Role of a Bullying & Harassment Adviser
A Bullying and Harassment Adviser is someone who can provide impartial information and advice on potential bullying and harassment situations. Specifically:
What a Bullying and Harassment adviser can do
- Provide advice and information on the University’s Dignity at Work and Study Policy and Procedure.
- Clarify whether the incident is bullying and harassment or something else.
- If the complaint does not come under the University policy, sign post to appropriate services.
- Provide advice and information on how to seek an informal resolution to your complaint.
- Provide advice and information on how to make a formal complaint about bullying and harassment.
- Sign post you to appropriate services which may be able to provide you with support and guidance.
What a Bullying and Harassment Adviser can not do
- Take responsibility for resolving your complaint
- Investigate your complaint
- Make a complaint on your behalf
- Speak to the alleged perpetrator, your line manager/department head on your behalf or act as an advocate in any way
- Attend meetings about your complaint, whether informal or formal, or act as an advocate, champion or representative in any way
- Provide counselling, mediation or any other form of intervention
- Promise confidentiality at all times - in certain circumstances an advisor will be required to share information with either Student Welfare or Human Resources
- Make any judgement of the legality of any action or behaviour
- Be able to explain the likely outcome of any investigation or how the outcome decision has been made
When contacting an adviser may not be appropriate
A Bullying & Harassment Adviser is a first point of call for staff who are concerned about bullying situations. If you have already instigated a complaint or grievance which is being actively investigated, then an adviser will likely be unable to provide any additional support. Similarly if you are dissatisfied with the outcome of a formal investigation then you should consider using the relevant appeals processes. However, if a situation has arisen that is new then this could be an appropriate situation with which to contact an adviser. If in doubt contact equality@liv.ac.uk.