Sexual Violence SIG

COVID-19: Important Information

Immediate safety planning for survivors of domestic abuse: During self isolation and extended lockdowns, specialist services are already identifying significantly increased risks for survivors of Domestic Abuse, particularly when they live with the perpetrator.
This advice has been put together to assist supporting staff and patient survivors in their immediate safety planning. It also advises staff on key considerations when conducting remote enquiry over the telephone, which will become more common with social distancing - DOWNLOAD HERE

To access all other BASHH COVID-19 resources please visit the COVID-19 page: https://bashh.org/covid-19

SV Committee Members 2021

Chair
Deborah Wardle
Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine
Lead Clinical for Archway, Sexual Assault and Referral Centre
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
deborah.wardle@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Secretary & Nurse Representative
Lisa Walton
Specialist Nurse
Derbyshire Community Healthcare Services Integrated Sexual Health

FFLM Representative
Michelle Carroll
Senior Forensic Physician
St Mary’s SARC & Clinical Lead SAFE Place Merseyside

Other SV SIG Members�

Amy Bennett
Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine and HIV
Central North West London NHS Trust

Daniela Brawley
Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV
Aberdeen Health Village, NHS Grampian

Rachel Caswell
Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV
University Hospitals Birmingham

Charlotte Cohen
Consultant GU/HIV
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Katherine Coyne
Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV
Homerton University Hospital

Fionnuala Finnerty
HIV and Sexual Health SpR,
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust

Ali Mears
Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine and HIV
St Marys Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Sarah Mensforth
Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine and HIV
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Rachel Sacks
Speciality Dr in GU/HIV
St. Mary's Hospital Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London

Responding to Domestic Abuse in Sexual Health Settings - February 2016

Patients experiencing domestic abuse (DA) commonly present in sexual health services and NICE* recommends routine enquiry (i.e. asking all patients about the experience of DA, regardless of any visible signs of abuse) to identify DA within these services.

Alternative approaches include case-based enquiry (i.e. asking all patients with risk indicators e.g. un-explained injuries, depression) or targeted enquiry (i.e. asking specific patient cohorts e.g. under 18s, commercial sex workers).

Whatever identification approach is used, it is crucial that enquiry and management of a disclosure is carried out safely. This necessitates departmental guidelines, a DA proforma, management flow chart with clear referral pathways to relevant services and role-appropriate initial DA training for staff with training updates and ongoing support and supervision.

The BASHH Sexual Violence group has produced ‘Responding to Domestic Abuse in Sexual Health Settings’ to support sexual health services who want to introduce DA enquiry.

*Domestic violence and abuse: multi-agency working. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2014

Completed Projects

Responding to Domestic Abuse in Sexual Health Settings February 2016
National survey of GUM/HIV provision of services for complainants of sexual violence
National Survey of GUM/HIV specialist trainees' experience and training needs in managing patients who have experienced sexual violence
Sexual Violence Training Day, BASHH Sexual Violence Group, Royal Society of Medicine, London. June 2013
Hot Topics in Safeguarding Adults and Children in Sexual Health & HIV, BASHH ASIG and Sexual Violence Group Training Day, Royal Society of Medicine, London. September 2014

Current Projects

BASHH guidelines: Sexual Assault Guidelines (updating)

Future projects

Development of generic patient information leaflets that can be locally adapted for use in GUM/HIV clinics nationally

Guidelines, National Organisations and Service Providers

BASHH Guidelines: Management of Adult and Adolescent complainants of Sexual Assault. The Management of Adult and Adolescent Complainants of Sexual Assault 1
The Havens www.thehavens.co.uk
St Mary's centre, Manchester www.stmaryscentre.org
Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine www.fflm.ac.uk
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine Guidelines on Paediatric Forensic Examinations in Relation to Possible Child Sexual Abuse - Click Here

Related organisations/useful resources

Training for healthcare staff around Domestic Abuse

For services wishing to introduce training in their clinics, we would recommend discussion with either of these national services who have supported BASHH in the development of our routine DA enquiry toolkit.

Both services would also be able to link you in to your local specialist providers and would also be able to discuss training packages they offer.

-Standing Together Against Domestic Violence (Standing Together Against Domestic Violence is a UK charity bringing communities together to end domestic abuse) Contact training coordinator by emailing training@standingtogether.org.uk

-Victim Support (Victim Support (VS) is the independent charity for people affected by crime and traumatic events in England and Wales) Contact by emailing: l&s.general@victimsupport.org.uk or find out your nearest victim area team on https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/support-near-you
Overview of trafficking in the UK and routes into services. Tamara Barnett - Healthcare and Human Trafficking
Know Where to Go - A directory of services in London for women who have experienced violence. http://www.eaves4women.co.uk/Documents/Directories/KnowWhereToGo.pdf
Greater London Authority - London.gov.uk.
Violence against women section: Know where to go https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/mayors-office-policing-and-crime-mopac/governance-and-decision-making/mopac-decisions-0/safer-london-housing-and-violence-against-women-and-girls
Award winning Haven campaign 'Where is your line?' http://www.youtube.com/user/TheHavensCentres
Eaves is a London-based charity that provides high quality housing and support to vulnerable women http://www.eaves4women.co.uk/
Male Sexual abuse organisation www.survivors.org.uk
Domestic Abuse Directory http://www.womensaid.org.uk/
SEARCH FOR YOUR LOCAL SARC: http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/ServiceSearchAdditional.aspx?ServiceType=RapeAndSexualAssaultSupport
March 2012: The Home Office has launched a campaign to increase awareness of teenage rape for girls and boys.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/this-is-abuse-campaign
The Paddington Havens have produced a new legal booklet for young people "Your rights, your body, your life - Sexual violence and the law: a young person's guide" which is now up on their website http://www.thehavens.co.uk/help/young_people.php
You can order copies by emailing Haven@Imperial.nhs.uk
NEW REPORT: ‘A Cry for Health’: Why we must invest in DA services in hospitals
Safelives have undertaken a research project in 6 Acute Trusts to explore the impact of co-locating IDVAs in hospitals. The report found that co having IDVAs in hospital settings can significantly improve health and wellbeing outcomes for victims of domestic abuse.
The report makes for an extremely interesting read and highlights key findings about hospital IDVAs such as that they:
- Are more likely to engage survivors still in relationships
- Reach more vulnerable survivors who engage with fewer other services
- Support survivors at earlier points in the abuse
- Reduce future health costs
A copy of the report is here to access.

FGM Resources and e-learning modules

The REPLACE Approach is a new way to tackle FGM in the EU and replaces the dominant methods used to end FGM in the EU which focus on raising awareness of the health and human rights issues associated with the practice and then expecting individuals to change their behaviour concerning FGM - Click Here for further information

FGM Mandatory Reporting - Department of Health support pack for health professionals available on BASHH website - Click Here

http://www.fgmelearning.co.uk/ - Home Office learning module and assessment

http://www.unicef.org/media/files/FGCM_Lo_res.pdf - Unicef document on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting:
A statistical overview and exploration of the dynamics of change

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/sexual-health-services/Documents/List%20of%20FGM%20Clinics%20Mar%2014%20FINAL.pdf - A list of FGM clinics

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/sexual-health-services/Pages/fgm-health-services-for-women.aspx - NHS choices

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/female-genital-mutilation-resource-pack/female-genital-mutilation-resource-pack - Gov.UK a Home Office resource pack on FGM

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/sexual-health-services/Pages/fgm-for-professionals.aspx

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/sexual-health-services/Pages/fgm-resources.aspx

http://www.isb.nhs.uk/documents/isb-1610/amd-01-2014/1610012014spec.pdf