Sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature

#ItsNeverOK - Why we are taking action to stop sexual harassment in the workplace 

Everyone who works, trains, and learns within our organisation has the right to be safe and feel supported at work. That's why we have come together with all NHS organisations across the North East and North Cumbria to sign up to the NHS sexual safety charter and have made a committed to keep our staff safe at work and stop sexual harassment.
 
We all have a responsibility to ourselves and our colleagues to act if we see inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviour at work, because #ItsNeverOK. 

Sexual safety covers a range of inappropriate sexual behaviour with different legal and operational definitions and processes. It includes language of a sexualised nature, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape. Some behaviour will be unlawful, some will not.

As an organisation, we are committed to ensuring the NHS is a safe space for all staff and we have signed up 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.

These commitments will apply to everyone in our organisation equally. Where any of the above is not currently in place, we commit to work towards ensuring it is in place by July 2024.