Victims of crime are being asked for their experiences to help shape how support services are delivered in future.
Warwickshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe wants to gain the lived experience of service users to ensure that as new services are developed, they continue to deliver high quality support and meet the needs of victims.
He currently commissions a range of services designed to help victims cope and recover with the effects of crime, as well as drug and alcohol misuse programmes which seek to help people break their cycle of addiction, as well as services for those who have been sexually abused or are suffering from exploitation.
As part of the recommissioning process, a comprehensive needs assessment survey is being carried out to give service users the chance to shape the support that is available in future, building on current good practice and ensuring that their needs are considered when commissioning in future.
An anonymous online survey is being undertaken on the Commissioner’s behalf by Tonic, a public consultation and research agency, who are also conducting confidential interviews with service users, service providers and other stakeholders across the following areas:
- General victim recovery services
- Vulnerability-related specialist support services for victims of:
- Sexual Abuse and Violence
- Child Exploitation
- Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
- Criminal Justice-related drug and alcohol abuse services (adults and children)
- Services for victims from minoritised ethnic backgrounds
- Services to refugees and others who may have an uncertain immigration status.
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: “It’s important that the lived experience of victims helps to shape the future of the services I commission, so I’m really keen that as many people as possible take the online survey or volunteer to take part in one of the confidential interviews being run by Tonic.
“The information we gain about what works well, what can be improved and any gaps in provision will help me the next time services are commissioned and ensure that they continue to provide a high quality service which is accessible to all those that need it.
“The surveys are available online and can be completed completely anonymously – we want to hear people’s experiences and feedback rather than information about who they are. The survey will be available online until January, so please do take a little time to tell us your experiences and your expectations of what these support services should deliver.”
The online survey takes no more than 10 minutes and can be taken at: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/warks.
Anyone who would prefer to take part in one of the confidential interviews can email [email protected]. Those selected will receive a £20 Amazon voucher.
Both surveys will end on Monday 10 January 2022.
