Harassment, Sexual Misconduct and Violence Dashboard

Support, reporting options, guidance and linked policies

This webpage and the linked guide Preventing and Addressing Harassment, Sexual Misconduct and Violence together constitute Italia Conti’s Single Comprehensive Source of Information under OfS Condition E6.

If you have experienced, witnessed or are concerned about harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, domestic abuse, stalking, bullying or inappropriate behaviour, support is available.

You can speak to us without making a formal report. We will listen, explain your options and help you access appropriate support. If you decide to make a formal report, we will explain the process, consider any immediate safety or precautionary measures, and keep you informed.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.

Italia Conti is committed to providing a safe, respectful and supportive environment for all students, staff and visitors.

We do not tolerate harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, bullying, discrimination, intimidation or behaviour that undermines the dignity, safety or wellbeing of others.

Everyone at Italia Conti has a responsibility to help maintain the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and visitors by making clear that such behaviour is unacceptable and by reporting incidents or concerns when they arise.

Anyone inside or outside the Italia Conti community can safely and confidentially raise a concern. If you wish to whistleblow, whether about inappropriate behaviour, misconduct, or any serious issue, you can email speakup@italiaconti.co.uk. If you have a specific safeguarding concern, including anything relating to the welfare or safety of a student or member of the community, please contact safeguarding@italiaconti.co.uk. All reports will be treated seriously, handled sensitively, and acted upon appropriately.

This page brings together key information about how to seek support, report a concern, and find the relevant policy or procedure.

A summary of how Italia Conti will address and support individuals involved in sexual misconduct, domestic violence, bullying and harassment allegations is as follows. For full details, please see all related policies and procedures below.

Disclosure and Guidance

If you have suffered any form of harassment, sexual misconduct, domestic abuse, bullying or violence, or if you are worried about a person or a situation, please talk to us.

You can contact your head of year, course leader, head of school, or any member of the wellbeing team directly who will be able to listen, support and you make sure you get the help you need. All staff will listen and help signpost your disclosure to the suitable team.

Contact our Wellbeing and Safeguarding team to book an appointment or drop in to the Wellbeing offices between 7.45am-8.30pm Monday to Friday, or 9.00-5.30pm on Saturday.

You can also contact by email:

Catherine Cooper, Head of Safeguarding and Wellbeing (Designated Safeguarding Lead): catherine.cooper@italiaconti.co.uk

Sue Shackleton, Deputy DSL: Sue@italia-conti.com

Ellie Chapman, Safeguarding and Wellbeing Officer: ellie.chapman@italiaconti.co.uk

Wellbeing and Safeguarding Team Inbox: Safeguarding@italiaconti.co.uk

Neil Collins, Equality Diversity and Inclusion Officer: EDI@italiaconti.co.uk

Confidential Reporting & Whistleblowing: Speakup@italiaconti.co.uk

Reporting

If you want to, we will help you make a formal report about what happened.

We will meet with you to help navigate you through the reporting process, determine the suitable policy to address.

We will pass the report on to the Principal who will assess when and how an investigation needs to take place, or appoint a nominee (a Case Officer) to oversee the next steps.

Before an investigation begins, Italia Conti will complete a risk assessment and consider any required risk managament.

We will put in place precautionary measures, if necessary.

We will ensure support is in place for all parties.

If it is suspected that a crime has been committed, and if you wish to do so, we can help you make a report to the police.

Investigation

We will investigate your report, assess any evidence and discuss the incident with the responding party and any witnesses.

If an incident is being investigated by the Police, Italia Conti will support their investigation, whilst providing support to all involved parties. We may not be able to investigate whilst the Police carry out their initial investigations, and will be guided by the police service as to when it would be appropriate to do so.

The investigation will be kept confidential and only shared on a need-know basis.

During the investigation, we will continue to provide support to all involved parties, and any necessary precautionary measures will continue.

The appointed Investigating Officer will decide whether any breaches of our policies have taken place, and if the matter should be referred to a panel hearing.

Outcome and Action

Following a full investigation and panel hearing, we will take appropriate disciplinary action if misconduct is found.

This might include a warning, suspension, mandatory training, alterations to access to study and training, or permanent exclusion.

The responding party has the right to appeal. Higher Education (HE) students have a further right to appeal through the University of East London or University of Chichester’s relevant policies. All students may appeal a final decision of Italia Conti, University of East London or University of Chichester’s appeals process by contacting the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OiA) within 12 months of the outcome.

This is a summary only. For full details, please see the ‘Harassment, Sexual Misconduct and Violence’ policy.

If you are unsure at any point about how to handle a concern, speak to us.

External Support

Our Wellbeing and Safeguarding team can support you as you explore seeking support from an external specialist organisation. Contact them to book an appointment or drop in the Wellbeing offices between 7.45am-8.30pm Monday to Friday, or 9.00-5.30pm on Saturday.

Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre for Surrey Residents: https://www.rasasc.org/

Solace Centre: https://surreysolace.org/

NHS Advice: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/

Rape Crisis – England and Wales: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/want-to-talk/

The Survivors Trust: https://thesurvivorstrust.org/find-an-isva/

Your Sanctuary (Domestic Abuse support): https://www.yoursanctuary.org.uk/

South West Surrey Domestic Abuse Service: https://www.swsda.org.uk/

Suzy Lamplugh Trust: https://www.suzylamplugh.org/pages/category/national-stalking-helpline

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.

Confidentiality

We will handle information sensitively and only share it where it is necessary and proportionate to do so.

There may be circumstances where Italia Conti needs to take action or share information to protect an individual or the wider community.