Staff support

If you have experienced harassment or sexual misconduct, Birmingham Newman University is committed to supporting you. You have control over what steps you take, there are several ways to report the incident, if you choose to do so.  

Below we will outline how you can report to the police, the University, or access support without making a formal report.  

It’s your choice. It’s completely up to you whether or not to report what’s happened. The University has several options available to staff who wish to raise a complaint or concern about an unwanted incident or conduct related to a protected characteristic which has the purpose or effect of: 

• violating a person’s dignity; or  

• creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. 

This includes any behaviour that is unwelcome and affects the dignity of those subjected to it as detailed within the Staff Dignity at Work Policy and/or Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy. 

• Reporting to the Police 
  In an emergency or if you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999. 
   
  If you feel it is not an emergency, you can still report the incident to the police by calling 101 or by using the West Midlands Police Live Chat or find your local police force. An officer will take some details and should issue you with a crime reference number. There are specially trained staff and units within Police forces that can support you through the reporting process. Find out more about your options for reporting sexual violence to the police.  

• Contact an Adviser  
  Staff have the option to Disclose or Report the unwanted incident or conduct to an Advisor within Human Resources or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor by: 

• Telephone: Contact Us Human Resources  

• Book an Appointment: Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details) 

Contact an Advisor within HR:

• Contact:   Dignity at Work Contacts 

• Email HR: discloseandsupport@newman.ac.uk  

• OR 

• Disclose an incident via our Disclose with Contact Details Form

If you chose to contact an Advisor within HR or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor, they will be able to provide you with advice and guidance about the options available to you so that you can make an informed choice on what you’d like to do next.

Please be aware that there may be occasions where you disclose something to an individual where they are unable to keep the information you have disclosed confidential. They may be obliged to inform the University’s Designated Safeguarding Officer for staff of a disclosure if: 

You are under 18 / an ‘adult at risk’ (as defined within the University’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedure: Safeguarding Policy 

If the disclosure involves or may impact an individual who is under the age of 18 / an ‘adult at risk’ (as defined within the University’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedure: Safeguarding Policy 

If the individual who has received your disclosure suspects that you are at risk of causing harm to yourself or others 

In addition to this, in certain circumstances, the University may judge that action is required even if the person disclosing an incident(s) is not requesting any. 

• Complain about Sexual Misconduct specifically 
  This form Contact An Advisor within Human Resources can be used to report or disclose incidents of sexual misconduct against students or staff specifically. The form will be submitted to a trained practitioner within HR. The HR team will then contact you to provide you with advice and guidance about the options available to you so that you can make an informed choice on what you’d like to do next. The team may also signpost you to other support that is available to you.  

• Submit a formal complaint 
  A formal complaint against students, staff or third parties (visitors, contractors and members of the public) relating to sexual misconduct or harassment (sexual and not sexual) can also be made under the usual Staff Grievance Policy and Procedure, Staff Dignity at Work Policy and Procedure and Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy. Your formal compliant will be acknowledged by a manager within the University who may also signpost you to other support that is available to you. 

• Disclose an incident anonymously

If none of these options seem appropriate to you, you may choose to disclose an unwanted incident or conduct anonymously: Disclose Anonymously (limited action can be taken). Whichever option you choose, you need to be aware that disclosing and reporting an incident are separate decisions that result in different levels of response or action from the University.  

Please be aware that choosing to disclose anonymously means we will not be able to help you directly. The information you give us will help us to provide better support to others and inform prevention work across the university. However, disclosing anonymously will not lead to formal action being taken. 

More information about anonymous disclosures can be found here: Anonymous Disclosures – What to Expect  

Disclosure: 

By making a disclosure, you are telling an individual(s) within the University about your experience, either indicating that you do not want the University to take further action at this moment in time, or being aware that if you choose to disclose an incident(s) anonymously, the University may not be able to take action based on the information provided. 

The University’s disclosure routes include: 

Contacting an Advisor within HR about your experience:  

Telephone: Contact Us Human Resources  

Email HR: discloseandsupport@newman.ac.uk 

Book an Appointment with an Advisor in HR: Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details) 

OR 

Disclose an unwanted incident(s) anonymously: Disclose Anonymously (limited action can be taken).

OR

Contacting a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor: Dignity at Work Contacts 

If you chose to contact an Advisor within HR or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor, they will be able to provide you with advice and guidance about the options available to you so that you can make an informed choice on what you’d like to do next.

Please be aware that there may be occasions where you disclose something to an individual where they are unable to keep the information you have disclosed confidential. They may be obliged to inform the University’s Designated Safeguarding Officer for staff of a disclosure if: 

You are under 18 / an ‘adult at risk’ (as defined within the University’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedure: Safeguarding Policy 

If the disclosure involves or may impact an individual who is under the age of 18 / an ‘adult at risk’ (as defined within the University’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedure: Safeguarding Policy 

If the individual who has received your disclosure suspects that you are at risk of causing harm to yourself or others 

In addition to this, in certain circumstances, the University may judge that action is required even if the person disclosing an incident(s) is not requesting any. 

Click here to contact an advisor within Human Resources about your experience:  

Telephone: Contact Us Human Resources  

Email HR: discloseandsupport@newman.ac.uk 

Book an Appointment with an Advisor in HR:

Disclose an unwanted incident(s) anonymously:

Click here to contact to a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor:

Dignity at Work Contacts 

Report: 

• Reporting to the Police 
  In an emergency or if you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999. 
   
  If you feel it is not an emergency, you can still report the incident to the police by calling 101 or by using the West Midlands Police Live Chat or find your local police force. An officer will take some details and should issue you with a crime reference number. There are specially trained staff and units within Police forces that can support you through the reporting process. Find out more about your options for reporting sexual violence to the police. 

• Reporting to the University 

By making a report, you are formally informing the University about your experience(s) with the purpose and/or intent of instigating action under one or more of the University’s relevant policies and procedures. 

You may choose to make a report after speaking with an advisor within HR or a Dignity at Work Contact: 

Telephone: Contact Us Human Resources  

Email HR: discloseandsupport@newman.ac.uk 

Book an Appointment to Contact an Advisor:

Click here to contact to a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor Dignity at Work Contacts 

Alternatively, there are several key policies under which a complaint or concern can be reported. These include but are not limited to: 

Staff Dignity at Work Policy and Procedure: Staff Dignity at Work Policy and Procedure

Grievance Policy and Procedure: Staff Grievance Policy and Procedure

Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure: Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy

Safeguarding Policy and Procedure Safeguarding Policy 

Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure Whistleblowing Policy 

If you choose to contact an Advisor within HR or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor, they can tell you more about each of these policies and procedures and what is involved within the reporting process.  

Contact an Advisor within HR about your experience:  

• Telephone: Contact Us Human Resources  

• Email HR: discloseandsupport@newman.ac.uk 

• Book an Appointment with an Advisor In HR:

Contact a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor: Dignity at Work Contacts 

It can be intimidating to begin an anonymous or non-anonymous disclosure form if you are not sure what you’re going to be asked.  So that you can feel prepared we have compiled an overview of the types of questions you will be asked.  

In the Disclose Anonymously Form there are multi-choice and a limited number of free text response questions.  

Disclose an unwanted incident(s) anonymously:

There are a number of mandatory questions asking you to provide information on the disclosure you would like or feel able to make, indicate what best describes the situation your disclosure relates to via the selection of one or more listed definitions, indicate, if you feel able to, whether the incident(s) happened to you or someone else, indicate what area of the University you are connected with and whether the reported party is in the same area of the University, indicate why you chose to disclose anonymously. 

In addition to this, there are several optional questions asking you to indicate when the incident(s) started or took place, indicate where the incident(s) took place and provide equality and diversity monitoring information.  

Please be aware that choosing to disclose anonymously means we will not be able to help you directly. The information you give us will help us to provide better support to others and inform prevention work across the university. However, disclosing anonymously will not lead to formal action being taken.

In the Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details), you will be asked to provide your name and contact details so an Adviser can contact you.  

Contact an Advisor within HR:

 

Make a Formal Complaint: 

A formal complaint against students, staff or third parties (visitors, contractors and members of the public) relating to sexual misconduct or harassment (sexual and not sexual) can also be made under the Staff Grievance, Staff Dignity at Work and Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct policies and procedures. Your formal compliant will be acknowledged by a manager within the University who may also signpost you to other support that is available to you. 

Contact an Adviser: 

Staff have the option to Disclose or Report the unwanted incident or conduct to an Advisor within Human Resources or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor by: 

• Telephone: Contact Us Human Resources  

• Book an Appointment: Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details) 

• Contact:   Dignity at Work Contacts 

• Email HR: discloseandsupport@newman.ac.uk  

• OR 

• Disclose an incident via our Disclose with Contact Details Form Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details) 

Contact an Advisor within HR:

If you chose to contact an advisor within HR or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor, they will be able to provide you with advice and guidance about the options available to you so that you can make an informed choice on what you’d like to do next. You can find more information about contacting an Advisor here. 

Please be aware that there may be occasions where you disclose something to an individual where they are unable to keep the information you have disclosed confidential. They may be obliged to inform the University’s Designated Safeguarding Officer for staff of a disclosure if: 

You are under 18 / an ‘adult at risk’ (as defined within the University’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedure: Safeguarding Policy 

If the disclosure involves or may impact an individual who is under the age of 18 / an ‘adult at risk’ (as defined within the University’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedure: Safeguarding Policy 

If the individual who has received your disclosure suspects that you are at risk of causing harm to yourself or others 

In addition to this, in certain circumstances, the University may judge that action is required even if the person disclosing an incident(s) is not requesting any. 

Complain about Sexual Misconduct specifically: 

The Contact An Advisor within Human Resources form can be used to report or disclose incidents of sexual misconduct against students or staff specifically. The form will be submitted to a trained practitioner within HR. The HR team will then contact you to provide you with advice and guidance about the options available to you so that you can make an informed choice on what you’d like to do next. The team may also signpost you to other support that is available to you.  

Disclose an unwanted incident(s) anonymously:

You may choose to disclose information about an unwanted incident or conduct involving another member of staff anonymously: Disclose Anonymously (limited action can be taken). Whichever option you choose, you need to be aware that disclosing and reporting an incident are separate decisions that result in different levels of response or action from the University.  

Please be aware that choosing to disclose anonymously means we will not be able to help you directly. We will not be able to contact you directly. The information you give us will help us to provide better support to others and inform prevention work across the university. However, disclosing anonymously will not lead to formal action being taken. 

More information about anonymous disclosures can be found here: Anonymous Disclosures – What to Expect 

A formal report about a student can be made under the University’s Student Complaints Procedure: Complaints Procedure. Your formal compliant will be acknowledged by a contact within the University who may also signpost you to other support that is available to you. 

Contact an Advisor: 

Staff have the option to Disclose or Report the unwanted incident or conduct to an Advisor within Human Resources or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor by: 

• Telephone: Contact Us Human Resources  

• Book an Appointment: Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details) 

• Contact:   Dignity at Work Contacts 

• Email HR: discloseandsupport@newman.ac.uk  

• OR 

• Disclose an incident via our Disclose with Contact Details Form

If you chose to contact an Advisor within HR or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor, they will be able to provide you with advice and guidance about the options available to you so that you can make an informed choice on what you’d like to do next. You can find more information about contacting an Advisor here. 

Please be aware that there may be occasions where you disclose something to an individual where they are unable to keep the information you have disclosed confidential. They may be obliged to inform the University’s Designated Safeguarding Officer for staff of a disclosure if: 

You are under 18 / an ‘adult at risk’ (as defined within the University’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedure: Safeguarding Policy 

If the disclosure involves or may impact an individual who is under the age of 18 / an ‘adult at risk’ (as defined within the University’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedure: Safeguarding Policy 

If the individual who has received your disclosure suspects that you are at risk of causing harm to yourself or others 

In addition to this, in certain circumstances, the University may judge that action is required even if the person disclosing an incident(s) is not requesting any. 

Complain about Sexual Misconduct specifically: 

This form can be used to report or disclose incidents of sexual misconduct against students or staff specifically. The form will be submitted to a trained practitioner within HR. The HR team will then contact you to provide you with advice and guidance about the options available to you so that you can make an informed choice on what you’d like to do next. The team may also signpost you to other support that is available to you.  

Disclose an incident anonymously

You may choose to disclose information about an unwanted incident or conduct involving a student anonymously: Disclose Anonymously. Whichever option you choose, you need to be aware that disclosing and reporting an incident are separate decisions that result in different levels of response or action from the University.  

Please be aware that choosing to disclose anonymously means we will not be able to help you directly. We will not be able to contact you directly. The information you give us will help us to provide better support to others and inform prevention work across the university. However, disclosing anonymously will not lead to formal action being taken. 

More information about anonymous disclosures can be found here: Anonymous Disclosures – What to Expect 

Make a Formal Complaint: 

If you wish to make a formal complaint about a visitor, contractor or member of the public, please contact your line manager. Your formal compliant will be acknowledged by a contact within the University who may also signpost you to other support that is available to you. 

Contact an Adviser: 

Staff have the option to Disclose or Report the unwanted incident or conduct involving a visitor, contractor or member of the public to an Advisor within Human Resources or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor by: 

• Telephone: Contact Us Human Resources  

• Book an Appointment: Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details) 

• Contact:   Dignity at Work Contacts 

• Email HR: discloseandsupport@newman.ac.uk  

• OR 

• Disclose an incident via our Disclose with Contact Details Form

If you chose to contact an Advisor within HR or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor, they will be able to provide you with advice and guidance about the options available to you so that you can make an informed choice on what you’d like to do next.

Please be aware that there may be occasions where you disclose something to an individual where they are unable to keep the information you have disclosed confidential. They may be obliged to inform the University’s Designated Safeguarding Officer for staff of a disclosure if: 

You are under 18 / an ‘adult at risk’ (as defined within the University’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedure: Safeguarding Policy 

If the disclosure involves or may impact an individual who is under the age of 18 / an ‘adult at risk’ (as defined within the University’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedure: Safeguarding Policy 

If the individual who has received your disclosure suspects that you are at risk of causing harm to yourself or others 

In addition to this, in certain circumstances, the University may judge that action is required even if the person disclosing an incident(s) is not requesting any. 

Complain about Sexual Misconduct specifically: 

The Contact An Advisor form can be used to report or disclose incidents of sexual misconduct against students, staff, visitors, contractors and members of the public specifically.  

Disclose an unwanted incident(s) anonymously:

You may choose to disclose information about an unwanted incident or conduct involving a visitor, contractor or member of the public anonymously: Disclose Anonymously (limited action can be taken). Whichever option you choose, you need to be aware that disclosing and reporting an incident are separate decisions that result in different levels of response or action from the University.  

Please be aware that choosing to disclose anonymously means we will not be able to help you directly. We will not be able to contact you directly. The information you give us will help us to provide better support to others and inform prevention work across the university. However, disclosing anonymously will not lead to formal action being taken. 

More information about anonymous disclosures can be found here: Anonymous Disclosures – What to Expect  

If you have been formally reported to the University and are going to be the subject of an investigation, you will be contacted directly on your university email address. 

If you are under formal or informal investigation, the investigating officer will fully explain the process to you and are able to ask any questions you might have. A member of the Human Resources department will support any formal staff investigation process. They will therefore also be able to provide advice and guidance to support staff to fully understand the process/processes being followed.    

You will receive full details of the allegation(s), along with the evidence being considered. You will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations and provide supporting evidence.  

You are able to access a range of support both internally and externally to the University throughout the duration of the investigation process and, if necessary, throughout any resulting process/processes. You can find out further information about the support available to you here Staff Health and Wellbeing. 

Staff, visitors, contractors and members of the public have the option to disclose an incident(s) anonymously:

Disclose an unwanted incident(s) anonymously:

Whilst students are not able to disclose an incident(s) anonymously, they may choose to make a formal report. Further information about this process can be found here. 

We understand that choosing to disclose anonymously may be a difficult time for you and we want to help support you.  

Disclosing anonymously means that your identity is protected when you submit an anonymous report. We will therefore not be able to contact you or offer you any specific support.  

The information you give us will help us to provide better support to others and inform prevention work across the university. However, disclosing anonymously will not lead to formal action being taken. We are not able to take action against individuals as a result of an anonymous disclosure. 

The information contained will only be passed on to relevant staff members on a strictly need to know basis. Birmingham Newman will not disclose any personal or identifiable information to others, unless we believe there is a serious safety or welfare concern.  

If you would like to speak to someone, or need direct support or guidance, please Contact an Advisor with HR or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor: 

• Telephone: Contact Us Human Resources  
• Email HR: discloseandsupport@newman.ac.uk 
• Book an Appointment to Speak to an Advisor: Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details) 
• Dignity at Work Contact Advisor: Dignity at Work Contacts 

Contact an Advisor within HR:

Disclose an unwanted incident(s) anonymously:

What happens to my anonymous disclosure? 

There may be reasons why you would prefer to disclose your experiences anonymously. Disclosing your experience can be an empowering action to take, and we take any information we receive about negative experiences within our staffing community very seriously.  

Disclosing anonymously means that your identity is protected when you submit an anonymous disclosure We will therefore not be able to contact you or offer you any specific support. 

If you need direct support or guidance, please choose to fill in the form to Contact an Advisor with HR or Dignity at Work Contact Advisor: 

• Telephone: Contact Us Human Resources  
• Email HR: discloseandsupport@newman.ac.uk 
• Book an Appointment to Speak to an Advisor: Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details) 
• Dignity at Work Contact Advisor: Dignity at Work Contacts 

We are not able to take any direct action against individuals as a result of anonymous disclosures 

Contact an Advisor within HR:

Disclose an unwanted incident(s) anonymously:

Why do we collect anonymous disclosures?

We will not be able to contact you or act on the specific information contained in an anonymous disclosure, but it will be used to better understand the issues impacting our university community and to shape our prevention and response to unacceptable behaviour. 

We use the anonymous data to identify trends or patterns emerging in our community and work with relevant Schools, Departments or external agencies, to provide better support to others and inform prevention work across the University.  

On the anonymous disclosure form, we ask why you chose to disclose anonymously. Capturing this enables us to identify potential barriers to reporting and means we can review whether there is more information or support we can provide to reduce and remove such barriers.   

We will not collect or store any information that goes against our staff privacy policy or wider privacy policy: Birmingham Newman University Privacy Notices. In certain circumstances, the University may judge that action is required even if the person reporting is not requesting any.  

The information contained in this disclosure will only be passed on to relevant staff members on a strictly need to know basis. Birmingham Newman will not disclose any personal or identifiable information to others, unless we believe there is a serious safety or welfare concern.

Contact an Advisor within HR:

You may contact an Advisor by: 

• Telephone: Contact Us Human Resources
• Email HR: discloseandsupport@newman.ac.uk
• Book an Appointment with an Advisor within HR: Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details)

Alternatively, you may choose to contact a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor: Dignity at Work Contacts 

HR Advisory Team

The HR Advisory team is comprised of five trained HR practitioners. This includes the Director of Human Resources, the Deputy Director of Human Resources and three HR Advisors.  

Contact an Advisor within HR:

If you choose to Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details), you will be contacted by an Advisor within HR within five working days.  

The completion of the Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details) does not in itself initiate a formal complaints process, however you may request this and discuss this option with an advisor.  

The information contained in this form will only be passed on to relevant staff members on a strictly need to know basis. Birmingham Newman will not disclose any personal or identifiable information to others, unless we believe there is a serious safety or welfare concern. 

By submitting this form, you agree to the use of your personal information as detailed in the Privacy Notice Birmingham Newman University Privacy Notices. The report should take around 5 – 10 minutes to fill in. Depending on the level of detail you provide, you can read more about what happens after you submit a report on our support pages: Staff Health and Wellbeing. 

In certain circumstances, Birmingham Newman may judge that action is required even if the person reporting is not requesting any. More information about this can be found here.  

What will talking to the HR Team be like? 

A member of our team will read your form and contact you at your university staff email address within five working days. We will suggest a meeting time, and this can be in person, over the phone, or on Microsoft Teams. Our in-person meetings are held in the HR Offices located within the Dupuis Building. 

What should I include in the form? 

The form directs you to provide a summary of the unacceptable behaviour you’ve experienced. Please note, we request that if you are disclosing information about any form of sexual violence, you keep the information as brief as possible. This is because we know it can be very difficult to go over the details of what has happened, and we do not want you to experience any unnecessary discomfort or distress. 

Following your conversation with a member of the HR Team, if you choose to make a formal report for investigation, you will be advised on what formal reporting form to complete and as part of the process you will have an opportunity to share all your information about what’s happened in a supported manner. 

Can I contact an adviser and still then submit an anonymous disclosure?  

Yes, you can Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details) to understand your options and make an informed decision on whether disclosing anonymously is the right option for you.  

Contact an Advisor within HR:

When you meet with us, we can explain how making a formal report or disclosure works, what our processes involve, and make sure that you are supported. We can make referrals to internal wellbeing services for support and signpost you to external support options. We will be ready to listen to you and help you understand your options.  

We want to make sure that at the end of the conversation, you have as much information as you need to make the right decision for you about your next steps. Unless we have concerns about your safety or the safety of someone else, what you tell us is confidential. 

If you’d prefer to contact a member of the HR Team who is male, female, or a staff member of colour please use the free text box on the form to let us know and we will do all we can to accommodate this. 

Do I have to decide about making a formal report? 

You will not be under any expectation or obligation to make a formal report at any time. This is your decision. 

There is no limit to the number of times you can talk to us, though we may refer you to other internal or external wellbeing services if we feel they would be better placed to support you. 

Where can I access further support? 

We want everyone part of the Birmingham Newman University to feel safe, supported and able to reach their full potential.  

We have in place a comprehensive network of support services available across the University. Further information about these can be found here: Support. 

If you are in immediate danger: 

On Birmingham Newman University Campus: 

Call 999 

Call Security on 0753551928 or 

Press your nearest emergency alarm button: Maps » Newman 

Off Birmingham Newman University Campus: 

Call 999. 

Dignity at Work Contacts provide confidential advice to those who feel that they are experiencing difficult working relationships, including bullying or harassment, have witnessed bullying or harassment or who have been accused of it. They are a group of trained volunteers who may be employees in any staff group.  

They will be available if, for any reason you feel unable to seek advice from your line manager, University Management Team (UMT) manager or the Human Resources Department.  

The role of the volunteer Dignity at Work Contact Advisor is to meet with individuals and provide appropriate support such as: 

• Listening effectively to their concerns and fully exploring the issues involved 
• Helping them to analyse the problem they face 
• Providing full, clear and accurate information on the University’s Dignity at Work Policy and Procedure and other University policies as appropriate 
• Helping them to understand the courses of action open to them and advising on the practicalities involved in progressing each course of action 
• Advising on appropriate sources of support – both internal and external to the University. 

If the individual wishes to attempt an informal resolution, the Dignity at Work Contacts can: 

• Explain the informal procedures 
• Help them to think about how they might approach the other party and a form of words to address their concerns 

If the individual wishes to make a formal complaint, the Dignity at Work Contacts can: 

• Explain the formal procedures 
• Advise the individual as to how to prepare a complaint and the process that will be followed. 

The Dignity at Work Contacts cannot: 

• Decide or give a view about whether the behaviour constitutes harassment 
• Give legal advice 
• Offer ongoing emotional support 
• Except in exceptional cases, meet with you more than once 
• Act as a representative if you decide to take action 
• Attend meetings with you 
• Write letters on your behalf 

If you would like to talk confidentially to a Dignity at Work Contact, please contact one of the designated contacts below. The Contact will then call or email you to arrange an appointment. 

If an individual suffers a physical or sexual assault, a contact will be able to offer initial advice and support, but the individual should ensure that they read the University’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy and follow the advice in there. The individual may also choose to report their physical or sexual assault to the Police.  

Contacts may well be able to provide all the support an individual needs, but they are not professional counsellors and if a party does need longer-term help, especially if a complaint cannot be resolved informally, assistance should be sought from one of the other sources of professional help listed in the Sources of Support section. 

Your Dignity at Work Contacts can be found:  Dignity at Work Contacts 

By making a report, you are formally informing the University about your experience(s) with the purpose and/or intent of instigating action under one or more of the University’s relevant policies and procedures. 

There are five main policies under which a report can be made by staff: 

• Staff Dignity at Work Policy and Procedure
• Staff Grievance Policy and Procedure
• Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy
• Safeguarding Policy
• Whistleblowing Policy

If you choose to Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details) they can tell you more about each of these policies and procedures and what is involved within the reporting process. Alternatively, a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor Dignity at Work Contacts or trade union representative can speak to you about the options available to you.  

All of the Universities policies and procedures can be found here: Policies and Procedures 

Contact an Advisor within HR:

Disclose an unwanted incident(s) anonymously:

Birmingham Newman University is committed to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity and, inclusion and to nurturing an environment which is free from harassment (including sexual harassment and misconduct).   To support this commitment, the University offers a comprehensive training programme for all staff on the topic(s) of harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct awareness.  

The training programme includes a blend of both online and in-person training, mandatory depending on your role within the institution and, in summary, is designed to ensure that you: 

• Recognise behaviours that may constitute harassment, sexual misconduct and sexual harassment in both yourself and others, 

• Understand how you may access support if you are experiencing unwanted behaviour and/or if you believe that you may be a perpetrator, or are accused of being a perpetrator of these behaviours, 

• Understand how you may support a student who discloses or reports an unwanted sexual incident to you (with specialist follow up disclosure training dependant on role) and,  

• Have an awareness of what it means to be an ‘ally’ to others within the Birmingham Newman University, being an ‘active bystander’ and supporting individuals within groups that are different from your own, particularly within communities that may still be experiencing marginalisation and/or were historically marginalised, 

• Understand how to appropriately conduct workplace investigations for both staff and/or students (specialist training dependant on role) and how to conduct trauma informed investigations (specialist training dependant on role),  

• Understand what is meant by ‘Freedom of Speech’ principles and how to comply with these principles, 

The table below provides an overview of the training programme offered by the University, broken down by staffing group.  

Where you have been assigned training within the table below, this training is mandatory. In completing this training, you are confirming your understanding of its content. If you have any questions in relation to the scope and content of the training following its completion, please contact training@newman.ac.uk.  

Trigger Warning: 

Please note that these training courses include discussions on various topics, including but not limited to sexual harassment, sexual abuse, sexual violence and domestic abuse. The University therefore recognises that the content of this training may be difficult and/or triggering for some members of the staffing community.   

If you have any concerns in relation to completing this mandatory training which means you feel you are unable to complete any of the mandatory training modules within this suite of training, you are encouraged to contact your line manager and/or a member of the Human Resources department at humanresources@newman.ac.uk.   

All mandatory online training will be automatically assigned to you via the Staff Development Team, however, you can book onto in-person training via your iTrent self-service, accessible here (login via the small login button rather than the big login button). Mandatory online training includes: 

• Responding to disclosures of unwanted sexual incidents 

• Sexual Harassment Awareness in Higher Education 

• Safeguarding in Higher Education 

• Freedom of Speech 

• Allyship and Active Bystander 

• LGBTQIA+ Awareness 

• Cultural Awareness 

• Neurodiversity Awareness 

Alternatively, please contact training@newman.ac.uk about upcoming training dates.

The University is constantly looking to evaluate and improve its training provision available to the staffing community. Feedback from staff in relation to this training is therefore strongly encouraged and can be sent to training@newman.ac.uk.

• View the University’s full training schedule.

Please note that in completing this training, you are confirming your understanding of its content. If you have any questions in relation to the scope and content of the training following its completion, please contact mail to: training@newman.ac.uk

All Staff Training Matrix

We want everyone part of the Birmingham Newman University to feel safe, supported and able to reach their full potential.  

We have in place a comprehensive network of support services available across the University. Further information about these can be found here