The following information relates to students who share information with Harassment and Misconduct Team through Report and Support. Where the survivor or witness is a member of University of Leeds staff or Leeds University Union staff, the data will be stored and managed in accordance with the respective HR departments. Please contact them directly for further guidance.
The University of Leeds Harassment and Misconduct Team provides a confidential service to students who have witnessed or been the victim of assault, bullying, harassment, victimisation, or other inappropriate behaviours on or off campus. The Harassment and Misconduct Advisors, Service Manager and Assistant Head of Student Support, use a team approach to provide the best quality services to students. This may also involve where necessary advisors within the team liaising to discuss the best possible support for a student. These discussions are specific and limited. Sharing personal information outside of Harassment and Misconduct Team, will be rare or conducted with your consent.
There are specific circumstances where we may be required to disclose your personal information, without your consent, such as:
a) If there is good reason to believe that you or someone else may be at serious risk of harm, we may disclose information about you. Unless the situation is an emergency, or we think otherwise inappropriate, we will always try to discuss things with you and obtain your consent before making the disclosure.
b) We may be legally bound to disclose personal information on certain occasions. For example, under a Court Order or under the general law, such as under the Safeguarding and the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Act, the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and the Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Act.
c) In line with the code of practice on student health and conduct, in relation to students registered on programmes leading to award by relevant statutory bodies in medicine, dentistry, midwifery, nursing, radiography, other healthcare professions and teaching.
Referral for additional support: There may be occasions when you ask us to pass your personal data (name, email address) to an external agency for purposes of onward referral. For example, if you would like us to arrange an appointment a local specialist service such as a SARC (sexual assault referral centres) or Rape Crisis Centre. We will always consult with you about the appropriateness of an onward referral and seek your specific consent to communicate with that agency. Similarly, you way ask us to support you in accessing support from another team internal to the University or LUU (Leeds University Union). In these circumstances, you will be consulted on the most appropriate way to do this and seek specific consent to liaise with colleagues on your behalf.
Mitigating Circumstances evidence, Fitness to Study: You may ask us to share information about your wellbeing with your academic school or other University service or department in relation to specific policies or procedures. For example, you may request evidence from the Harassment and Misconduct Team as part of a Mitigating Circumstances or Fitness to Study process. We will always seek your specific consent to share information and agree the detail of any information to be shared.
Operating a non-judgemental service: Harassment and Misconduct Team seeks to create a safe and inclusive safe space for students to access support. Violence and abuse is never the victim/survivor’s fault. We know that violence and abuse can sometimes intersect with other experiences, which might include drug and alcohol consumption or sex working. Victims/Survivors may be worried about sharing information with practitioners which “outs” sensitive, personal or private information about themselves or are worried about consequences of making a disclosure. Victim-blaming attitudes can prevent people from making a disclosure or accessing support. The University is committed to creating a community that is actively supportive and opposes discrimination and we would always encourage someone to come forward and access support with the confidence that we will provide a safe space to access the help and support needed.”
Supervision: this is the process by which our staff members receive the advice and guidance of a wellbeing practitioner to support their emotional resilience when carrying out this work. Our engagement in supervision is an important part of this work. Similarly, advisors will engage in regular professional meetings where we discuss their caseloads, share best practice, and seek advice from peers. Your personal details are never shared in supervision or professional meetings; the purpose is to support the practitioner in their effective professional practice.
Subject to the above exceptions we do not discuss students’ personal information (including those relating to your attendance) with parents, partners, guardians, or tutors unless we have your permission to do so.
DISABILITY SUPPORT
Before releasing your personal information to others for the purposes of the University providing you with further support relating to a disability, we would first seek your consent. Please be aware this means that if you do not give your consent the University will not be able to provide the necessary support.
EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK
To help us monitor the effectiveness of our work here, we may ask you to engage in feedback mechanisms. These are not compulsory but support us in ensure we are delivering the best service to victims/survivors of assault, bullying, harassment, victimisation, or other inappropriate behaviours.
COMPLAINTS
If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service, we encourage you to discuss this in the first instance with the advisor you have met with. You may also contact the Harassment and Misconduct Manager or Assistant Head of Student Support (contact details below)
Information about complaints procedures in the University can be found in:
You also have a right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) about the way in which we process your personal data. Please see the ICO website.
On receipt of a complaint relating to the Harassment and Misconduct Team, consent will be sought from the complainant to release information relevant to the investigation of the complaint. If this permission is not provided it may impact on the ability of the University and/or Information Commissioner’s Office and/or Office of the Independent Adjudicator to conduct a satisfactory investigation.
RESPECT
Staff within Harassment and Misconduct Team aim to provide a professional, respectful, and caring environment in which to support students from all sections of the student population. In keeping with this, we expect those who engage with our service to conduct themselves in a respectful way and to abide by University regulations.