The Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS) started on 1 April 2016 (Decision Reference 101-2015 refers) following a joint commissioning exercise with Durham Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).
Delivered by Safer Communities, the latest performance information from 1 April 2019 to 31 December 2019 shows that across Cleveland, 1,070 victims received a full victim’s needs assessment.
The assessment helps support workers understand victim’s support requirements following victimisation. Many more victims received telephone advice and support.
The current contractual arrangements with Safe in Tees Valley come to an end on 31 March 2020 and the Commissioners in both Cleveland and Durham intend to make an extension of twelve months.
The rationale for this decision is to:
- Retain a quality service and ensure continuity of service provision throughout the PCC election period, ensuring incoming Commissioner (post May 2020) is not committed to a long-term contractual arrangement for victim services.
- The risk of re-procuring this service for a short period of time may result in limited interest from the market.
Enable pilot work to take place to inform a future service model based on work completed over recent months in relation to the victim’s journey throughout the Criminal Justice System