Sexual Violence & Domestic Abuse SIG

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

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

________________________________________

Professor Catherine White OBE, Medical Director at the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IFAS), recently joined Coronation Street actors Sydney Martin and Liam McCheyne for a special Ask the Expert video exploring the medical reality behind Betsy’s non-fatal strangulation storyline. From why there is no safe way to strangle, to the risk of serious internal injury and stroke, the conversation brings specialist clinical evidence to the wider audience. (September 2026)

Click here to view the video

Skip to Documents Members

Back to Members Documents