Sexual harrassment of staff by third parties
Case reference FOI2021/00282
Published 20 January 2022
Request
I would like to be provided with the following information regarding third-party sexual harassment.
The definition of third-party sexual harassment is when a staff member is harassed by a member of the public. In this instance, it would mean a social worker experiencing sexual harassment from an individual they are supporting. The harassment can constitute inappropriate language, inappropriate touching, unwanted sexual advances, and sharing or sending of lewd images on social media.
Please note that there are three parts to this request:
Q1. Can you confirm how many reports of third-party sexual harassment your local authority has received from social workers directly employed by your local authority between 31 October 2013 and 31 October 2021.
Q2. Does your local authority have a policy to manage third-party sexual harassment?
Q3. If your local authority has a policy on third-party sexual harassment, what were the outcomes of any complaints made to you by staff members?
Q4. If it does not push the request over the cost limit please provide a summary of the allegation (such as inappropriate touching, inappropriate messages or rape) and the outcome, including what disciplinary action, if any, was taken.
Q5. Additionally, if it does not push the request over the cost limit, please provide the race and gender of both the person making the allegation and who the allegation was against.
Response
Q1. Please note this information is not held prior to 2016. Since 2016 to 31 October 2021 no reports of third party sexual harassment have been received from social workers directly employed by the council.
Q2. Yes.
Q3. As advised above, this information is not held prior to 2016. Since 2016, no complaints of sexual harassment have been made by staff.
Q4. No information is held prior to 2016. Since 2016, no allegations have been made.
Q5. N/A
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.