The Survivors Gateway comprises of the main sexual violence services in London including the four Rape Crisis Centres, SurvivorsUK, Galop, Respond, and The Havens. This partnership project has delivered a pan-London triage service for sexual violence services called ‘The Gateway’ (run by the Women and Girls Network) and Independent Sexual Violence Advocates and Caseworkers based in individual agencies.
This combined expertise has propelled the partnership to develop and launch a new Advanced ISVA Training Program, to enhance practitioner knowledge and skills and continued professional development of ISVAs and other sexual violence advocates across London. The course is intended to offer a unique exploration of key aspects and issues that affect sexual violence advocacy work. Fundamentally it explores the role of sexual violence advocacy from an Intersectional, Trauma Informed and Social Justice oriented lens, to understand the best outcomes for survivors, on a personal level, as well as how to initiate systemic change within systems that prevent survivors from accessing justice, healing, and recovery. It comprises of theoretical teachings on a complex range of issues that are being navigated by Survivors, and crucially how this applies within practice-based setting. Participants will be encouraged to share their own personal experience as practicing advocates to explore the potential of new emerging and co-created solutions to current practice challenges.
For more details please contact [email protected]
What you will learn:
1. Increase their understanding on what it means to take a relational and holistic approach to ISVA work.
2. Increase their knowledge of interventions, models, and theory on trauma and how to apply these within an advocacy role.
3. Be able to apply an intersectional lens within a sexual violence advocacy role.
4. Have an increased understanding of more traditional models of mental health and diagnosis, its critique, and alternative applied models (e.g., Power Threat, meaning Framework) for working with
sexual violence survivors.
5. Increase their knowledge of theoretical and clinical presentations for those who are multiply marginalised and work to towards promoting recovery.
6. Deepen their knowledge of suicidal behaviour, ideation, and the management within advocacy.
7. Increase their understanding of the different models of Justice available for Sexual Violence Survivors.
8. Explore the importance for practitioners to develop a strong practice for Worker, Ethics, Well-Being, and Justice.
Please note this course is in the process of becoming accredited