Supporting Safeguarding of patients & Staff at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital.

Meet Skha – Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Advocate

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Foundation Trust’s Safeguarding Team has introduced a new Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Advocate role which is proudly Funded by ROC.

This is a significant step in supporting victims and survivors within the healthcare setting, offering dedicated support above and beyond what the Trust is usually able to provide.

Many victims face significant barriers to seeking help, including fear, stigma, and lack of awareness of available resources. As the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Advocate (DASVA), Skha is dedicated to ensuring no one at ROH navigates these challenges alone.

Skha has worked in various advocacy and frontline roles, including Regional Independent Domestic Violence Advisor, Domestic Abuse Practitioner, and Domestic Abuse Lead Worker. She has also collaborated with Non – Governmental Organisations internationally on gender-based violence prevention, research, and policy development.

Her mission is to ensure victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence are heard, believed, and empowered. She provides direct support to patients and staff, conducts risk assessments, safety planning and collaborates with multi-agency partners to ensure holistic care and support, including referrals to the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference, social services, and specialist support organisations.

Since taking on the role, Skha has supported 25 patients and staff members and played a key role in awareness campaigns, including the “16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women and Girls” and a recent sexual violence awareness roadshow. She is currently conducting a Sexual Violence Awareness Audit to assess staff readiness in handling disclosures related to sexual violence by patients and staff in line with the NHS sexual safety charter.

Moving forward, Skha will continue supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence, developing training materials, enhancing care pathways, and embedding this role into Trust’s operations. This charity-funded position reflects the Trust’s commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for its patients and staff members.

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