Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies (CATS) is a new centre for research, practice and training on issues of trauma and abuse. CATS is based across two universities in London, Royal Holloway University of London and Kingston University. The scope of the Centre draws on research expertise, teaching and knowledge exchange on both sites to further the understanding, treatment and policy implications of abuse and trauma and its consequences.

CATS provides research, consultancy, media advice, practice training, continuing professional development, knowledge transfer and learning in a broad range of abuse related topics across the lifespan, including both the victim and perpetrator perspective in areas such as child and family abuse, elder abuse, social work, bullying and victimisation, internet abuse and internet safety, forensic science and criminology, legal perspectives, government policy and human rights, and psychological disorders associated with abuse and trauma. The centre aims to disseminate such knowledge in the scientific, policy, public and community domains and acrosss the disciplines of psychology, sociology, criminology, social services, law and psychiatry.

Centre provision for research and practice consists of diverse array of services such as service evaluations (e.g. child safeguarding; police practice with vulnerable victims; educational services around abuse prevention; interagency working of professionals), providing workshops on abuse/ trauma related topics (internet abuse; interviewing child victims; risk assessment of serious offenders; abuse assessment; human rights; child safeguarding), providing short training courses on assessment (e.g. child abuse; internet offenders and risk and methods around assessment, self-evaluation and research tools) and consultancy for researchers and practitioners.

The Centre consolidates expert support from a wide array of partners. Centre partners include voluntary organisations, statutory services and potential funders as well as universities and research centres.

 

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