The Saturn Centre SARC

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes

We assessed 1 quality statement under this key question. Staff worked hard to accommodate patients’ diverse needs and promote the service to the wider community.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Person-centred Care is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Care provision, Integration and continuity is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Providing Information is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

The judgement for Listening to and involving people is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.

Patients could access the service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week either by self- referral or by referral from the police or social services. Sexual offences examiners (SOE) were available 24 hours a day, on Mondays to Fridays. At weekends, forensic physicians saw all patients between 9am and 5pm, with SOEs providing cover from 5pm to 9am for children and young people above 14 years of age. An on call forensic physician was available overnight Mon to Sun to see any patient under the age of 14 in extreme circumstances.If needed to meet a critical timescale, crisis workers would attend the location within 60 minutes and a forensic physician within 90 minutes.

There was a helpful website giving patients detailed information about the service and how to make an appointment which included an easy read guide for young people and information specifically for vulnerable migrants.

Staff worked hard to see patients at the best time for them and told us they had never missed critical forensic timescales. Patients could be seen off site; however, staff did not have access to a portable colposcope so that intimate images could be collected. This compromised staff’s ability to provide the full service to those who could not attend the SARC.

On-site parking and dedicated disabled parking bays were available close to the building, as well as ramp access for wheelchair users. Staff had access to translation services for those who did not speak or understand English. However, there was no portable hearing loop to assist patients with hearing aids.

The forensic pods were spacious, and patients’ toilets were fully accessible, with emergency pull cords in place. The examination room had a couch that could accommodate bariatric patients.

Regional outreach workers had been employed to promote the service more widely and engage with hard-to-reach groups such as military personnel, LGBTI people and prisoners. These workers regularly attended festivals, student freshers’ fairs and pride events. Information about the SARC had been tailored to the needs of male survivors was easily available. Staff also distributed information about the service to pubs, tattoo parlours, taxi firms and local shops.

The SARC held regular and well attended ‘open days’ for professionals such as social workers, teachers and police colleagues so that they could learn about the service.

Staff completed regular training on equality and diversity and records we viewed showed that patients were asked about their sexuality, disability, preferred pronouns and religious needs so that staff could take these into account in the delivery of care.

The judgement for Equity in experiences and outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Responsive key question.