If you experience sexual misconduct, you might feel isolated, upset, scared or angry. You might feel something else. You might not know what to do next.

As soon as you can, write down what happened and keep it somewhere safe. It can be hard to remember a few days after, so making a note as soon as possible will help with this. When you make these notes make sure you include dates, times, what happened, how it made you feel, if anyone else was there and if there is anything else you think might be useful to know.

Sexual misconduct can take place when there are no other witnesses. This does not change the response you should receive. You will be believed and supported.

It can be helpful to speak to someone you trust about what happened. This could be a colleague, a friend or family member, your manager or union representative. You can also reach out to the Trust Support Services. They will be able support you and help you decide what to do next. This is often called a ‘disclosure’.

When you are ready, you may choose to report your experience. A report is different to a disclosure. A report involves telling someone who is in a position of responsibility or authority in the Trust about sexual misconduct that has happened to you or that you have witnessed. A report means you are requesting that the Trust makes decisions and takes actions to stop it from happening again.

Reporting Sexual Misconduct

Reporting your experience is a choice. It is not something you have to do.

When sexual misconduct is reported it allows UHB to take action to keep people safe and prevent it happening again. There isn’t a time limit on when you choose to report your experience but making a report as soon as possible will allow actions to be taken more quickly.

At UHB we want staff to know that if you make a report of sexual misconduct, you will be believed and supported

How can you report sexual misconduct?

You can report your experience, or you can ask the person you have disclosed to (e.g. a colleague) to do this for you. You can also report witnessing sexual misconduct.

There are different ways to report what you have experienced or witnessed. You can report to:

• your manager, another manager/supervisor/educational supervisor
• the People Advisory Service or People Site Teams,
• a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian (FTSUG)
• via the The online form (this can be completed anonymously)
  • sexual misconduct reporting form

If you are reporting as a witness to sexual misconduct, you must have consent from the affected person/s to name them.

Remember a colleague, trade union representative, Wellbeing Champion, or an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate can support you to make a report.