New national people sexual misconduct policy framework

Building on the sexual safety charter published last year and signed up to by all Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS trusts, NHS England has now published a new sexual misconduct national policy framework, policy and e-learning module. This will support employers in meeting their new legal duty under the Worker Protection Act 2023 to prevent the sexual harassment of staff.

• The national framework and policy will help colleagues across the NHS to ensure that they are taking the right steps to recognise, report and prevent sexual misconduct. It introduces an option of anonymous reporting to make it easier for staff to come forward to report issues and provides a summary of the support available to staff. 
• The framework provides information on internal and external support staff can access if they experience or witness sexual misconduct. It also includes a flowchart to support staff in reporting an incident of sexual misconduct. 
• The new e-learning module will equip people working and learning in the NHS with the knowledge and skills to recognise and respond to sexual misconduct.
• NHS England is hosting the first in a series of masterclasses on Tuesday 12 November, 2-3pm. The session will prepare, inform and support NHS people professionals to implement the new sexual misconduct policy in their organisation. The masterclass is suitable for people professionals working in HR, employee relations, equality diversity and inclusion, learning and development, organisational development and trade union representatives. For further information contact Erika.ottley@nhs.net.  Register for the masterclass

Find out more information and access the NHS England guidance.