About the Course

Welcome to the e-learning course, "What Every Healthcare Professional Should Know About Sexual Violence."

As a healthcare professional, you play a crucial role in supporting survivors of sexual violence. This course will provide you with essential knowledge and practical skills to create a safe and compassionate space for disclosures in your clinical practice.

Designed as an introduction to this important topic, the training will help you navigate conversations with confidence and offer appropriate support. The course takes approximately 2–3 hours to complete and can be undertaken during study days.


What Every Healthcare Professional Should Know About Sexual Violence - Content

Chapter 1 - Introduction to sexual violence (causes and consequences) (45-60 mins)

  • Introduction to the course and learning objectives - text - 5 mins 

  • Myth-busting quiz - T/F questions - 10 mins

  • Defining sexual violence - text - 7 mins

  • The impact of sexual violence on individual health - physical health, mental health, personal safety. - webinar - 15 mins 

  • The impact of sexual violence on community health and global health - webinar - 15 mins

  • Who is affected by sexual violence? - text - 5 mins 

  • Introduction to the Role of the Healthcare Professional in addressing sexual violence. Underpinning principles and sexual violene in healthcare - text - 7 - mins

  • Root causes of gender-based violence - text - 5 mins 

  • End of chapter 1 quiz - 5 MCQs - 5 mins 


Chapter 2 - Recognising and responding to sexual violence in clinical practice (45-60 mins) 

NB The case studies are based on true stories but have been adapted for the purpose of the training. 

  • Case study 1 - Amara Patel (general practice consultations) - text - 10 mins

  • Case study 1 unpacked - text - 15 mins 

  • Case study 2 - Claire Smith (emergency medicine consultation) - text - 10 mins

  • Case study 2 unpacked - text - 10 mins

  • Case study 2 unpacked (expanded content) - text - 10 mins

  • Case study 3 - Annie Wilson (sexual health clinic) - text - 5 mins

  • Case study 3 unpacked - text - 10 mins

  • Case study 4 - Dr Omar - text - 10 mins

  • Case study 4 unpacked - text - 10 mins


Chapter 3: Responding and Supporting (50-70 mins) 

  • The signs of sexual violence - text - 10 mins 

  • Trauma informed and survivor centred communication skills - 15 mins

  • What should happen in the emergency department? - text - 15 mins 

  • Resources every healthcare professional should know - text - 5 mins

  • What to expect for you and your patients when reporting to the police - webinar - 15 mins 

  • Barriers to reporting, confidentiality and exceptional circumstances - text - 10 mins

  • Our collective role in ending sexual violence - text - 5 mins 

  • Feedback - google form - 5 mins

  • Supportive resources and further reading - text - 5 mins

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Introduction to Sexual Violence (Causes & Consequences)

    • Learning Objectives

    • Myth Busting

    • Myth Busting

    • Defining Sexual Violence

    • Who is Affected by Sexual Violence?

    • Introduction to the Role of the Healthcare Professional in Addressing Sexual Violence and Underpinning Principles

    • Root Causes of Gender-Based Violence

    • End of Chapter 1 Quiz
  • 2

    Recognising and Responding to Sexual Violence in Clinical Practice

    • Case Study 1 General Practice Consultation

    • Case Study 1 Unpacked

    • Case Study 2 Emergency Medicine Consultation

    • Case Study 2 Unpacked

    • Case Study 3

    • Case Study 3 Unpacked

    • Case Study 4

    • Case Study 4 Unpacked

    • End of Chapter 2 Quiz
  • 3

    Responding and Supporting

    • The signs of Sexual Violence

    • Trauma-Informed and Survivor-Centred Communication Skills

    • Survivor Centred Communication Skills

    • What Should Happen in the Emergency Department?

    • What to Expect for You and Your Patients When Reporting to the Police

    • Barriers to Reporting, Confidentiality and Exceptional Circumstances

    • Our Collective Role in Ending Sexual Violence

    • Feedback

    • Supportive Resources and Further Reading

    • End of Session Quiz: Sexual Violence Training for Foundation Doctors

About the Instructor

Becky Kemp Arnold

(she/her)

Becky is a final year medical student at St. George’s University of London and a current healthcare leadership academy (HLA) scholar. Becky has written this training as her HLA scholar project. Becky served as President of St. George’s Student’s Union, in 2021-2022 and has extensive experience working within her university to prevent and address sexual violence in higher education. Becky has worked with national charities such as Rape Crisis to provide staff at St. George’s with training in responding to sexual violence disclosures, and link students with outreach services. Becky is the student lead of the peer tutor led consent and bystander training, which is delivered to all first year students at St. George’s university. Becky is passionate about healthcare inequalities and addressing these in medical education, as well as improving healthcare professional awareness of gender-based violence. Becky has interests in public health, inclusion health, general practice, emergency medicine and leadership.

About the Organisation

Doctors for Survivors

https://doctorsforsurvivors.wordpress.com

Doctors for Survivors is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2025 by Becky Kemp Arnold. It is a space to build a community of healthcare professionals dedicated to improving healthcare for survivors of gender-based violence through education, advocacy and empowerment.