specialist sexual violence response
• Principle 8: quality
• Principle 9: accessible supports
• Principle 10: therapeutic environments
• Principle 11: independent services
• Principle 12: sustainable
• Principle 13: multiple supports within services
• Principle 14: working collaboratively both nationally and in our local communities
• Principle 15: communities working together to prevent and address sexual violence

Proposed critical service components - The guidelines outline 15 proposed critical components of services:

• Partnership with a kaupapa Maori service provider responding to sexual violence
• Capacity to provide inclusive services
• 24/7 telephone and internet communication service
• 24/7 Call-out service for advocacy and support 
• Emergency face to face sessions – day-time
• Follow up Service
• CaseTracker
• Court Services
• Information Bank
• Resource bank – acute practical need
• Social Work Support
• The above to be integrated with recovery and support services
• Other services as locally determined

Inclusive practice - These guidelines provide information and knowledge of appropriate and safe practices (for frontline staff and services) to improve the experiences of victims/survivors from the following communities and cultures: 

• Māori
• Pacific
• LGBTI+
• Men
• Muslim women
• People with disability
• Asian

Research and resources: The guidelines also include recent research reports and resources supporting work with survivors of sexual violence.

You can find the guidelines on an interactive website which includes video clips: http://toahnnestgoodpractice.org.

The guidelines can also be downloaded as a single file from the Community Research website.

The guidelines and individual reports are also available in the NZFVC library including the previous Good Practice Guidelines (2009).