R.E.A.C.H – (Rape Examination Advice Counselling Help) - Services for Women and Men aged 16 and over

R.E.A.C.H opened in September 1991 to provide a free, confidential counselling, support and advice service for women (aged 16 and over at the time of the assault) who have been subjected to an attack of a sexual nature. It was initiated by Northumbria Police and their Women Doctors Scheme to respond to clients needs. Since January 1998, staff at‚ R.E.A.C.H. have been able to extend the remit of this service to include men aged 16 and over at the time of the assault. 

R.E.A.C.H. provides an appropriate environment for the the gathering of  forensic evidence, when this is required, and the follow up support and advice which has so often been requested.

Follow up support includes counselling services. Counselling is also provided to those whose first language is not English and R.E.A.C.H uses appropriate interpreters who are now very experienced in this field.

The service is available to people in the Northumberland or Tyne and Wear areas‚ whether or not they make a formal complaint to the police.

There is also a Case Tracking service provided to victims through the Criminal Justice process from the commencement of an investigation to conclusion at court. The Case Trackers are located within R.E.A.C.H.

The Centres are primarily funded by the Police Authority and the Primary Care Trusts North and South of the Tyne with Gateshead PCT acting as a Central Point of contact.  Local authorities provide smaller amounts of funding. The R.E.A.C.H Centres are supported, in a non financial way, by many other agencies.

R.E.A.C.H. has two dedicated centres; The Ellis Fraser Centre in Sunderland and The Rhona Cross Centre in Newcastle. They are designed to provide a fully equipped medical examination suites, interview facilities and quiet rooms for counselling. A trained doctor can be available to carry out forensic examinations, if necessary, and can be contacted to do this, whether or not the police have been informed. Specially trained police officers can be contacted for information and advice.

A full-time Manager, 4 part-time Counsellors, a Job Share Case Tracking Co-ordinator post a Support Services Supervisor and part time Support Services Administrator staff the centres.  R.E.A.C.H has now also appointed two Clinical Directors, who are very experienced Forensic Medical Examiners.

R.E.A.C.H. strives to make its service accessible to as many people as possible and can provide outreach counselling when appropriate.

Managers Report

2008/2009 is both an end and a new beginning for R.E.A.C.H.  This year will mark the end of the service being delivered from 18 Jesmond Road West, Newcastle, where we have operated for a number of years now.  The Ewardian building that has been rented from Newcastle Local Authority will be handed back to them.  This building has served R.E.A.C.H well for many years now, offering both a discreet yet central location, and ease of access to hundreds of clients over the years. 

As our work at Jesmond Road West draws to a close, we have an exciting time ahead of us, as we will soon relocate to Newcroft House.  Again, located in a discreet yet central location, we will be co-locating with Newcastle (CASH) Contraceptive and Sexual Health services.  At the end of the summer 2009, we aim to have relocated to the ground floor of Newcroft House in Market Street East, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Such a move is a fantastic opportunity to improve services to victims of sexual violence.  The new plush and comfortable environment will offer our clients a safe and sensitive place in which to receive our services.

Follow up sexual health screening will be made easier for our clients and help and advice will be on hand, all under the same roof.

The beginning of the financial year saw the appointment of a job shared Clinical Director's post, occupied by Dr Jantje Wilken, and Dr Jan Welbury, which has proved to be useful in extending the FME availability throughout the day as well as providing on hand help and advice at the Centre, when it has been needed and also in developing Clinical Supervision.  Shown below is the report of the Clinical Directors.

Clinical Directors Report

To be attached.

Close

It has been another challenging year where we have again seen many people using our services, and hopefully finding ways to cope through difficult times.

I would like to thank all of those people involved in providing our services and working closely with us, for their commitment and understanding.


Michelle Moody
REACH Manager

The R.E.A.C.H Forensic Medical Examiners (FMEs)

As one of the R.E.A.C.H doctors, I will try to summarise the many activities that have taken place in the last year.

We currently have nine doctors attached to the scheme.  Since May 2008, Dr Jan Welbury and Dr Jantje Wilken have been providing day time cover from Monday to Friday, on a part time basis.  This service compliments the existing night and weekend on-call service, thus providing a more comprehensive cover for clients.

FME work

The redesigned Samples Reference Forms and Female Examination Booklet have been an improvement, and the introduction of modules for all forensic specimens, though complex, is effective. We have been pleased with the willingness with which the R.E.A.C.H management team has taken on board our suggestions for changes.

I believe that victims seen at the R.E.A.C.H Centres are treated sensitively and efficiently, and many seem to appreciate the way they are looked after, despite the obvious stresses they are going through.

Court and CPS

We, each of us, have had different experiences during the year regarding Court appearances, but speaking personally I have had cases either successfully prosecuted, or with guilty pleas. Liaison with CPS is improving all the time. Support from the Chief Prosecutor, Nicola Reasbeck, has been very welcome, and it is always helpful to have an input from Fiona Thompson and Catherine Mason, Case Trackers at R.E.A.C.H, on the progress of our cases.

Training

A half day of training was arranged for the FMEs at the new Forensic Science Service Centre, at Barmston, Washington, in October. This was a very useful event with a number of interesting presentations.  Events of this nature are always welcome and we are looking forward to the next one which is scheduled for the early part of 2009.

Dr Elspeth Adams, Sexual Forensic Medical Examiner 

Unfortunately, due to the strict confidentiality guidelines we adhere to, R.E.A.C.H. are unable to offer any Student Counselling placements