Introduction
Introduction
Embedded Files
Aims of this session
Aims of this session
By the end of this session, you should be able to:
identify and recognise the types of sexual misconduct in the workplace
understand the impacts that trauma can have and how this can affect people who have experienced sexual misconduct
understand how to have a trauma-informed conversation and know how to support someone if they tell you they have experienced sexual misconduct
maintain confidentiality, respect professional boundaries and look after your own wellbeing when someone tells you about sexual misconduct they have experienced
More about sexual misconduct and why it is important to know about it
More about sexual misconduct and why it is important to know about it
Everyone has the right to work, train and live free from sexual misconduct, harassment, abuse or violence. It is unacceptable for anyone to experience sexual harassment, sexual abuse or assault in the workplace.
Sexual harassment can happen to anyone; although some people are at greater risk of experiencing it than others. Women, black and minority groups, disabled and LGBTQ+ communities experience abuse at a disproportionate rate.
The XL Team's recent staff survey results showed no signs or harassment or abuse within the organisation and that our staff felt confident and comfortable in reporting any incidents to the management team or shared services.
However, The NHS 2023/24 staff survey results for England showed that out of those who completed the survey, 1 in every 26 NHS workers had experienced sexual misconduct at work in the last 12 months. with 37% of female paramedics and 9% of male paramedics reporting an incident of harassment.
This is unacceptable and together we must ensure the workplace is a place of safety for everyone.
Sexual misconduct can have a devastating impact on someone's physical and mental wellbeing. It can be very difficult to talk about and colleagues who have been harassed or experienced sexual misconduct at work may feel anxiety, shame and stress.
People can feel isolated, scared or worried about their personal safety and it can impact people's personal relationships, as well as their working ones.
Reports from the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives and Surviving in Scrubs highlight the shocking prevalence of sexual misconduct against healthcare staff and learners, from those also working and training in the healthcare.
The Worker Protection Act 2023 (amendment of the Equality Act 2010) strengthens protection from sexual harassment for all workers. It means, by law, employers must be proactive and take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of employees.
Every organisation now has a duty of care to protect its employees from and prevent incidents of sexual misconduct from individuals within the physical and digital workplace. This includes protecting all students, clinical observers and rotating medical, nursing or short-term contract staff, as well as all permanent staff from incidents of sexual misconduct.
Organisations must also protect individuals employed by other organisations, job applicants and third parties, such as suppliers or visitors, against sexual misconduct from any individual in the workplace.
NHS England launched the sexual safety in healthcare charter in September 2023. Hundreds of organisations who provide NHS services are now signed up to the charter and have made a commitment to tackle sexual misconduct in the NHS.
The XL Team have signed up to the charter in November 2024.
As signatories to this charter, we commit to a zero-tolerance approach to any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours towards our workforce. We commit to the following principles and actions to achieve this:
We will actively work to eradicate sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace.
We will promote a culture that fosters openness and transparency, and does not tolerate unwanted, harmful and/or inappropriate sexual behaviours.
We will take an intersectional approach to the sexual safety of our workforce, recognising certain groups will experience sexual harassment and abuse at a disproportionate rate.
We will provide appropriate support for those in our workforce who experience unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours.
We will clearly communicate standards of behaviour. This includes expected action for those who witness inappropriate, unwanted and/or harmful sexual behaviour.
We will ensure appropriate, specific, and clear policies are in place. They will include appropriate and timely action against alleged perpetrators.
We will ensure appropriate, specific, and clear training is in place.
We will ensure appropriate reporting mechanisms are in place for those experiencing these behaviours.
We will take all reports seriously and appropriate and timely action will be taken in all cases.
We will capture and share data on prevalence and staff experience transparently.
If someone you know tells you they have experienced an incident of sexual misconduct, harassment or assault, it can be hard to know what to say and do.
This elearning session will help you to understand what sexual misconduct is and support you to have sensitive conversations with your colleagues, including when they share information about sexual misconduct, trauma and/or abuse.
Whilst this training focuses on the Healthcare Worker we are aware that many patients and services users also experience sexual abuse and assault*.
*Identifying and Responding to Sexual Assault and Abuse training is available on learning dashboard.
In this session, we use the terms colleague, victim-survivor, person affected or experienced. People who have experienced sexual misconduct have told us this language is as inclusive as possible.
We also use a case study to give an example of what has been covered in the session. This is based on lived experience testimonies that NHS staff have shared, and all identities have been changed. They do not reflect the direct experience of individuals but are based on several testimonies and represent collective experiences
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