Access the full policy here: Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy
Summary of Aims and Objectives
The University aims to promote a culture where harassment, sexual misconduct or bullying of any student or member of staff is unacceptable. This policy sets out the expectations of behaviour of our staff and students and provides approaches for dealing with allegations of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. It aims to protect students, employees and all connected with the University from sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour.
Definitions are available within the policy or can be found on the information pages of my.cumbria.
Scope
The definitions, policy principles and roles and responsibilities outlined within this policy apply to any student enrolled on a course of study with the University of Cumbria whether or not the enrolment leads to a final award, wherever the student is based and regardless of the level or mode of study.
The definitions, policy principles and roles and responsibilities outlined within this policy also apply to all University employees.
For the purposes of this Policy, ‘employees’ are defined as any individual either employed or engaged by the University on a paid or unpaid basis to carry out work for the University under any type of employment contract. This includes:
- Students undertaking paid or unpaid work
- People designated as workers for the University.
- Agency workers and honorary appointments
- People working on a voluntary basis at the University and those working as contractors are also bound by the terms of this Policy as is any person engaged with or representing the University.
This policy is designed to cover instances or alleged instances of Sexual Harassment. Consensual relationships and interactions between Students, Staff and third parties are covered in the Professional Relationships between Employees and Others Policy.
Any student who believes they, or another student is being bullied or harassed by another University of Cumbria student or employee, and any student who may be the subject of such an allegation, should also refer to the advice and guidance set out in the Student Prevention of Bullying Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Procedures.
Concerns regarding instances of allegations of alleged staff misconduct related to this policy will be dealt with under the Staff Prevention of Bullying Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Procedures.
Disclosures that are not about a University of Cumbria student or employee, for example concerns about a colleague within an apprentice’s workplace setting, need to be directed to the relevant organisation for consideration.
Staff Procedures
Reporting Channels for Employees
Where appropriate employees should raise a complaint to their line manager in the first instance. Complaints about a line manager would normally be raised to the next level manager. The relevant manager will liaise with HR to determine whether to make arrangements for an investigation to be undertaken in accordance with the University’s Disciplinary Policy and Procedure. The University will aim to deal with all complaints in a fair, balanced and proportionate way.
The Student Procedures Officer will be notified by the HR Team if the disclosure is against a student and the allegation will be progressed through the Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Regulations.
Any staff member suspecting sexual harassment between a colleague and a student or another stakeholder. is encouraged to report or disclose this to their line manager, or use another appropriate reporting channel as outlined in this policy.
Investigations into Complaints or Allegations
Any investigations into allegations of sexual harassment by employees will be conducted under the University’s Disciplinary Policy and Procedure. Investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct by students will be conducted under the Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedure.
Sexual harassment may also lead to a criminal investigation being instigated into the actions of an employee or student.
Confidentiality will be maintained as much as possible, subject to any requirement to involve witnesses, or external agencies where a criminal offence may have been committed or where maintaining confidentially would pose a risk to the person making the report, or to others.
Support and Advice for Employees
There are many sources of support available to employees prior to making a complaint or to both complainant and alleged perpetrator once a complaint has been made. These include:
- Line managers as first point of contact.
- HR Business Partners to initially direct staff and managers to the appropriate process and sources of support.
- The Employee Assistance Programme
- A confidential counselling service operated by the Occupational Health provider.
- The chaplaincy service is available and is not dependent on religious belief.
- Union representatives (for union members).The University’s Equality Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Student Procedures
Reporting Channels
Students who wish to disclose an issue relating to Bullying Harassment or Sexual Misconduct can use the “Report” tool on the “You Report, We Support” pages accessed via the Student Hub. Any disclosures made via “You Report, We Support” will be received into the Student Case Management System, in a confidential closed area. The reports are automatically workflowed to the Safeguarding Team: Head of Student Support and the MH&WB team. A member of the Safeguarding Team will contact the student to discuss their welfare, support needs and formal reporting options (both internally and externally)
Investigation Process
Where a student wishes to make a formal report through the internal University processes, raising concerns against another student, this will be Investigated and dealt with via the Student Code of Conduct, and Disciplinary Procedures.
Where a student wishes to make a formal report through the internal University processes, raising concerns against a member of staff, this will be investigated through the relevant HR process.