Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse Special Interest Group

Introduction and Objectives

The Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse (SVDA) group, recognizing that sexual violence is part of sexual health, consider all aspects of female and male sexual violence, including sexual assault, domestic violence, sexual trafficking, all forms of sexual exploitation, sex work and female genital mutilation.

The group’s aims are:

• To review services, training and standards within genitourinary medicine clinics, with reference to the associated aims, and in liaison with other agencies and institutions
• To promote and improve education and training of healthcare professionals in all areas related to sexual violence
• To raise the profile of sexual violence by carrying out research, submitting work for publication and organising training
• To raise public awareness and improve the care of patients disclosing sexual violence with an interest in issues related to the sexual health of young people.

Current Guidelines

The BASHH Sexual violence and Domestic Abuse have produced the latest ‘National Guidelines for the Management of Individuals Disclosing Sexual Violence in Sexual Health Services (2022)’

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. 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.

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

SVDA Committee Members 2023

Trainee Rep Vacancy

To apply please send a CV and covering letter to Admin@BASHH.org and Lisa.Walton1@nhs.net

Current Projects

• IUSTI Symposium Friday 27th October https://iustimalta.eventsair.com/iusti-europe-congress-2023/ Dr Deb Wardle: the role of health in sexual violence disclosures.
• Publication of current guidance pending
• Manuscript on nonfatal strangulation pending
• Domestic abuse and sexual violence routine enquiry audit 2022/2023

Completed Projects

• Responding to Domestic Abuse in Sexual Health Settings February 2016
• Covid-19 advice to support staff and patient survivors in their immediate safety planning DOWNLOAD HERE
• 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

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

• The BASHH Sexual violence and Domestic Abuse have produced the latest ‘National Guidelines for the Management of Individuals Disclosing Sexual Violence in Sexual Health Services (2022)’
• 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.
• 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
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 Glossary of 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

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Courses, Conferences and Further Qualifications
• Public Policy Exchange - www.publicpolicyexchange.co.uk
• Scottish Womens Aid - https://womensaid.scot/
• Respect - http://respect.uk.net
• The Havens Courses - https://www.thehavens.org.uk/for-healthcare-professionals/courses/
• St Mary's Manchester forensic courses and annual conference - www.stmaryscentre.org/professional-area/st-marys-training-and-events/
• Information for nurses re training in forensic nursing: please see UKAFN (UK Association of Forensic Nurses) website - https://ukafn.org/
• Faculty of Forensic Medicine update training days - http://fflm.ac.uk/events/
• IUSTI Symposium Friday 27th October https://iustimalta.eventsair.com/iusti-europe-congress-2023/ Dr Deb Wardle: the role of health in sexual violence disclosures.