FOI/2025/26/112

Request

1. NHS Sexual Safety in Healthcare Charter

a) Has your Trust signed up to the NHS England Sexual Safety in Healthcare Charter (2023)? Yes CLCH is signed up to the Sexual Safety in Healthcare Charter

b) If yes:

o   Please confirm the date of adoption

The Sexual Safety in Healthcare Charter was launched at the CLCH Safeguarding Conference on 23^rd September 2023

o   Provide any internal implementation plans, policy updates, or cultural change programmes associated with the Charter

 

The Sexual Safety Policy will be published on 23^rd July 2025 and has been developed in collaboration with two other NHS Trusts in Northwest London. 

      The policy includes an equality impact assessment of sexual safety and misconduct work and links to relevant Human Resources and Safeguarding policies, and standards of behaviour expected from all CLCH employees.

The policy has been shared with staff networks so there is clear message that staff reporting sexual safety /misconduct will be heard and actions taken to address the concerns raised.

       The Trust has agreed a core Sexual Safety training resource, which our staff will undertake .  

       Sexual safety was a new area of focus on the NHS Staff Survey in  2024 and CLCH staff were encouraged to complete the survey, with findings from the survey shared across the CLCH workforce.

The Guardian Service  supports the Trust in ensuring our staff have access to an independent service that supports them to speak up and be heard; this is in addition to the CLCH Human Resources and Employee Health services.

CLCH has in place mental health minders and wellbeing ambassadors who can support staff, alongside the CLCH staff psychology service. 

All incidents relating to sexual safety are monitored and reported to the CLCH Board monthly basis.

 

c) Does your Trust interpret the Charter’s emphasis on person-centred and trauma-informed approaches as including or supporting the use of restorative practices?

CLCH has interpreted the Sexual Safety Charter’s focus on person Centred and trauma informed approaches such as The Guardian Service, Mental Health Minders, managerial training.

The Trust has endorsed the use of frameworks to ensure our staff

·         understand their rights and responsibilities

·         recognise and report sexual misconduct at work

·         have access to advice and support

The Trust uses restorative approaches in line with Trust Human Resources policies and the Trust complaints procedures, which includes providing an apology, arranging facilitated discussion, mediation and/or meetings as appropriate delivered by staff with the relevant skills and training.