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Anti Harassment and Bullying

In this section

Message from the Head of Department

Professor Belinda Lennox

I am committed to creating an equal, diverse and inclusive environment in the Department of Psychiatry, where everybody feels welcomed, supported and able to thrive, both professionally and personally. 

We believe looking after the people and culture of this Department is critical to its success. From collaboration to kindness, from innovation to inclusivity, our departmental values and behaviours framework demonstrates that we aspire to far more than academic brilliance, and these are recognised both formally and informally across the Department. 

Allegations of bullying, harassment and discrimination in the Department of Psychiatry are taken very seriously, no matter who is involved. I know it can be difficult to challenge some behaviours, particularly with people in leadership positions or your line manager or supervisor, but be reassured that we will not shy away from taking action and supporting all staff. 

We have now created a wide-ranging action plan aimed at tackling bullying, harassment and inequality. Find out more about that on the intranet (internal only). 

You can find out more about how to get support or report an incident below. We also have trained harassment advisors who are available any time. Their contact details are also displayed around the department.  

If you have suggestions, ideas or comments about how the processes, structure, environment or culture in the Department in general could improve submit your comments via our anonymous feedback form. Please note this form is not a method of reporting individuals, specific behaviours or situations. 

I, along with Catherine Harmer, the Associate Head of People and Culture, and the People and Culture Oversight Committee and Working Groups, will continue to make the Department’s work environment and culture a priority so that all staff are content and can flourish. 

Professor Belinda Lennox

Head of Department of Psychiatry

 

Support and reporting incidents

What is bullying and harassment?

A person subjects another to harassment by engaging in unwanted and unwarranted conduct which has the purpose or effect of: 

  • violating another person’s dignity, or 

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

Bullying is a form of harassment and may be characterised as offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, or misuse of power through means intended to undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient. In an academic workplace this can include, for example, systematic blocking of career development opportunities or providing more opportunities to other members of a team, in a way which is not related to ability or experience. 

How can I report harassment and other bad behaviours?

For staff:

There are three main ways university staff witnessing or being subjected to bullying and harassment can report an incident: 

  • Contact the Department’s harassment advisors (there are also posters around the Department). You can approach them via email or in person, and arrange a time and format for talking - whatever you are most comfortable with. Speaking to harassment advisors does not make complaints formal by default, their aim is to provide advice and guidance and to empower individuals about making a decision on a complaint.  If you would like to contact an harassment advisor outside of the Department or with specific experience of certain issues there is a list here    
  • Raise concerns through your line manager, if appropriate, HR or the Head of Administration and Finance.  
  • Use the university’s new Report and Support tool (currently being piloted until June 2024). You can share information about the incident and your concern, either anonymously or with your name and contact details. When sharing information about an incident through Report + Support, you won’t be initiating a formal complaint. If you do provide your contact details, a Harassment Advisor will contact you confidentially to listen, share non-judgemental support and offer advice on the options available to you to resolve the situation, either informally or by making a formal report, enabling you to decide what you would like to do.     

For full details about the possible routes staff can take to making a formal or informal complaint about bullying or harassment at the university look at this flowchart. 
 

For students:

For students, 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. 

If you have suggestions, ideas or comments about how the processes, structure, environment or culture in the Department could improve submit your comments via our anonymous feedback form. Please note this form is not a method of reporting individuals, specific behaviours or situations. 

What can I do if I witness bullying, harassment or discrimination?

These behaviours are unacceptable and bystanders have a right to challenge them responsibly.  

The Equality and Diversity Unit at the university advises using the ‘Direct, Distract, Delegate and Delay’ interventions for responsible bystanders.  

Where bystanders do not feel confident or safe challenging unwanted behaviours, the Department’s harassment advisors are available to listen and provide guidance in how to address the negative effects of such incidents.  

Individuals can also talk to the Head of Department, Head of Administration and Finance, their line manager or members of the race equality committee. 

You can also report an incident through the university’s Report and Support tool. 

Will my report be confidential?

Reports to senior members of the department (Head of Department, Head of Administration and Finance), HR and harassment advisors are confidential and would not be shared without consent, unless there are safeguarding concerns. Where harassment advisors seek guidance from other advisors on a particular issue (where they may have more knowledge or experience), they do not include personally identifiable information and do so only if individuals give consent.

What will happen if I make a report to a harassment advisor:?

For staff:

Speaking to harassment advisors does not make complaints formal by default. Their aim is to provide advice and guidance and to empower individuals about making a decision on a complaint.  Some people reporting incidents are seeking a safe space to talk about an experience, while some may want to make a formal complaint.  The decision is up to the individual, and our advisors and the department will support you in the process of seeking the outcome you choose. 

For staff, the other option is to raise concerns through your line manager, if appropriate, HR or the Head of Administration and Finance.   It is now also possible to make an anonymous report on the university’s Report and Support tool. 

For students:

For students, 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. See a full list of internal and external sources of advice. 

What if I’m not comfortable speaking to any of the advisors listed? 

For staff:

If you would like to contact an harassment advisor outside of the Department or with specific experience of certain issues there is a list of advisors in the wider university.    

For staff, the other option is to raise concerns through your line manager, if appropriate, HR or the Head of Administration and Finance.   

It is now also possible to make an anonymous report on the university’s Report and Support tool. 

  • Follow the university's flowchart on who to contact and how to report harassment if you are staff 

For students:

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. 

What can I do if I am not happy with the outcome of speaking to an advisor?

For staff, the other option is to raise concerns through your line manager, if appropriate, HR or the Head of Administration and Finance. It is now also possible to make an anonymous report on the university's Report and Support tool.
If you have suggestions, ideas or comments about how the processes, structure, environment or culture in the Department in general could improve in relation to reporting or seeking support for incidents submit your comments via our anonymous feedback form. Please note this form is not a method of reporting individuals, specific behaviours or situations. 

 

Other helpful links

Further learning

  • Attend the training course Challenging Behaviour: Dealing with bullying and harassment in the workplace
  • Watch four short videos that explore micro-behaviours and micro-inequities and the important part they play in our working relationships, and in addressing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
  • Watch this video about bullying and harassment in academia from Professor Lucy Bowes in the Department of Experimental Psychology.
  • LinkedIn Learning is an online learning resource offering a range of online learning materials on personal and professional development topics.  Resources of particular relevance to harassment are Assertiveness and Difficult Conversations.