You can report behaviour that is #NeverOK. Do this via the safeguarding portal, or by speaking to Student Support Advisors, the Safeguarding team or any member of the Dyson Institute team. 

If in doubt, it is always best to discuss your concerns with a member of Dyson Institute staff. While a concern in isolation may seem minor, in combination with other observations it can help the Dyson Institute to support an individual in need.

If you have experienced a recent or historic incident of sexual violence, we have a service available to provide specialist support - the Sexual Misconduct Support Service. This is run by trained Sexual Violence Liaison Officers. When you use this reporting tool, you don't need to give any details. You will be supported to make an informed choice about what information you need to share with us, and what can happen next. We therefore do not ask for any details of the events within this support request form. We will keep what you tell us confidential unless we think that you or someone else is in danger

Our Safeguarding portal has two contact options:

1. Raise a Safeguarding Concern - this is a suitable option for all safeguarding matters (concerns and incidents) including harassment.
   
   
2. Sexual Misconduct Support Service - this is a suitable option for all sexual misconduct concerns and incidents (unwelcome sexual advances, touching, forms of sexual assault, sexual jokes, displaying pornographic photographs or drawings or sending emails with material of a sexual nature). 

What do we ask and why is it different for each?

For harassment incidents we ask you to share as much information as possible, this means the information you share will be what you feel comfortable sharing and in your own words. When we meet with you, we may need to ask clarifying questions but they will only be in order to help formulate a response which is based on your informed choices as an adult. We understand you will not want to keep going over what happened and will respect that.

For the sexual misconduct support service, we ask contact questions only so that we can gain permission to speak with you when it safe to do so as we understand that for some cases of sexual misconduct, there may be controlling or coercive forces around you. We also do not ask for any details, in case you are wanting to discuss sexual violence and need our support and referrals which do not need you to share any details. For example, we can support you to get medical support, emergency contraception or sexual health screening without telling us what's happened, or you can tell us everything you want to and make a full report - the full spectrum of options are available to you.

Safeguarding cases - we will respond within 24 hours to reports made from 5pm Sunday and before 3.30pm on Friday to any concern or incident raised via the portal. You will receive contact from a member of the Safeguarding Team.

Sexual misconduct - we will respond within 24 hours to reports made from 5pm Sunday and before 3.30pm on Friday to any concern or incident raised via the portal. You will receive contact from the SVLO Team.

We keep you at the center of our response. 

We will help you to make informed decisions by explaining our services and your options. Firstly we will explain the difference between disclosing and reporting. Then we can take you through what each of those options means in practice. Whether you decide to disclose or report, we can support you in-house, refer you to external support and take you through your what to expect.

That always depends on the individual and their wants and wishes. As experts we are well equipped to talk you through what those are for you so you can make an informed decision. For example, we can support you through a disclosure, to get help without making any further reports or sharing any information, you don't have to give us any details to get support in place for you. We can also support you through the reporting process, where you may be considering reporting through HR, the Police or another organisation.

We will discuss with you how you can find out about securing forensic evidence so you have the option of reporting at a later date if it doesn't feel right, right now. If you do wish to report to the police, we will continue to support you whilst you go through judicial proceedings as a student.

Whatever your support needs we can represent you in the Institute - helping you with the management of any aspect of life that has been affected such as liaising with administrators on your behave regarding attendance, Mitigating circumstance applications or supporting accommodation needs if this has been effected.