This policy is for everyone working, volunteering and learning at Mersey Care. It will help you to:

  • Understand your rights and responsibilities
  • Recognise, respond and report sexual misconduct at work
  • Get advice and support.

Sexual misconduct is any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature. It can happen anywhere, including at work events and online. It could include:

  • Flirting, gesturing or making sexual advances of suggestions
  • Sexual comments about someone’s body, clothing or appearance
  • Asking questions or making comments about someone’s relationships or sex life
  • Asking questions or making comments about someone’s sex or gender
  • Telling sexual jokes
  • Showing or sharing sexual pictures
  • Touching someone when they don’t want to be touched
  • Sexual assault or rape.

  • If you can, record what happened including dates, times and details of any witnesses.
  • You can talk to someone about what happened and what to do next. This could be someone you trust at work, like your manager or a colleague.
  • We encourage you to report the behaviour. You can do this by talking to your line manager, contacting HR, speaking with a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, or by reporting the incident on Radar.
  • In any conversation about the misconduct, you can bring someone with you for support.
  • If you do not want to use your name, use the reporting form to make a report.
 

  • Your report will be taken seriously
  • HR will request a group to review the report and decide on next steps, including investigation
  • The group will be independent. Experts may be asked to support the group if there is a specific need
  • Support will be offered to everyone involved
  • The safeguarding team might need to provide advice
  • The police may need to be told. If possible, we will tell you before we tell the police
  • You will receive information about what will happen next.

Read the full version of the sexual misconduct policy

You can read the full version of the policy and supporting framework here: NHS England » National people sexual misconduct policy framework