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STAR PROJECT TERMS OF REFERENCE

The STAR Project is a jointly funded initiative between the West Yorkshire Police Authority and the four Health Authorities within West Yorkshire (Wakefield Health Authority, Leeds Health Authority, Bradford Health Authority and Calderdale/Kirklees Health Authority), aimed at improving the provision of services to victims of rape and serious sexual assault.

The overall purpose of the Project is to identify the needs of victims of rape and sexual assault and to co-ordinate the provision of specialist services to meet those needs.

The service is available to anyone, aged 14 and over, who has suffered a recent rape or serious sexual assault. The project is not designed to support young people or adults who were abused as children.

The service will provide immediate access to emotional and practical support, professional counselling and close liaison with the CPS to ensure that information regarding suspects, court cases etc. is passed on to the individual at the earliest possible opportunity. The provision of early counselling and support will form an element of a better co-ordinated service, with research indicating that in the immediate post-rape/serious sexual assault period, appropriate, sensitive and early counselling can help reduce the likelihood of long term physical and psychological effects.

Three distinguishing features of the Project are that we aim to support male as well as female clients, the offence does not have to be reported to the police in order to access the service, and the service is provided from a range of premises throughout West Yorkshire, making it easily accessible to all.
The terms of reference and principle tasks are:-

1.

Receive referrals from three main sources:
a.
 a) With the client's permission, from the Officer in the case, within 24 hours of the offence being reported to the Police.
b.
 From the client direct, who may not wish to report the matter to the Police.
c. With the client's permission, from others acting on their behalf (e.g. GP, family member, colleague, friend).
2. To arrange for an Initial Support Worker to provide contact in the home environment for a period of up to six weeks. These volunteers will provide clients and their families with whatever support, advice and information is required.
3. To organise early, effective counselling for the client, local to where she/he resides. Following an initial introductory meeting, six sessions of counselling would normally be offered, which may extend to ten in exceptional circumstances. The STAR Project will fund the full cost of the counselling.
4. To refer the client to their local Victim Support Scheme, who will provide information, advice and emotional support from specially trained volunteers based in Victim Support Schemes throughout West Yorkshire. These volunteers adopt a befriending role and provide long-term practical help and support.
5. To monitor the progress, or otherwise, of any criminal investigation that may be taking place, and to ensure the client is kept fully informed.
6. To provide access to STAR Support Groups, set up in local towns around West Yorkshire, to enable clients to meet together and offer mutual support.