Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse Special Interest Group

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

Name

Job Title

Organisation

Role

Contact Info

Deborah Wardle

Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine

Clinical Lead for Archway, Sexual Assault and Referral Centre

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Chair

deborah.wardle@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Lisa Walton

Specialist Nurse Practitioner

Derbyshire Community Healthcare Services Integrated Sexual Health Services

Nurse Representative, Webmaster, and Secretary

Lisa.Walton1@nhs.net

Michelle Carroll

Senior Forensic Physician

St Mary’s SARC & Clinical Lead SAFE Place Merseyside

FFLM Representative

 

Christine Pettitt

 

Final year medical student

Imperial College London

STASHH Member

 

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 in Genitourinary Medicine and HIV

Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

 

 

Fionnuala Finnerty

Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV

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 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trainee Rep – VACANT

 

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
________________________________________

 Glossary of Related Organisations/Useful Resources

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

________________________________________

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.

Want to join BASHH?

Find out about our member benefits