Grange Park SARC

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

We assessed 1 quality statement under the caring key question.Patients received care from staff who were kind and respected their individual needs.Steps were taken to protect patients’ privacy and dignity.

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

Patients were treated with kindness and compassion from their first contact with the service.Information was presented in an accessible manner on the SARC’s website and staff took time during the initial phone call to explain what would happen. Upon arrival at the SARC, patients were greeted by a member of the team and taken to a waiting room.Staff explained how they would take as much time as necessary to explain everything and give patients the chance to settle before starting the examination.

Staff gave us examples of where they had provided caring support to patients, such as making adaptations to better support people with neurodiverse needs. A pathway had been developed to enable prisoners to access the SARC and every effort was made to ensure their dignity was maintained, such as by using a privacy screen so the accompanying prison officers did not see the examination.

The service was located in a community health centre building but was discreetly signed outside so that it wouldn’t be apparent to other visitors to the centre. The SARC occupied a whole floor of the building so patients wouldn’t come into contact with visitors to other services.

Staff ensured that patient confidentiality and privacy was maintained throughout the examination. Patients had access to a separate toilet and shower room after the examination was complete.Toiletry bags were offered to patients which they could use on site and take away with them.

Patient records were stored securely in locked cabinets, although staff were unsure if they were fireproof. However, all patient records were also securely stored electronically. Robust processes were in place to ensure that intimate images taken during examinations were managed securely and in accordance with confidentiality requirements.

There was a welcoming waiting room available for use should any patients require this before entering the forensic pod. Whilst this wasn’t used in every case, it meant patients had a choice about where they started their journey through the SARC. This room had a TV and some distraction materials available for patients to use.

Refreshments including hot and cold drinks and snacks were available for patients during their visit.Following patient feedback, gluten free options had been added.

Patients were given a pack of information prior to leaving the SARC which included a summary of their care and details about any onward referrals.Telephone numbers for various support organisations were provided. Where a safety plan had been put in place, some patients chose to take a photo of this on their phone,so they had it to hand if required.

Staff carried out a follow up phone call for all patients who attended the SARC 6 weeks after their visit so they could check on their welfare and offer additional support if needed. Where more urgent needs were identified a call would be made sooner,however staff had found that a period of 6 weeks gave patients more time to reflect on their visit.

For patients who self-referred and had not yet involved the police,their forensic samples could be securely stored for up to 2 years. This allowed patients sufficient time to consider whether they wished to pursue further action later.

The judgement for Treating people as individuals is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Caring key question.

The judgement for Independence, choice and control is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Caring key question.

The judgement for Responding to people’s immediate needs is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Caring key question.

The judgement for Workforce wellbeing and enablement is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Caring key question.