Sexual Safety

What is sexual safety?

Sexual safety is defined as feeling safe from any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature and feeling safe from sexual harm. Feeling safe from sexual harm means not being made to feel uncomfortable, frightened, or intimidated in a sexual way by any other person (including patients, visitors or colleagues) at any time.

On 4 September 2023, NHS England launched its first ever sexual safety charter in collaboration with key partners across the healthcare system.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals are now signatories to the charter. 

As signatories to this charter, we commit to a zero-tolerance approach to any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours towards our workforce. We commit to the following principles and actions to achieve this:

1. We will actively work to eradicate sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace.
2. We will promote a culture that fosters openness and transparency, and does not tolerate unwanted, harmful and/or inappropriate sexual behaviours.
3. We will take an intersectional approach to the sexual safety of our workforce, recognising certain groups will experience sexual harassment and abuse at a disproportionate rate.
4. We will provide appropriate support for those in our workforce who experience unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours.
5. We will clearly communicate standards of behaviour. This includes expected action for those who witness inappropriate, unwanted and/or harmful sexual behaviour.
6. We will ensure appropriate, specific, and clear policies are in place. They will include appropriate and timely action against alleged perpetrators.
7. We will ensure  appropriate, specific, and clear training is in place.
8. We will ensure appropriate reporting mechanisms are in place for those experiencing these behaviours.
9. We will take all reports seriously and appropriate and timely action will be taken in all cases.
10. We will capture and share data on prevalence and staff experience transparently.

These commitments will apply to everyone in our organisation equally and we are committed to taking the appropriate actions to ensure the above principles are embedded in our Trust. 

We all have a responsibility to ourselves and our colleagues and must act if we witness these behaviors. 

If you experience or witness any inappropriate sexual behavior or conduct whilst at work, there are number of ways you can speak up to raise your concerns.    

In the first instance we encourage you to speak directly to your line manager and/or a senior colleague. They will advise you on support, next steps and if appropriate, support you to report the incident  

You can also reach out to our Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, Kerry Bosworth. Kerry is there to offer impartial and confidential advice and support at any stage of the speaking-up process.  

Kerry can be contacted by telephone 01623 622515 extension 4559, on email kerry.bosworth@nhs.net or 07788 224490. 

Please search 'staff abuse' on the Sherwood Forest Hospitals intranet to find more information and wellbeing support.