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, contacting the Safeguarding Team or by reporting the incident on Radar 
  • In any conversation about the misconduct, you can bring someone with you for support.

 

  • 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.

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