Those who work, train and learn within the healthcare system have the right to be safe and feel supported at work.
Organisations across the healthcare system need to work together and individually to tackle unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviour in the workplace.
We all have a responsibility to ourselves and our colleagues and must act if we witness these behaviours.
As signatories to this charter, we commit to a zero-tolerance approach to any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours towards our workforce. We commit to the following principles and actions to achieve this:
- We will actively work to eradicate sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace.
- We will promote a culture that fosters openness and transparency, and does not tolerate unwanted, harmful and/or inappropriate sexual behaviours.
- We will take an intersectional approach to the sexual safety of our workforce, recognising certain groups will experience sexual harassment and abuse at a disproportionate rate.
- We will provide appropriate support for those in our workforce who experience unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours.
- We will clearly communicate standards of behaviour. This includes expected action for those who witness inappropriate, unwanted and/or harmful sexual behaviour.
- We will ensure appropriate, specific, and clear policies are in place. They will include appropriate and timely action against alleged perpetrators.
- We will ensure appropriate, specific, and clear training is in place.
- We will ensure appropriate reporting mechanisms are in place for those experiencing these behaviours.
- We will take all reports seriously and appropriate and timely action will be taken in all cases.
- We will capture and share data on prevalence and staff experience transparently.
These commitments will apply to everyone in our organisation equally.
NHS England, all NHS provider trusts and all integrated care boards have now signed the sexual safety charter.
Other organisations connected with delivering care for patients are also able to sign the charter.
To sign up to the charter and for more information on the national domestic abuse and sexual violence work programme, please email england.domesticabusesexualviolence@nhs.net.
Non-NHS organisations which have signed the charter
For further information about the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Programme, please visit the FutureNHS collaboration platform: Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Programme – Futures Collaboration Platform (login required)
- 18 Week Support
- Absolute Care Homes (Central) Limited
- Active Care Group
- Alice House Hospice
- Alliance Medical Ltd
- Allied Health Professionals and Social Work Professionals
- Allied Health Professionals Suffolk, Community Interest Company
- Allied Health Professions
- Ambulance Transfers Ltd
- Appleby Medical Practice
- Arthur Rank Hospice Charity
- Association of Ambulance Chief Executives
- Association of Anaesthetists
- Association of Breast Surgery
- Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland
- Aurora Medcare
- Benenden Hospital
- BrisDoc Healthcare Services Ltd
- British and Irish Orthoptic Society
- British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN)
- British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- British Cardiovascular Society
- British Dietetic Association
- British Medical Association
- British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS)
- British Orthopaedic Association
- British Society of Gastroenterology
- Bromley Healthcare CIC
- Care and Custody Police Services
- Castlegate and Derwent Surgery
- Castlehead Medical Centre
- Cavell
- Central Medical Services Ltd
- CHEC
- Circle Health Group
- City Health Care Partnership
- Clarendon Surgery
- Cleveland Clinic London
- Clinical Eye Service Ltd
- College of Operating Department Practitioners
- College of Paramedics
- Collingwood Health Group
- Community Hosting and Support
- Community Dental Services CIC
- Compleo Health Limited
- Connect Health
- Cornerstone Medical Practice and Irlam Clinic
- CSH
- Cumbria Health Ltd.
