Elsevier, Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Volume 74, August 2020
Introduction: This study investigates staff's perspectives on the characteristics required to work in a sexual assault referral centre and the support and training they believe sexual assault referral centres should provide to minimise the negative impacts of the work and provide a supportive working environment. Methods: Semi- structured interviews were conducted with 12 staff, and a focus group was held with a further four staff of a sexual assault referral centre. The data were examined using thematic analysis. Results: Findings indicated that to work in a in sexual assault referral centre staff need to be understanding, empathetic, non-judgemental, supportive, flexible and resilient as well as having coping skills. The support structures and processes staff reported as being essential to creating a supportive working environment and reducing vicarious trauma were: supervision; training; peer support and shadowing. Conclusions: Working in a SARC is stressful and emotionally difficult work. This study provides valuable insights about the individual and environmental factors SARC staff believe are required to have a happy and healthy workforce delivering a gold standard of care to victim-survivors of sexual violence.
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Adaptation, Psychological; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Article; Clinical Supervision; Coping; Coping Behavior; Empathy; England; Environmental Factor; Female; Focus Groups; Health Care Facility; Health Care Personnel; Health Personnel; Health Workforce; Hospital Personnel; Human; Humans; Information Processing; Injury; Interview; Interviews As Topic; Job Stress; Medical Professionals; Occupational Stress; Outpatient Department; Peer Group; Personal Experience; Psychological Resilience; Psychology; Resilience; Resilience, Psychological; Semi Structured Interview; Sex Offenses; Sexual Assault; Sexual Assault Referral Centre; Sexual Crime; Sexual Violence; Social Support; Staff Training; Thematic Analysis; Vicarious Trauma; Victim; Work Environment; Workplace; Global