Before 2016, victim support services, excluding domestic abuse and sexual abuse, were nationally commissioned.
Services were delivered by the national charity Victim Support with automatic referrals for support for victims of specific crime types.
In 2016, the Ministry of Justice devolved funding to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) so they can directly commission local victim support services.
In Cleveland, the OPCC conducted a procurement exercise. The tender was awarded to a local VCSE organisation, Safer Communities, to deliver the Victim Care and Advice Service.
In June 2021 the OPCC commissioned the Centre for Public Innovation (CPI) to undertake a review of the VCAS service. The review also included a comprehensive victim needs’ assessment to inform a re-commissioning exercise.
As detailed in DRF 2022-7485, a procurement exercise took place in October 2021. This resulted in Safer Communities being awarded the tender for the altered service specification.
Contractual arrangements ran from April 2022 to March 2025 with an option to extend of one year plus one year.
As per the service specification, the commissioned service is:
- A stand alone service independent of the police
- Free of charge
- Open to all victims of crime and antisocial behaviour living in Cleveland, regardless of whether they have reported to the police
- Easily accessible through a freephone number, email address and digital platform
- Equipped to provide one-to-one support during office hours as a minimum, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. There should be flexibility outside of these hours based on victims’ needs and circumstances (eg, victim availability)
- Confidential (unless there is a serious safeguarding concern)
- Non discriminatory and inclusive (including being available to all regardless of residence status, nationality or citizenship)
- Able to provide support, which is accessible to victims with disabilities and to victims in their first language via access to translating and interpreting services.
- Delivered in a way – and through a communication channel – which meets the needs of each individual victim
- Able to provide timely and widespread support in the event of a major crime incident
- Available before, during and, for an appropriate time, after any investigation or criminal proceedings
- Widely publicised in a variety of media and locations, taking into account the needs of those with protected characteristics
- Delivered in a way that continually seeks efficiency and best value for money
- During 2024, the OPCC undertook a review of the current service in order to provide options in relation to future commissioning arrangements.
- The review concluded that the re-commissioned VCAS service had largely managed to deliver on areas of increased focus required from the OPCC.
- The current service is flexible in its approach to delivering support for victims whilst
retaining high satisfaction rates with those supported. - It was therefore recommended that
current contract arrangements are extended by a period of one year
During 2024, the OPCC undertook a review of the current service in order to provide options in relation to future commissioning arrangements.
The review concluded that the re-commissioned VCAS service had largely managed to deliver on the areas of increased focus required by the OPCC.
The current service is flexible in its approach to delivering support for victims while
retaining high satisfaction rates with those supported.
It was, therefore, recommended that current contract arrangements are extended by a period of one year.
The OPCC has agreed to extend VCAS contractual arrangements for a period of one
year to March 2026.
There will be a review in 2025 to provide options in relation to commissioning arrangements.
Decision 2024/25 – 010: Extension to VCAS funding contract (application, 837kB)