New service for young victims of sexual assault

We are delighted to share a new partnership venture with Office of Police and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire and Nottingham University Hospital Trust to provide a specialist hub for children and young people who have been sexually assaulted or abused. The service is commissioned by NHS England and the East Midlands police and crime commissioner office and is called East Midlands Children and Young People’s Sexual Assault Service. The sexual assault referral centre (SARC) has specialist forensic medical examiners and paediatricians to treat and support children and young people who have been a victim of sexual assault. Crisis workers will be available to support the child or young person through the medical examinations and will support in referring them on to relevant services according to their holistic assessment by a clinician. Crisis workers will work alongside Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) to offer support through the police reporting system.
The centre based at Highfield Clinical Care Centre, Northampton is one of two hubs in East Midlands w
ith the other being based at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham. The centres are accessibly 24/7, 365 days a year and can be contacted on: 0800 183 0023. The helpline is for referrals to be made from professionals or for those who have been a victim of sexual assault and need signposting to the service.

The partner organisations involved in this service offer a holistic approach to the individual to ensure the care they receive is one that is supportive, comforting and begins their recovery journey.
As well as young person support, NHFT also provides the Serenity SARC service for adults which is also operated from Highfield Clincial Care Centre, Northampton. For more information please visit www.emcypsas.co.uk/#