CHISVA banner frog - Imara CIO - Helping children who have been abused in Nottingham

CHISVA Support

It was not your fault. You are not alone, we are here for you.

What is a CHISVA?

A CHISVA is a Children and Young People’s Independent Sexual Violence Adviser. CHISVAs provide help and support to children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. This might mean different things to different people. It could have happened recently or not-so-recently.

Who we work with

The Imara CHISVA Service works with children and young people, aged 0-18 across Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire. We also work with safe family members and carers.

What we do

CHISVA’s provide practical support, emotional support and advocacy, as well as support through a police investigation and any court processes.

We will work with you whatever you choose to do, whether you decide to pursue a Police investigation or not.

We are independent, which means we are separate to the Police, courts, school and social care. This is really important to us, and it means we can give you the best possible support and advice.

If you choose to have support from us, this may look like:

Talking together, carefully listening to you and looking at what areas of your life you need some help with (it might be health, school/college, sleep).
Advocacy, which is speaking to other people on your behalf to make sure your voice is heard.
Supporting you with any Police or court processes; empowering you to make decisions that are right for you and helping to understand what is happening.
Practical support, e.g. making referrals, supporting you at meetings, or at court.
Emotional support, listening, sharing ideas and exploring ways to help you cope.
Working with you to help you be safe and stay safe.
Support for your safe family members and carers.
We don’t talk about what happened, but we do talk to you about the impact, and look at how we can help you move forward.

CHISVA banner Waiting list - Imara CIO - Helping children who have been abused in Nottingham

What to expect

Once we receive your referral a member of the team will be in touch within three working days. Around a week after, you’ll be contacted by your allocated worker who will arrange a time and a place to meet that suits you – this could be on the phone, in person or online.

You might be feeling scared or worried. We are here to help you, answer any questions you may have, listen carefully to you, and support you.

Accreditation

Imara’s CHISVA Service has been independently accredited by Lime Culture since 2020 and retains the independent accreditation quality mark for achieving the Quality Standards for Independent Sexual Violence Adviser Services in 2024.

All our CHISVA’s are qualified or are working towards qualification on the Lime Culture ISVA Development Programme, and the additional Children and Young People’s elective. We are not counsellors or therapists, but we are specialists who are skilled at providing support to children and young people. We undertake regular training and are committed to ongoing professional development.

The CHISVA service is funded by the Nottinghamshire Office of the Police Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

CHISVA FAQ

Will I have to talk about what happened?

No, your CHISVA won’t ask you to talk about what happened.

How long will my CHISVA support me for?

This can vary depending on what you need. Often we are involved for the length of the criminal justice process, and we aim to end support around three months after a conclusion to this. Your CHISVA will talk to you about ending, and will make sure you have support in place from other services if you need it.

How often will my CHISVA see me?

CHISVA support works differently to therapy. Because we work with people for longer, we
tend to see you less frequently. You will know how to contact your CHISVA if you need to.

When and where will sessions take place?

We’ll always try our best to meet you at a time and a place that suits you.

Is what I’m feeling normal?

After experiencing a traumatic event, we can sometimes have different reactions within our bodies and minds. Some examples may be nightmares, sleeping and/or eating difficulties, feelings of guilt & self-blame, but there are many more that are normal to feel in this situation. Within our CHISVA service, we can work through these with you and refer on to other specialised services who may be able to help

How can I support someone else?

We understand that supporting someone you care about after sexual abuse or assault can be incredibly difficult, and you may also feel overwhelmed, angry, frustrated and helpless.

We have some resources on our website found here (to link to resources page for parents and
carers), or you can get help now.

What if I haven't told anyone?

We know that talking about what has happened can feel lots of things to different people; it might feel scary, it might feel like a relief, or it might feel like a big step that you’re not quite ready to take. If you feel able to, it’s often best to speak to a trusted and safe adult. Remember, you are not to blame, you haven’t done anything wrong, and it isn’t your fault.

How long will the police investigation take?

Each investigation is different, and takes a different length of time. We are here to support you through the process, however long it takes.

I don’t want to see the person who harmed me in court.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to see them in court. There are lots of things that can be put in place to support you and ensure you feel as comfortable as possible. Your CHISVA can talk to you about your options, and make sure you feel as comfortable as possible.