Sussex Children's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Children's SARC)

If a child or young person has been sexually abused or sexually assaulted in the recent or distant past it is vital they get the care and support they need as quickly as possible.

In these situations we work together with the Sussex police and social workers and our key aims are to:

• Protect children and young people aged under 14 from immediate harm.
• Keep them safe going forward.
• Support them to recover from the physical and emotional impact of their experiences.
• Support social workers and police to take action against the people that committed the assault or abuse.

About Sussex children's SARC

The Sussex children's sexual assault referral centre (SARC) is part of the system that enables us to care for children and young people living in Sussex that have experienced sexual abuse or assault.

The centre is in Brighton, is run by Sussex Community NHS Trust and is staffed by specially trained doctors, nurses and support staff. The children's SARC has its own dedicated clinical area.

Our focus is to provide the right care to the young person we see in ways that put their needs first. This includes:

• Examination by children's specialist doctors.
• Providing or arranging immediate and subsequent healthcare such as emergency contraception, and prevention and testing for infection.
• Advice about where children and young people may receive ongoing care and support.

We aim to be as friendly, welcoming and reassuring as we can - recognising of course that a child or young person that comes to us is likely to feel frightened, anxious, and maybe angry.

Young people aged over 14 are seen at the adult sexual assault referral centre in Crawley.