- Cumbria Medical Services, NHS
- Cygnet Health Care
- Dearden Avenue Medical Practice
- DHU Healthcare
- Diagnostic Healthcare Ltd
- East Berkshire Primary Care
- East Coast Community Healthcare CIC
- East Norfolk Medical Practice
- Edinburgh Medical School, The University of Edinburgh
- Ellenbrook Medical Centre
- Elysium Healthcare
- Epsomedical
- ER Systems Global
- Everyturn Mental Health
- Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine – Member of Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
- Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds
- Fairford Medical Limited
- First Community Health and Care
- Fortius Clinic
- Genesis Care
- Gloucestershire Managed Services
- GTD Healthcare
- Hardcore Medical and Ambulance Services
- HCA Healthcare
- Head of Workforce Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Health Services Safety Investigations Body
- Health Transportation Group UK Limited
- Healthcare Management Trust
- HealthShare Group
- HomeLink Healthcare
- Horder Healthcare
- Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association
- Hospital Pharmacy Services Nottingham t/a Trust Pharmacy
- Independent Health Group
- Independent Healthcare Providers Network
- InHealth Group
- Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine
- Integrated Care 24
- Iris Care Group
- KIMS Hospital
- King Edward VII’s Hospital
- Kooth Digital Health Limited
- KSS Air Ambulance Service
- Lambda Medical Ltd
- Langworthy Medical Practice P87027
- Leicester Medical School
- Livewell Southwest
- LivingCare Group
- Living Well Partnership
- Locala Health and Wellbeing
- Longtown Medical Practice
- Low Moor Medical Practice
- Mayford House Surgery
- Medneo Diagnostics UK Limited
- Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit
- Modality Partnership
- Monton Medical Centre Salford P87620
- MSI Reproductive Choices UK
- Navigo Health and Social Care CiC
- NES Healthcare UK
- New Victoria Hospital
- Newmedica
- NHS Arden and GEM Commissioning Support Unit
- NHS Counter Fraud Authority
- NHS Employers
- NHS Professionals
- NHS Property Services
- NHS Resolution
- NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit
- Nimbuscare
- North of England Commissioning Support Unit
- Northenden Group Practice
- Norwich Medical School
- Nottingham CityCare Partnership CIC
- Nouvita Healthcare
- Nuffield Health
- One Medical group
- OneMedical Property
- Operose Health
- Orchard Medical Centre
- OSD Healthcare
- Parkview Medical Centre
- Pathfinder Group
- PHL Group Ltd
- Phoenix Hospital Group
- Practice Plus Group
- Primary Eyecare Services Limited
- Queenscourt Hospice
- Ramsay Health Care UK
- Reuts Medical Practice
- Richard House Children’s Hospice
- Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Royal College of Emergency Medicine
- Royal College of General Practitioners
- Royal College of Nursing
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- Royal College of Physicians
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
- Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
- Royal College of Podiatry
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Royal College of Radiologists
- Royal College of Surgeons of England
- Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Royal Trinity Hospice
- Salford Primary Care Together
- Shoen Clinic
- Sirona care and health
- Sodexo Health and Care
- Sorrel Bank Medical Practice
- Southampton Medical School
- SpaMedica Ltd
- Spectrum Community Health CiC
- Spencer Private Hospitals Limited
- Spencer Street Surgery
- Spire Healthcare Limited
- Springfield Medical Centre
- Springhill Hospice
- St Andrews Medical Centre
- St Clare Hospice
- St George’s School of Health and Medical Sciences
- St John and St Elizabeth Hospital
- St Josephs Hospital
- St Oswald’s Hospice
- St Thomas Medical Group
- Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (STADA)
- Stonehill Medical Centre
- Sulis Hospital Bath
- Survivors In Transition
- SurvivorsUK
- The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
- The British Association of Urological Surgeons
- The Employee Resilience Company Ltd
- The Faculty of Public Health
- The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
- The Gill and Oakbank Medical Centres
- The Height General Practice – SSP Health
- The Lakes Medical Centre (Salford)
- The Limes Medical Centre
- The Local Primary Care Federation
- The London Clinic
- The New Foscote Hospital
- The Private Clinic
- The Royal College of Emergency Medicine
- The Royal College of Pathologists
- The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- The Sides Medical Centre
- The Society of Radiographers
- The Springs Medical Practice
- The Survivors Trust
- The University of Manchester (Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health)
- The University of Sheffield (Faculty of Health)
- The Willows Surgery (Salford)
- Totally Group PLC
- Tower House Surgery
- Tower Hamlets GP Care Group Community Interest Company
- Transform Healthcare
- UK Council for Educators of Medical Professionalism
- UNISON Health Group
- University of Glasgow
- University of Portsmouth
- University of Suffolk Dental CIC
- Vanguard Healthcare Solutions Ltd
- Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland
- Viaduct Care CIC
- Vida Sheffield
- Vita Health Group
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick
- We Are Survivors
- We Stand
- Welbeck Health Partners and Welbeck Group
- West Kent Primary Care
- Willowbrook Hospice
- Wiltshire Health and Care
- Wolstanton Medical Centre
- Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery
- Your Medical Services