The Task

Lancashire OPCC commissioned TONIC to undertake a Victims’ Needs Assessment to inform the re-commissioning and future grant funding of victim services across the county. The aim was to gather the opinions, views and experiences of service users and professionals to identify the needs of local victims. Furthermore, TONIC were asked to review the existing support model, with a focus on demand, capacity and service remit, assessing the effectiveness of the current commissioned and grant funded services in equitably meeting the needs of victims and service users across Lancashire. 

TONIC’s Approach

TONIC researchers collected feedback via a range of research methods from just under 700 victims and professionals across Lancashire. The feedback received related to various crime types with a particular focus on domestic abuse and sexual violence and provided a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the complex support landscape and the wide-ranging impact of service support. 

TONIC researchers spent a total of 8 days undertaking in person site visits with the OPCC commissioned and grant funded services, engaging with participants face-to-face and conducting ethnographic observations of the day-to-day running of services.  

In addition, TONIC gathered qualitative data via: 

152 in-depth interviews and focus groups with:  

• 53 victims 

• 99 professionals 

544 online survey and paper feedback form responses including:  

• 276 victims and 56 respondents on behalf of someone affected by crime  

• 116 service provider staff from the OPCC commissioned and grant funded services  

• 96 external professionals (including – but not limited to – staff working for the OPCC, Police, Youth Offending Teams, Local Authorities, another support service, or healthcare professionals).  

Outcome

Following thematic analysis of the findings and quantitative service and police data analysis, TONIC produced a detailed report exploring the following areas: 

• Effectiveness of the current support model 

• Barriers to access and engagement 

• Awareness and promotion of services 

• Effectiveness of communication and partnership working 

• Service capacity and current demand 

As a result of the research findings and through co-design workshops with the OPCC, TONIC developed and recommended a new commissioned service support model along with a further five recommendations to be considered by both the OPCC and future commissioned or grant funded service providers.