As part of an NHS policy first, health service staff will now be able to report sexual misconduct incidents anonymously.
The move comes in the form of a new framework which has been described as the first step of many in the fight to end harmful sexual behaviour in a letter from NHS chiefs to trusts and integrated care boards.
The policy builds on NHS England’s groundbreaking sexual safety charter which was launched last autumn.
New procedures
As well as opening up a brand new route for staff to report instances of sexual abuse anonymously if they so wish, the policy framework also includes fresh guidance for those conducting the investigations.
This includes forming a specialist group with access to subject matter experts and independent investigators.
Employees will have access to support from specially trained allies, while freedom to speak up guardians will undergo further training to bolster their own capacity to support staff.
The policy has been developed in conjunction with:
- Trade unions
- VCSE sector colleagues
- Members of academia
- System leaders
- Those with lived experience
Trusts are also being asked to introduce extra senior-level oversight regarding sexual misconduct data – this includes annual staff survey results.
The latest NHS staff survey indicated that one in eight workers across England (the equivalent of around 58,000 people) had reported experiencing unwanted sexual advances. One in 26, meanwhile, reported similar from a colleague.
To further improve data collection, NHSE is investing up to £2.3m to develop national domestic abuse and sexual violence data infrastructure.
A welcome step
The policy has been endorsed by a variety of organisations such as Surviving in Scrubs, We Are Survivors, the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery, Rights of Women, and more.
“While it is positive that every NHS trust has now signed up to the NHS Sexual Safety Charter, much more needs to be done to support NHS staff,” said NHS Providers’ deputy CEO, Saffron Cordery, in response to the announcement.
She added: “Anonymous reporting and robust data on unwanted, inappropriate and harmful sexual behaviours in the NHS are essential, and we welcome the government’s recognition of the need to introduce further pathways for triggering investigations into sexual misconduct.”
NHSE’s chief workforce officer, Navina Evans, said the policy will ensure every staff member is empowered to speak up. “All staff have the right to feel safe at work and as employers we need to ensure that there are safeguards in place to protect those rights,” said Evans.
Amanda Pritchard, NHSE CEO, added: “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.”
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