Table 3 Overview of Theme 1 with representative quotes

Delivering support in an underfunded system

Limited funding for sexual violence support services results in a shortage of trained police officers, communication gaps, and increased workload for SARCs and ISVAs. Participants express frustration with compromised victim support, emphasizing the need for more nuanced, tailored mental health services beyond rigid toolkits.

‘There needs to be more community mental health on the NHS, there is a gap there as well. I think sexual trauma there really is not, there is a gap in those services. They are very stretched, and I understand that.’ (Sexual Trauma Counsellor)

‘There aren’t enough resources, not enough police officers, not enough ISVA’s, probably not enough staff in all these different sectors that are able to give victims or survivors the time that they deserve. As an ISVA our caseloads are very high at the moment, so we do not have the capacity to do the work that we would like to do. I’m sure it’s the same for the police as well. When someone first discloses a sexual crime, first responders are typically the neighbourhood policing teams [and] they’ve got very limited training with dealing with sexual violence […] that first contact when someone discloses is key - if you don’t get it right, whether it is the police officer, us [ISVAs], the SARC … whoever takes that first disclosure, if the language isn’t right, if the body language isn’t right … it can have a massive impact, from reporting through to aftercare.’ (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor)

‘So, I suppose what I find difficult is not having the time to be with every single one of my clients. Because I think if we had more time to do that then we would be able to certainly help with having a bigger impact and helping them to move forward. So, I think that’s maybe what I find more difficult, is not having enough time really, to do what I’d like to be able to do.’ (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor)

‘People are being encouraged by services to come forward and ask for help, but the structure isn’t there to give them the help they need and trauma therapy, one size doesn’t fit all, a cropped version of therapy doesn’t fit all. So, this is where in my opinion a lot of the improvements needs to be looked at.’ (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor)