Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 38
38
Accepted
Paragraph: 127
Co-design ISVA/IDVA guidance with experts, ensuring independence and unrestricted access for victims
Recommendation
Guidance on appropriate training and qualifications for the independent advisors must be co-designed with the expert services already in the sector who have established and grown those roles and should be drafted in such a way that does not discredit the specialism of other advocacy models or those specialising in particular areas, where training and provision may differ to reflect the diverse needs of their clients. We further recommend that the guidance stipulates that ISVAs and IDVAs must be independent from the police and that access to their services is not restricted to people engaged in the criminal justice system.
Government Response Summary
The government agreed to co-design statutory guidance with support sector experts and has already begun this engagement. They also committed to working with other departments to consider how the independence of ISVA and IDVA roles might be reflected in guidance, noting their support for victims regardless of criminal justice system engagement is already established.
Paragraph Reference:
127
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
64. We agree with the Committee’s recommendation to co-design statutory guidance with support sector experts. The MoJ has already begun to engage with relevant stakeholders and will continue to do so to ensure that the guidance does not inadvertently disrupt or discredit existing specialisms and that it sufficiently caters for the diverse needs of victims. 65. The principle that ISVAs and IDVAs should be able to support victims whether or not they have chosen to engage with the criminal justice system is well established and reflected in the Victims’ Code. The MoJ will work with other departments and bodies who commission ISVAs and IDVAs to further consider the independence of these roles and how this might be reflected in guidance.