Harassment Advisor Network
It may be that you have recently experienced an incident of harassment for the first time and want advice on trying to prevent further incidents from occurring. Alternatively, you may have suffered a prolonged period of harassment in silence and feel as though you have finally reached breaking point. Whatever stage or circumstance, there are a number of people who are available to help you.
You may, in the first instance, want to discuss the matter in confidence with a friend or colleague who is familiar with the setting in which you work or study. If you are a member of staff, you may want to discuss the matter with your Head of Department, departmental administrator, immediate supervisor, or trade union representative. If you are a student, you may want to discuss the matter with your college dean, or another college officer with pastoral responsibilities. At a common room level, the Welfare or Equal Opportunities Officer may be a good person to talk to. OUSU’s Student Advice Service also provides a confidential and impartial listening and advice service. Alternatively the University has a professionally staffed confidential Student Counselling Service for assistance with personal, emotional, social and academic problems.
You may, however, prefer to make use of the University’s confidential harassment advisor network. There are approximately 300 harassment advisers within the University, with two (one of either sex) appointed within each department and faculty. Details of the harassment advisors are posted on Departmental and faculty office notice boards. There are also confidential advisors appointed within the colleges. Should you want to speak with an advisor entirely unconnected with your department, faculty, or college; the Harassment Line can find an alternative advisor for you.
Telephone: 01865 270760
E-mail: harassment.line@admin.ox.ac.uk
The University recommends that you discuss the situation with a harassment advisor before taking any other steps in response to the alleged harassment. Talking through the events and your feelings with the adviser will help you decide on the best way to deal with the behaviour and will clarify the options available to you.
What can the harassment adviser do?
Listen to staff and students who believe they are being harassed, to clarify the options open to them and to assist them in resolving the matter informally where possible
and provide similar support to those accused of harassment.
Where requested, support individuals throughout the resolution of their concerns.This may include discussing with the individual what s/he may wish to say or write to the person whom s/he considers has harassed or bullied her/him; accompanying the individual to speak to the alleged harasser or accompanying the individual to seek guidance from a senior member of staff. This list is not exhaustive, but includes empowering and supporting the individual.
Deal with all cases with the utmost confidentiality except in cases where there is an unacceptable risk to a member of staff, student or to the institution.
The harassment adviser cannot:
approach the alleged harasser in an attempt to mediate or resolve the matter for you;
act as your representative or advocate; or
be involved in any formal stage of the process, be it in writing the formal complaint, the investigation, disciplinary or grievance procedures, except by way of giving you the support you need during this time.