Making a Referral

If you work with a man or boy (aged 13+) who has disclosed experiences of sexual abuse or rape, please talk with them about our services and consider making a referral. The initial contact will be to undertake an assessment and following on from the assessment we may decide that counselling is not appropriate at this time and we will make contact with the referrer to agree next steps.

Historically, male victims of sexual abuse or rape often kept their experiences of abuse or rape a secret. Whilst there is still some stigma around these experiences, things are changing. As society recognises the prevalence of the abuse of males, more men are feeling confident enough to come forward and speak out.

If someone tells you that they have been abused or experienced sexual violence it is important that you treat them with empathy, compassion and respect. Disclosure can take incredible courage. It’s important that men who disclose feel heard, believed and can talk without fear of being judged.

How to refer someone

Download and complete all information on the Referral Form and email contact@firststepleicester.org.uk.

If you would like to have an informal discussion about your client’s suitability for our service before making a referral please call 0116 254 8535 or 07581 568 14.

Please ensure that you have gained informed consent from your client before making a referral.

Unsuitable referral or signposting to First Step

First Step is a specialist service providing therapeutic support to male survivors of sexual abuse and rape. When referring, or signposting individuals to our service, it is important to be aware that the exploration of sexualised trauma, either historic or recent, can often be complex and layered, and as a result this can be very difficult and triggering for some people, and may provoke a greater level of mental and emotional instability, therefore all referrals received will be processed on an individual basis.

As such, it is important that before referring or signposting an individual, please take into account that without an established mental/emotional stability and support in place, counselling for sexualised trauma can pose a risk to survivors, and can be more harmful than good.

There are some circumstances in which First Step is unable to provide support because of the risks involved. First Step, as an organisation have a duty of care to all our clients and the need to have robust safeguard requirements is paramount.

Health, Social Care and Primary sector professionals often refer or signpost clients to First Step. We welcome such referrals and signposting as part of our mission to support male survivors of sexual violence and rape in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area, however, in recent years, as a small voluntary sector organisation, we have seen a dramatic increase in unsuitable referrals. These can be harmful to survivors and take up the limited resources that we have in providing our services to survivors that have the capacity and ability to engage.

Unsuitable referrals can create an expectation that cannot be met. A survivor may be in crisis, may be currently unstable through additional mental health challenges, or not ready to engage with counselling. This can result in significant distress for the survivor, together with a possible felt sense of failure, rejection or abandonment, if hopes have been raised by the referrer at the prospect of specialist trauma therapy that is then declined due to inappropriateness of the referral and the requirement and duty of care for First Step to uphold safe and ethical practice.

Our decision to accept a referral will also be guided by acknowledging our own limitations as a service and the resources we have available.

Below offers some guidance to referrals that would be inappropriate to First Step, at this time:

Homelessness-No fixed abode.
No registered GP/Doctors Surgery.
Currently in mental health crisis.
Has recently made an attempt to take their own life or is displaying clear mental/emotional dysregulation.
Diagnosed with severe mental health complexities including but not limited to Paranoid Schizophrenia, Psychosis etc, that is unsupported by primary mental health professionals or psychiatric intervention
Current substance/alcohol misuse to the extent that it will impact on their ability to engage therapeutically with our service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can refer a man/boy to First Step?
Do I need the consent of the person I'm referring?

Yes. Consent is a key part of the referral process. If you’re considering referring a man or boy to First Step’s services please talk with them about it before getting in touch. Our experience tells us that people get the most from our counselling services if they have made the decision to come for themselves – not to please another person. You can be a great ally by showing your client our website and information. Talk with them about why you think First Step might be a useful service and give them some space to think about it. If you’re not sure about the best way of doing this, please let us know. We’re happy to have an informal conversation with you if that would help.
How do I make a referral?

If you are an making a referral as a professional please complete all sections of the referral form with all relevant information completed and email to us at contact@firststepleicester.org.uk. We gather this information at the referral stage of our process to ensure we capture demographics , all contact details and the additional needs of the client.

Please be aware of trauma informed practices (re-traumatisation of the client) and ensure that intimate details of the abuse are not disclosed. We are happy to discuss the referral through phone or email before you make a referral. Please note that on receipt of the referral we may contact you to clarify or gain further information.

If you are a client or friend or family member you can make a referral by emailing us at contact@firststepleicester.org.uk or by calling us on 0116 254 8535 or 07581 568 14.

Please note that First Step is NOT a crisis service and whilst we do our best to respond promptly during office hours , there are other services better placed to provide a crisis response.
What do you do with referrals?

When we receive a referral we will text or call the potential client (or another named person in the referral – e.g. parent/guardian) to introduce ourselves and offer them an assessment. If the client has opted for a text, we will send a text that says we are a counselling organisation and ask them for a safe time to contact them. You can really help this process by letting the client know what to expect.

For more information on our assessment process, please see Counselling (13-18) or Counselling (18+).

Clients are welcome to come alone or bring someone with them for the assessment appointment, although during the assessment we may ask their support person to wait in reception. Some may choose to bring their support worker with them, especially if that is someone they have built up trust in. We are flexible. Our priority is the wellbeing of our clients, so we will do what we can to accommodate anything that will reduce his anxiety.

Whilst most assessments are in person, we can also offer an online assessment if needed.
Where is First Step?

First Step operates out of a city centre location, opposite Town Hall Square in Leicester. Our shop front location is discrete, safe, secure and welcoming. It has a reception area and purpose designed counselling rooms. If needed, we may also be able to offer appointments in one of our satellite locations or online.
Will you update our agency on our client's progress?

If you refer someone to First Step it is natural that you would want to know how the counselling is progressing. We take the privacy and confidentiality of our clients very seriously. Whilst we can acknowledge whether someone you have referred has attended an assessment, we cannot tell you details of their journey with us.

Find out More about First Step's Services

Making a Referral

How to refer someone

Unsuitable referral or signposting to First Step

Frequently Asked Questions

About First Step

Contact