Police Scotland if you wish to report a crime
CrimeStoppers UK charity that facilitates anonymous reporting of crimes. Contact on 0800 555 111 or by using our simple anonymous online form.
Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS) can help arrange care for you in the days following a rape or sexual assault. They may be able to arrange forensic examination after a recent sexual assault in order to collect evidence of a crime, without making a report to the police at that time. They also provide supportive follow-up and counselling services.
To raise a concern regarding sexual harassment within the workplace contact:
Clinical Director for your service
Employer Human Resources
Trade union representative
Trainee Development and Wellbeing Service (TDWS)
https://www.scotlanddeanery.nhs.scot/trainer-information/programme-director-handbook/trainee-development-wellbeing-service-tdws/
GMC Guidance on sexual misconduct: Allegations of sexual misconduct: support for employers and Responsible Officers
Sexual misconduct definition
Sexual misconduct, is a term to describe sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape.
Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual behaviour which can be threatening and intimidating, can compromise your dignity, and can cause offence, fear or humiliation.
Sexual harassment may be verbal or physical and can include:
Sexual harassment can leave you feeling frightened, angry, ashamed or embarrassed. It is important to remember that if this happens to you, it is not your fault.
Reporting concerns
We recognise there remain significant perceived barriers to reporting incidents. The WPSMS report identified three significant themes which prevented reporting;
We want to support you in reporting incidents.
We acknowledge the recommendation of the WPSMS to “Reform the reporting and investigation processes of sexual misconduct in health care, to improve safety and confidence in raising concerns and to ensure investigations are external, independent and fit for purpose”. We are working in collaboration to address this.
External Reporting Resources
If you have been sexually assaulted or raped;
Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS) can help arrange care for you in the days following a rape or sexual assault. They may be able to arrange forensic examination after a recent sexual assault in order to collect evidence of a crime, without making a report to the police at that time. They also provide supportive follow-up and counselling services.
Rape Crisis Centre: Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence
Scottish Women’s Rights Centre Support for women affected by abuse in Scotland
Advice helplines
Mental Health Support
Experiencing sexual misconduct can have enduring impacts on your mental health
This work raises issues which are sensitive and personal. We acknowledge that the language we choose to use can have an impact on those reading. We have been guided by the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery (WPSMS) report in our choice of language; their work was informed by direct experience of discussing with a wide variety of professionals including those impacted by sexual misconduct.
We do not use the terms ‘victim’ or ‘survivor’. While victim is used as a legal term, the common usage of the words ‘victim’ and ‘survivor’ can confer an assumption as to how a person who has been targeted by a perpetrator feels. Many reported to WPSMS they feel neither of the above but are simply angry at what happened to them, furious that justice has not been served and morally injured by the fact that the person who assaulted them, remains in post.
We acknowledge those engaging with this website page may feel differently about our language choice, and that is valid. Please get in touch, if you feel we could use language in a different way that feels more supportive.
This page was last updated on: 29.09.2024 at 20.14