Learning from reports and complaints
At a glance
Providers should think widely about how learning from disclosures, reports and requests for review as well as disciplinary processes, can be gathered. Learning should feed into the improvement of processes, the development of training, and may help support growing student confidence in the provider’s approach. Providers should ensure that the identities of reporting and responding parties are appropriately protected in its activities to learn about harassment and sexual misconduct.
304It is good practice for providers to learn from harassment and sexual misconduct disclosures, reports and complaints by collecting data and monitoring trends. This may assist in identifying and informing any preventative and educational needs around harassment and sexual misconduct matters in the provider’s community. Providers may also use a range of learning mechanisms including anonymised case reviews, looking at feedback from students and staff, and sharing OIA decisions and Recommendations. Data may be both quantitative and qualitative and will be most useful when understood in its particular context. It is good practice for providers to share this learning with teaching, research and support staff working collaboratively with students, SRBs, and partner providers where appropriate, to improve their processes and feed into training.
305Providers can consider whether to publish any information about what they have learned more widely. In doing so, they must be mindful of the need to protect the identities of students and staff involved, particularly within smaller cohorts or communities.
306For providers registered with the OfS, condition E6 also places requirements on OfS registered providers to take action to protect students from harassment and sexual misconduct and signals the need to collect, monitor and publish data where this is likely to inform effective action to protect students from behaviour that may amount to harassment and/or sexual misconduct.
307Providers registered with Medr must conduct an annual self-evaluation about staff and learner welfare, which must include evaluation of the effectiveness of policies, procedures and support services for the promotion and support for learner and staff safety, including freedom from harassment, misconduct, violence (including sexual violence) and hate crime.