Minimising trauma in staff at a sexual assault referral centre: what and who is needed?

Article

Horvath, M., Massey, K., Essafi, S. and Majeed-Ariss, R. 2020. Minimising trauma in staff at a sexual assault referral centre: what and who is needed? Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 74, p. 102029. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2020.102029
TypeArticle
TitleMinimising trauma in staff at a sexual assault referral centre: what and who is needed?
AuthorsHorvath, M., Massey, K., Essafi, S. and Majeed-Ariss, R.
Abstract

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.

KeywordsVicarious trauma; Medical professionals ; Resilience; Sexual assault referral centre; Coping; Workplace
Research GroupForensic Psychology Research group
PublisherElsevier
JournalJournal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
ISSN1752-928X
Electronic1878-7487
Publication dates
Online22 Jul 2020
Print01 Aug 2020
Publication process dates
Deposited17 Jul 2020
Accepted16 Jul 2020
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright Statement

© 2020. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2020.102029
Web of Science identifierWOS:000566783400010
LanguageEnglish
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