High-quality forensic services help secure justice for sexual violence survivors

Sexual assault survivors in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire can be assured they will receive the highest possible standards of forensic healthcare, following the outcome of an independent national inspection.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) are specialised medical clinics for children, young people and adults who have been sexually assaulted or raped. 

They provide trauma-informed care 24-hours-a-day and undertake medical examinations to collect evidence to help secure justice. 

Following a rigorous inspection last year, the adult SARCs in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, both run by Mountain Healthcare, have now received UKAS accreditation for meeting the Government’s stringent standards in forensic healthcare.

Mountain Healthcare is believed to be one of the first providers in the SARC sector to receive a UKAS recommendation for accreditation.

Derbyshire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Fatima Eltinay leads on the work to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) on behalf of the Commissioner. She said: 

“I am incredibly proud of this achievement and congratulate Mountain Healthcare and its workforce on this formal accreditation. 

“Victims of crime must remain at the heart of our justice system, and this independent verification shows our forensic healthcare services meet the highest standards. It strengthens trust in the support SARC provides, ensures victims feel listened to, believed and understood from their first interaction, and offers confidence in the investigative process for those seeking justice. This milestone reflects the professionalism and dedication of our teams and reassures our communities that public funds are being used effectively to deliver high‑quality care.”

Nottinghamshire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Angela Kandola leads on tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in the county, on behalf of Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden, who part funds the Nottingham SARC alongside NHS England. 

DPCC Kandola said:

“Delivering the highest quality service for survivors of rape and sexual assault is incredibly important, as we want people to feel absolutely certain that they will receive the best possible, trauma-informed, professional support when they need it.

“This means survivors can feel confident their needs will be met, including supporting them physically and emotionally and also ensuring they have the best possible chance of bringing perpetrators to justice.

“The accreditation is a fantastic achievement, and I want to thank everyone involved in the service for their excellent work.”

The recommendation comes after PCCs and Deputy PCCs across the region joined survivors, charities, health leaders, educators and frontline officers for the first ever East Midlands VAWG Conference, hosted by Nottinghamshire PCC Gary Godden and Deputy PCC Angela Kandola in October.

United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accreditation provides formal recognition that an organisation is technically competent to provide services like testing, inspection and certification according to internationally agreed standards. 

Cath Hadfield, Assistant Director of NHS England Health and Justice (East Midlands) said: 

“As commissioners of sexual assault referral centres in the Midlands we are delighted to see a national healthcare provider achieve such a significant milestone in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. 

“This achievement will help ensure perpetrators of sexual offences are brought to justice while giving survivors the reassurance that they are receiving the highest quality of care after their ordeal as well as supporting the journey to a successful prosecution.”