Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre makes history with national accreditation

Serenity, NHFT’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) has become the first SARC in the world to receive an internationally recognised quality accreditation for both adult and children’s services.

UKAS accreditation confirms that Serenity meets ISO 15189 standards, which are internationally recognised benchmarks for quality, safety and competence in healthcare services. It also means the service complies with the Forensic Science Regulator’s Code of Practice, the national standard that ensures forensic examinations and evidence are carried out correctly, consistently and with integrity.

Serenity supports adults, children and young people who have experienced sexual assault or abuse, offering:

·        Independent Sexual Violence Advisor support (ISVA)

·        Child Independent Sexual Violence Advisor support (CHISVA)

·        Contacting and helping survivors in the way they prefer. This can include by telephone, email, virtual, text or face to face meetings

·        Forensic medical examination

·        Emergency contraception

·        Pregnancy testing

·        Advice and screening for sexually transmitted infections

·        “Report to court” support if survivor chooses to have police involvement

·        Support for partners, family and friends

The accreditation provides reassurance to patients, their families and partner organisations that Serenity delivers compassionate, trauma‑informed care, and that services are delivered safely and consistently.

Fay Wickett, Service Manager for Serenity SARC, said: “This is an incredibly proud moment for our service. Becoming the first Adult and Paediatric Sexual Assault Referral Centre to achieve UKAS accreditation is a significant achievement and reflects the dedication, skill and compassion of our team. Most importantly, it reassures survivors that they will receive the highest standard of care when they access Serenity.”

Serenity supports hundreds of people each year, including children and young people, whether or not they choose to involve the police. The service also provides ongoing support through specialist advisory services (ISVAs and CHISVAs), helping survivors navigate health, emotional and practical challenges following sexual abuse or assault.

An internationally recognised standard

Serenity has worked towards this recognition over several years, meeting a wide range of nationally agreed quality standards.

Professor Ian Wall, Consultant Forensic Physician and Specialist in Forensic and Legal Medicine, who supported with the accreditation process said: "This accreditation provides independent assurance that Serenity meets nationally recognised standards for both quality and care. It reinforces confidence in the service and demonstrates a clear commitment to delivering safe, consistent and high‑quality support for those who rely on it.”

While this achievement is being celebrated, the team at Serenity say their focus remains firmly on the future, continuing to improve services, listening to survivors and ensuring care is accessible, respectful and supportive.

Serenity SARC is based in Northamptonshire and supports people across the county and surrounding areas.

Contact Serenity or find out more about their services at www.nhft.nhs.uk/serenitysarc

Northamptonshire Healthcare provide more than 240 NHS services across the county - as well as some specialist services in bordering and nearby counties. This includes mental health services, community healthcare services and services for children such as school nurses.