Level 3 Certificate "In the mind of the victim/survivor"

Do you work with victims/survivors of sexual violence/abuse? Might you, but you do not realise. 1-4 women and 1-20 men have gone through a rape or sexual assault as an adult. 1-6 children have gone through some form of sexual abuse. would you know how to respond if someone disclosed sexual abuse to you? This course will support you in identify the appropriate verbal and non-verbal approaches you should adopt when someone tells you what has happened to them. You would need to commit to a 6-month course, meeting once a month for 4 months, and two months to complete an assignment.

The following dates are when we have the teams sessions:

October 7th Session one

October 28th Session two

November 18th Session three

December 3rd Session four

The evidence we collect is as follows,

One written assignment,

Observations reports

One to one professional discussion will take place, over teams.

Read some of our feedback, to understand the importance of this course:

1) As a senior leader in education with safeguarding responsibilities, I was aware of the growing concerns around sexual violence and the impact it has on our students. Upskilling my safeguarding team to better understand and respond to these sensitive issues is essential, and I can wholeheartedly recommend the "In the Mind of Victim/Survivor" course to anyone in a similar role.

This course is both thought-provoking and challenging. What sets it apart is its unique approach: it doesn’t just teach theory or give generic responses to handling cases—it places you in the shoes of a victim/survivor. The assignments, written from a first-person perspective, pushed me to reflect deeply on the emotional, psychological, and practical implications of sexual violence. It was a powerful way to see the world through the eyes of those who have experienced trauma, creating a profound shift in how we think, react, and support.

Not only does it give a new level of empathy, but it also equips safeguarding leaders with invaluable insights and skills to ensure they train their teams to handle cases with greater understanding and compassion. If you are looking to deepen your team's knowledge and improve your safeguarding practices in the face of sexual violence, I highly recommend this course.

It will challenge your thinking, expand your approach, and ultimately help you provide better care for those who need it most.

2) I feel that the aims/objectives of the axis course has been fully met. I understand now that language both with words and actions is essential to communicating with a victim and their perceptions on how much trust they can put in you. Putting myself in the mind of the victim has been an eye opener, in that I have been able to consider the various factors external and internal that can impact a victim of trauma and how the process information. It is a different perspective for me to consider in my journey as a RASSO prosecutor. I have found the course helpful.