West Mercia OPCC Evaluation of the ISVA, CSE and EIAP Services

Task 

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has a specific commissioning responsibility for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. The PCC in West Mercia currently commissions Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA), Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Early Intervention and Prevention (EIAP) services to support those impacted by, or at risk of experiencing sexual assault and abuse.  

West Mercia Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) commissioned TONIC to independently evaluate the current ISVA, CSE and EIAP services against the original contract specifications and provide recommendations in relation to future commissioning. The aim of this evaluation was to explore or identify:  

• The effectiveness of the delivery model, including sub-contracting and governance arrangements  

• The budget, cost effectiveness, value for money, and added social value  

• The level and quality of support being provided to survivors  

• Service user satisfaction rates  

• The impact of the services on survivors and outcomes achieved  

• Any gaps in provision and suggest how these might be filled  

• The involvement of service users in the development and improvement of services  

• The views of agencies, stakeholders and partners who are involved throughout the journey of a service user.  

Our Approach 

TONIC used a mixed-methods approach; analysing quantitative service activity and outcome data shared with us by the OPCC and service provider and conducting in-depth qualitative interviews and focus groups with survivors, service provider staff and management, external professionals, and commissioners.   

Using both the quantitative and qualitative findings, TONIC conducted SWOT analyses, a technique used to determine and define strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This is a framework used for evaluation and to develop strategic planning, assessing internal and external factors, as well as current and future potential. The SWOT analyses were designed to facilitate a realistic, fact-based, data-driven look at the strengths and weaknesses of the current OPCC commissioned services in West Mercia.         

Outcome 

Following thematic analysis, the findings were triangulated and summarised into a comprehensive report containing an executive summary and displaying the SWOT analyses, along with detailed service specific opportunities for improvement. In addition, and through co-design workshops with West Mercia OPCC, TONIC collaboratively produced four further recommendations to be considered by the commissioners during the re-commissioning process and the future allocation of funding to ISVA, CSE and EIAP services within West Mercia.