Sexual offences
An evaluation of the ‘STAR’ An evaluation of the ‘STAR’ young persons’ project
The STAR Project (Surviving Trauma After Rape) aimed to provide a specialist counselling and support service to young people who were recent survivors of rape and sexual assault aged from 14 to 16 years. This report focuses on the findings of a 2-year evaluation of this service and makes recommendations for future support services.
Title: Providing counselling, support and information to survivors of
rape: an evaluation of the ‘STAR’ young persons’ project
Author: Tina Skinner, Helen Taylor (University of Bath)
Series: Home Office on-line report 51/04
Date published: February 2005
Number of pages: 90
Availability: Download
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The objectives were to recruit and train initial support workers (ISWs) and counsellors, and offer a case tracking service to keep clients informed of their case. STAR also compiled a database detailing cases referred to the service and the resultant outcomes.
Key findings
Project implementation
The employment of staff, training and development of service procedures ran to timetable.
During the evaluation, 10 ISWs and 16 counsellors went through STAR's basic 2-day training to work with young people.
The overall response to the training was very positive, yet a number of gaps in knowledge were still identified.
Recruitment of counsellors was highly successful, but was unsuccessful for ISWs.
As a result of poor levels of recruitment, most young survivors did not have access to ISWs.
Impacts and needs
The impact of rape and sexual assault included: disbelief, isolation, anxiety, bad dreams, flashbacks, stress, low self-esteem, self-blame, fear of men, self-harm and problems at school.
Victims needed to be listened to and given information about their case. They also wanted to remain in control of the process.
Awareness of STAR services
73% of referrals came directly from the police.
Referrals from elsewhere were very low.
86% of survivors knew of one or more of STAR's services, but many were not aware of the whole range.
Case tracker: providing information about CJS processes and decisions
89% of survivors thought case tracker was a good idea.
Just under half of respondents wanted more information (outside of school hours).
There was a lack of clarity about responsibility for providing information between the police and STAR.
The Initial Support Worker (ISW) service
There were only 3 ISWs at the time of the evaluation (2 male), which was why only 15 survivors used this service.
The feedback about the service was very positive, but the sample was too small to make any conclusions.
The councelling service
Just under one-third of survivors had contact with a counsellor.
Most rated their counsellor very positively and said the service had helped them.
A positive counsellor/survivor relationship tended to be linked to a flexible approach where the survivor had control.
Choosing to opt out
Survivors that opted out did so because they were either unaware, were receiving support from elsewhere or thought they couldn't be helped.
Young people dropped out from the ISWs or counselling service before they completed the full 6 to 10 sessions mainly because 'it did not feel right' or it had not been their choice to access the service.
Additional areas for service development
Parents needed support for their own well-being, to maintain their ability to support their child, and for guidance.
The majority of survivors wanted to see a female worker.
Asians were under-represented in referrals and workers.
A substantial proportion of young people thought peer support would help reduce their isolation and ability to share information.
Recommendations
Training
Training courses could include the use of more specialists with particular skills in working with young women (e.g. self -harm).
'Refresher' training on internal policies and protocols may be beneficial.
Awareness of services
An advertisement and awareness campaign is needed, particularly in relation to Asian and other minority ethnic groups.
All leaflets, posters and the website should be available in several languages.
Survivors already referred to STAR could be sent mail-outs to inform them of all services on offer.
Inter-agency working needs to be improved.
Developing the STAR young persons' service
General recommendations
All female survivors should have contact with a female ISW.
Survivors that do not use all their ISW or counsellor sessions could be re-contacted after 1 and 6 months and reassured that they can resume support if they wish.
A peer support system could be developed through outings, facilitating a network, and/or an internet site.
The ISW service
A paid female ISW may reduce recruitment problems.
It may be appropriate to extend the number of sessions offered (currently 6).
Survivors should have the option of meeting in a location other than the young person's home. This may increase uptake.
The counselling service
It may be beneficial to increase the standard number of sessions (currently 6-10).
All counselling rooms must be private and comfortable.
The case tracker service
Information could be offered outside of school hours.
The service could become more proactive in providing information.
When a case is 'static' or taking a long time to be investigated, the case tracker could check that a police representative has met the survivor to explain why this has happened.
It needs to be clarified whether it is the police or STAR case trackers' responsibility to pass on information to the survivor.
Recommendations for those wishing to initiate a service for young survivors
Set realistic aims and objectives.
Do not under-cost funding applications.
Be aware that the actual cost of a volunteer service can be more than a service with paid staff.
Undertake detailed research into 'client' needs and existing service provision.
Consider how the geographical area might affect the service.
Explore the possibility of counselling, advocacy, peer and internet support within existing services such as schools, youth clubs and youth counseling services.
Check the availability of existing counsellors/volunteers.
Discuss protocols and procedures with relevant external organisations and internal workers.
Consider the time it takes to recruit and train counsellors and volunteers.
Provide detailed training drawing on a range of individuals who have worked with young women.
Provide independent monthly counselling supervision for all those working with survivors.
Ensure that workers have the opportunity to meet and share their fears and expertise.
Make sure the services are flexible to the needs of the survivor (e.g. short and long-term support, catering for differing preferred methods of communication).
Consider developing peer support through trips, group work, etc, but ensure guidelines, training and supervision are still in place.
Last update: 14 March 2005