Planning a social support service for victims of sexual assault

Abstract

This long essay is about the setting up of a service that would cater for the needs of victims of sexual assault. It is divided into four chapters and three appendices. The first chapter is an introduction and it gives an overview of the history and implications of sexual assault. This chapter takes into account both a foreign and a local perspective. Chapter two is aimed at providing the reader with a profile of the rape victim and another profile featuring the perpetrator. In this chapter, feelings associated with being sexually assaulted and sexually assaulting another person are explored. The next chapter, Chapter 3, provides the framework and the thinking behind a Rape Crisis Centre. This section deals with the action setting up and the running of such a service. Services delivered are discussed at length. Topics which have been analysed are, the setting up of a Rapeline, which would cater for the needs of persons who have been sexually assaulted, individual and group therapy for victims of sexual assault and counselling services for the significant others of victims of sexual assault. Chapter 4 sheds light on the role of the social worker in the Rape Crisis Centre. The role of the social worker has been described as being that of a case manager. Case management and how it operates is also discussed in this chapter. The appendices include discussions on working with the offender, considerations and proposal; a training programme for Rapeline Volunteers and a log frame. The log frame is a tool which has been used to facilitate thinking and planning.