The Police and Crime Commissioner wishes to commission services to support victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse, including sexual exploitation, to help them to cope with the aftermath of their assault(s) and reduce the long-term impact. Services will be for children, young people and adults, both for those who have reported to the police and those who have not. These services will be available county-wide, year round and will be delivered locally and as close to the home of the Service User as possible. The Contractor will ensure that the Service User receives the most appropriate care to meet their assessed needs and that the services are provided in a sensitive, confidential and pro-active manner.

Development of relationships with other relevant support, health, social care and criminal justice agencies will be a core part of the Contract and the Contractor will be responsible for working with those agencies to develop referral pathways and procedures. These services form part of the wider development of an Integrated Sexual Assault Referral Service for Cumbria, involving the Police and Crime Commissioner, Cumbria Constabulary, NHS England, NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group and Local Authorities, working with health, social care and Third Sector agencies. This includes developing a Sexual Assault Referral Centre for the county.