SARSASSupport and informationSupport servicesSpecialist support work

Specialist support work

Our team of Specialist Support Workers can provide specialist support to people affected by rape and sexual abuse, aged 18+, across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Specialist support provides you with 1:1 support from one of our team who has specific skills and understanding of the impact of sexual abuse. Your specialist support worker will take time to understand what support would have the most positive impact on your life and design a programme to suit you. This may include but is not limited to:

Emotional support and information

techniques to cope with anxiety
techniques to cope with flashbacks, triggers and nightmares
self-care
information on trauma and its impact.

Practical support

supporting you to access housing
supporting you to access education
writing letters and advocacy
working with other support services.

You are welcome to share as much or as little about your experiences as you would like, however, specialist support is not a form of counselling or therapy. Your support will focus on practical solutions and strategies to help you to regain control over your life, build on your strengths, and be able to think positively about your future.

Your specialist support worker can support with you for up to 6 months. This is usually around 12 sessions. Sessions can be in-person, over Zoom, on the phone or a mixture.

For more information on our specialist support service, contact Bristol Office: 0117 929 9556, Taunton Office: 01823 324 944, email info@sarsas.org.uk or complete our online request for support form.

If you are a professional and a client you are working with would like a referral to this service, you can complete our online professional referral form. We will then contact your client directly to arrange an initial assessment.

We also provide specialist support for people with learning disabilities and/or Autism.

Frequently asked questions

Who can get specialist support with SARSAS?

As part of our trauma-informed approach to supporting people affected by sexual violence, we provide safe spaces for women, men, trans, non-binary and intersex people.

How can I get specialist support?

You can get in touch to request support using our online form. We will contact you to arrange an initial assessment appointment.
This is an opportunity for you to find out more about us and the services we offer. We will also find out a bit more about you. Together, we will decide what might be the right service for you to access.
You can also ask a professional (e.g a GP or support worker) to refer you to our service.

How long will I have to wait after the initial appointment until I start specialist support work?

We have waiting lists in most of our areas. We will offer you an initial appointment as soon as we can, but it is likely that you will have to wait at least 6-9 months. We will be able to give you an idea about likely waiting times at your Assessment. Other services including Helpline, Live Chat and E-support will be available to you while you are waiting. You may also be interested in some of our support groups.

Is the support provided in an accessible building?

We aim to provide support in accessible buildings wherever possible. We will check your access or other comfort needs when arranging an initial appointment in order to do all we can to meet them. Support can either be face-to-face, or remote (online or over the phone).

How many support sessions can I have?

SARSAS offers specialist support for up to 6 months, which is usually 12 sessions (once a fortnight) with your support worker.

How long are the sessions?

Sessions last 50 minutes to an hour. It is helpful to have them at the same time each fortnight, but we will work around your needs as best we can.

Will I see the same person each week?

Yes. In very rare circumstances, such as if your specialist support worker leaves SARSAS, or if you feel unable to work together for any reason, we will offer you another support worker and as much notice as possible.

When can I access specialist support work?

Our team work 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. Sessions will be offered within those times.

Do you have weekend or evening availability?

We do not offer weekend or evening availability. If you are unable to have a session between 9am-5pm Monday – Friday, please discuss with us and we will see if there is anything we can do to accommodate you.

I do not speak English. Can I still access specialist support work with SARSAS?

We have access to a telephone interpreting service to support you in your sessions.

Do you offer online, Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, or telephone support?

As well as face-to-face support, we can provide support online, via Microsoft Teams, or over the phone.

What if I have to miss a session?

Please let us know, with as much notice as possible, if you are going to miss a session (at least 24 hours). If we are able to offer an alternative time and date, we will but cannot guarantee this. If you miss a session with less than 24 hours notice, or do not turn up to a session, this will still be counted as a session. If you miss 3 appointments without notice your slot will need to be passed to the next person on the waiting list.

Will you tell anyone what I tell you?

What you share with SARSAS remains confidential; however, there are some exceptions. We may need to share information if you tell us that you or someone else, especially children, are at risk of harm, and certain other legal requirements. We can discuss this more with you in your initial appointment.

Can I talk to my specialist support worker about what happened to me?

Specialist support is different to counselling. We aim to give you a safe place to explore the impact of trauma on your life, providing you with tools and techniques to cope with this impact. You are welcome to talk to your support worker about what happened to you and they can provide emotional support. However, they are not trained counsellors so will not ask you questions about your experiences or work through memories of what happened to you.
If you prefer, you do not have to tell your support worker anything about your experiences.

The police are investigating the rape/sexual abuse. Can I still access specialist support work?

Yes. Our specialist support workers are trained to support you in a way that will not affect your upcoming court case. However, it does mean there may be some limitations to your support as you will not be able to discuss any details of the incident(s) during sessions, but can receive support which focusses on the impact on your day to day coping. We will talk to you more about this at the initial appointment, if you have a case that is being investigated.

What happens when the specialist support ends?

After a 1 year break, you can contact SARSAS to ask for a further assessment of your current needs. You will be able to use other services including the Helpline, Live Chat and E-support in the meantime, and you will be able to access group work.

How much do I have to pay for sessions?

Nothing. SARSAS support is free of charge. As a charity, we are always in need of funding and any donations are gratefully received, however there is no obligation to donate.

Useful resources

SARSAS self-help guide

Useful links

Free online course: Trauma and recovery: the SARSAS self-help guide

Safeguarding and privacy

Share this page

In this section

The latest from our news and blogs

Meet the Team: Specialist Support Work (SSW)

We caught up with Ellie and Flo, two of our Specialist Support Workers, to explore what a typical day looks like for them and why the emotional, practical, and advocacy support their team offers can be so beneficial to those who come to SARSAS.

Meet the Team: Learning Disabilities & Autism (LDA) specialist support

We sat down with Georgie, our Learning Disabilities and Autism (LDA) Art Therapist, and Molly, one of our LDA Specialist Support Workers, to find out more about what they get up to day-to-day, and why LDA expertise is so important for people that come to SARSAS.

For subject names please contact info@toucan-productions.co.uk or GSKIMPACTAwards@gsk.com

What is the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)?

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a UK government organisation that runs a compensation scheme for victims of violent crime in England, Scotland, and Wales.

More news and blogs