NHS staff will be able to anonymously report incidents of sexual misconduct, as part of major plans to improve safety for staff across the health service.
In the first ever policy of its kind in the NHS, chief executive Amanda Pritchard has said she hopes that any member of staff who experiences sexual abuse will feel they can speak up and should have every confidence that they will be listened to, supported, and that appropriate action will be taken.
The new framework issued to local hospitals and available to adopt from today, outlines how those working in the health service should recognise, report and act on sexual misconduct in the workplace.
As part of the support package, there will now be an additional route for staff to report sexual abuse via an anonymous form if they do not feel comfortable disclosing their name and personal details but want the incident to be properly investigated.
It includes brand new guidance for those conducting investigations following a disclosure from a colleague, including forming a specialist review group with access to subject matter experts and independent investigators, and a detailed set of steps to ensure the right support has been offered.
All cases will be treated confidentially but throughout the investigations process, line managers and HR teams will have direct access to experts in sexual misconduct, including in safeguarding and those with lived experience. Employees can access support from new specially trained allies, and Freedom to Speak Up Guardians will also receive specialist training to bolster the support they can provide.
This is one of the most comprehensive public sector and employer packages to tackle sexual misconduct in the workplace, and all employees, contractors, agency staff, volunteers and temporary workers are expected to comply.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said: “For anyone who has experienced sexual abuse or misconduct at work, it is an extremely distressing and isolating experience, and so we must do everything in our power to ensure our staff feel able to speak up, and have absolute confidence that they will be given the support they need when they do.
“This new national policy will help colleagues right across the NHS to ensure they are taking the right steps in recognising, reporting and acting on sexual misconduct at work, and by introducing the option of anonymous reporting we are making it easier for staff to come forward to report issues – it marks our serious commitment to stamping out this horrendous behaviour.
“There is absolutely no place for sexual misconduct or abuse of any kind within the NHS – a place where staff come to work every day to provide compassionate care and support to others, and we know that women are more likely to be affected – this is unacceptable, and we must not tolerate it.
“While this is just one of the first steps to ending harmful sexual behaviour in the NHS, and more action is needed, I strongly encourage every leader across the NHS to look at how they adopt these measures from today, to ensure that when our staff come to work, they feel safe and supported – together we can make a difference.”
Staff who have experienced sexual abuse may be offered a range of pastoral support, including reasonable adjustments, and special leave if required.
Trusts are being asked to bring in additional senior level oversight with members of the executive board responsible for monitoring data on sexual misconduct, including the annual staff survey results. NHS staff are also being urged to complete new training on how to recognise and respond to disclosures of sexual misconduct safely and appropriately.
The policy has been developed in partnership with staff who have lived experience, trade unions, colleagues in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, academics experts and system leaders. The move comes on the back of a new legal duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace which came into force earlier this month. It also builds on the launch of the NHS Sexual Safety Charter which every NHS trust has now signed up to and is actively working to implement all ten principles to tackle unwanted, inappropriate or harmful sexual behaviour in the workplace.
In addition to signing the sexual safety charter, all NHS trusts and local health systems have been asked to appoint a domestic abuse and sexual violence (DASV) lead by NHS England – to review their local policies, training and guidance in relation to both domestic abuse and sexual violence – with almost 400 now in place across England.
The 2023/24 NHS staff survey for England showed that one in eight workers – around 58,000 – had reported experiencing unwanted sexual behaviour last year, while one in 26 reported experiencing similar harassment from a work colleague.
To improve data collection of incidents of sexual misconduct NHS England is investing up to £2.3 million in the development of a national domestic abuse and sexual violence data infrastructure, which aims to transform the way the NHS responds to domestic and sexual violence.
The new policy covers sexual misconduct connected to work or the workplace, which can include many things, such as:
- sexual comments or jokes
- unwanted touching or kissing
- showing sexual pictures
- staring at someone in a sexual way
- asking personal questions about someone’s sex life
- sexual assault or rape
Incidents of sexual misconduct taking place on NHS premises or elsewhere, such as virtual or physical environments that may not always be a designated workplace, are all included under this guidance.
Dr Becky Cox, Co-Founder of Surviving in Scrubs, said: “We are delighted to see NHSE’s new sexual safety policy, e-learning and resources published. These resources form the groundwork for any responsible healthcare organisation seeking to address the issue of sexual safety for their staff. We hope these will increase awareness of sexual safety and empower staff with the tools to support survivors and hold perpetrators to account.”
