active listening exercises for sexual assault advocates

frustration with repeatedly having to give statements.

poor demeanour or attitude towards the individual by first responders.

Practitioners identified the importance of minimising personal biases and preconceptions, as these were considered a major barrier to the effective disclosure of information. Guideline committee members considered this to be an important factor in the fair and respectful treatment of an individual.įurther information about verbal and non-verbal communication can be found in the conflict management guidelines. This could include what at-risk individuals can expect to happen, what follow-up information they might receive and who else might have to be involved.

relevant facilities and support services are available for individuals who may require them – for example, interpretation and translation servicesĮnsure that actions and processes are properly explained.

they avoid jargon and don’t assume prior knowledge of the criminal justice system.

they use gender-inclusive language – for example, avoiding misgendering or dead naming (the use of the birth or other former name of a transgender or non-binary person without their consent).

they use the individual’s preferred terminology – for example, survivor.

The use of appropriate language is known to contribute to building rapport.

having awareness of body language and non-verbal cues (not just the individual’s but also their own)Īlthough building rapport has been shown to be important, there is little information in the research on what this means in practice, and techniques for building rapport vary considerably.

adapting the language to the person and situation.To improve communication, practitioners recommended: not recognising peculiarities in language or content.asking questions by rote or parroting back answers.taking everything at face value and not reading between the lines.demonstrating a genuine interest in themīarriers to effective communication included:.developing a dialogue and using language they understand.considering the impact of attending a police station and being sensitive to the situation.

offering independent advocacy, such as an independent domestic violence advocate (IDVA), independent sexual violence advocate (ISVA) or specialist service provider.offering alternatives, for example, a female or male officer.offering drinks, tissues, breaks and a seat.Investing time, providing space and building trust were considered vital to building good relationships. Practitioners highlighted the importance of creating a safe space and developing a relationship to encourage the sharing of information. Practical advice for developing relationships and rapport Numbers may not add up due to an overlap of studies across multiple themes. The 101 studies included in this guideline originate from the following thematic evidence summaries: interpersonal treatment (68 studies) bias and preconceptions (65 studies) fairness and process (53 studies) communication (44 studies) victim empowerment (22 studies). Practitioners identified communication as an important factor when developing a relationship with the victim and encouraging the disclosure of abuse or harm. Of these, 31% were based in the UK and 66% were based on interviews with victims of domestic abuse and serious sexual offences. Interpersonal treatment, specifically the importance of sensitivity in interactions and a procedurally just approach, was strongly supported by the evidence. This includes language, building rapport and asking questions. There is good evidence on the importance of effective communication in building a relationship with victims or vulnerable people to encourage the disclosure of abuse or harm.

Active listening exercises for sexual assault advocates