I have received a report of Sexual Misconduct

Receiving a disclosure of sexual misconduct represents a moment of trust. This can also be known as being the ‘first point of contact’. The first priority is always safety - for both the reporting party and for you. Your immediate role is not to investigate or fix the situation but to be a supportive, non-judgemental bridge between the person reporting and their preferred next steps.

Note: Receiving reports of sexual misconduct can be upsetting and may leave you feeling vulnerable and alone. It can be helpful to talk to someone about what is happening. DCU offers a range of internal support for staff and students and also provides signposting to additional external support agencies.

What are my responsibilities?

Prioritise safety: Your primary responsibility is to ensure the immediate safety of the person reporting. Visit the Emergency section of this hub if you need to seek urgent assistance.
Maintain privacy: You are responsible for keeping the details of the disclosure private and only sharing information with the necessary University officials (such as the DCU Dignity, Respect and Sexual Misconduct Response (DRSMR) Manager ) to ensure confidentiality and privacy.
Non-judgemental signposting: You should not put any pressure on the person to report further or to contact the Guards if they say they are not ready to take that step. Share information in a way that will allow them to fully understand their options.
Avoid investigation: It is not your responsibility to gather evidence, interview witnesses, or determine the "truth" of the account.
Follow policy: You should adhere to the DCU Sexual Misconduct Policy, which clearly states that the victim of sexual misconduct is never to blame and should never be pressured to pursue a particular course of action.

If you are staff member in a position of authority, you may have additional responsibilities*

Full details of the responsibilities for staff in a position of authority when it comes to tackling sexual misconduct at DCU are available through the Policies Explained section. However, when receiving a report, you should also be mindful of the below specific responsibilities:

Act on formal reports of incidents of sexual misconduct: If someone tells you they would like to make a formal report, support them to engage with this process. That may mean visiting the Formal Reporting Pathway with them, or it may mean providing them with details on how to submit a formal report. It is important to make them aware that a formal report can only be made in writing to the correct university authority.
Treat disclosures and reports sensitively and address them promptly, confidentially and impartially: if the reporting party asks you to help them address the issue under any of the reporting pathways, ensure that you provide prompt support with this. This support can include seeking advice and input from other professionals within the university as long as you have the permission of the reporting party.
Seek advice from the DCU People Team, Student Support and Development, the Office of the Chief Operations Officer where necessary and appropriate;
Endeavour to ensure that the reporting party is not victimised for making a complaint in good faith: this is particularly important following the conclusion of any investigation made through the formal reporting pathway.

How should I respond to a disclosure?

When someone discloses sexual misconduct, your role is to provide a safe, non-judgmental space.

Non judgemental Responses

Listen without interruption: Allow them to speak at their own pace and don’t push them for details that they are not ready to share.
Safety first: Ask if they are safe right now. If there is an immediate physical danger, offer to contact Campus Security or Emergency Services with their permission.
Avoid investigating: Do not ask for evidence or try to determine exactly what happened.
Validate their decisions to disclose with phrases like:
- "Thank you for trusting me with this."
- "I am so sorry this happened to you."
- “I know it can’t have been easy to tell me that but I am glad you did”
- “What would you like to do next?”

Respect autonomy and privacy

A core principle of trauma-informed care is returning power to the person who has been harmed. People who have experienced sexual violence had had their power taken away from them. It is very important that they remain in control of the disclosure process.

Their right to decide: The reporting party has the right to decide what happens next. Do not pressure them to pursue any particular course of action.
Privacy and confidentiality: Explain that you will keep this information private.

Do not take action without consent: Unless there is an immediate, life-threatening risk to the person or the wider university community, do not report the incident further without the reporting party's knowledge and agreement.

Should I keep a record?

It can be helpful to you and the reporting party to keep a record of a disclosure/report of sexual misconduct. However, there are a number of factors to consider when deciding to what extent you should record the report and for what purpose.

Privacy first: You must respect the reporting party’s privacy and confidentiality. Do not keep detailed, identifying notes in unsecured locations (like notebooks or unprotected digital files).
Minimal documentation: You may want to keep a brief note for your own clarity e.g. such date and the broad nature of the report. Do not record names.
Data protection: Any records must adhere to the University's data protection obligations and GDPR responsibilities. Be aware that subject access requests can be made for any correspondence within your DCU account.
Shared summary: You may offer to draft a summary of your conversation with the reporting party and to share the same with them. Keep this high level and do not share with anyone other than the reporting party unless they give their clear permission for you to do so.

What do I do next?

Once the immediate disclosure has happened, help them navigate the available pathways and signpost to report and support options.

Signpost and Handover

A safe handover ensures that the reporting party is not left alone in their distress while allowing you to step back from the direct management of the report.

Identify the right pathway: Help them to access and navigate this Dignity, Respect and Ending Sexual Violence Hub. Highlight the “I want to report” section.
Identify support: Ensure that they are aware of the “I need support” section
Support to connect: Offer to stay with them while they get in contact with a support service. Respect their wishes if they decline this offer.
Keep a record: You may wish to keep a high level record of the report. This should be done with due regard to confidentiality, privacy and GDPR.
Self-care after handover: Once you have signposted or connected the individual with the appropriate next steps, take time for yourself and access support that might be right for you.
Debrief: if you would like to de-brief on your experience of receiving a report, please contact the DCU Dignity, Respect and Sexual Misconduct Response (DRSMR) Manager, Lorna.Greene@dcu.ie. Speaking with the DRSMR Manager does not constitute a formal report and will be treated with the strictest confidence. The DRSMR Manager will not ask you to disclose any confidential information relating to the report that you have received.

How to look after your wellbeing

Hearing about sexual violence can cause vicarious trauma. Taking care of yourself is important and you should make your own wellbeing a priority.

Manage your boundaries: It is okay to admit you are not a trained counselor. Referring someone to professional support is the most responsible thing you can do.
Debrief confidentially: You can contact the DRSMR Manager for a confidential debrief. This allows you to process your own experience without disclosing the identity of the reporting party or the details of the incident.
Acknowledge your feelings: It is normal to feel angry, sad, or powerless after receiving a report. Access the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) or Student Counseling Services for your own support.

How to be prepared to respond to reports of sexual misconduct

You do not have to know all the answers immediately. Within the digital hub you will find i- depth information on how to respond with empathy and clarity as well as how to signpost people to the appropriate support.

Accessing Training

DCU is committed to promoting ‘first point of contact’ training for all staff and students. You can find extensive information on how to receive reports and other relevant guidance in our dedicated Training and Awareness Section.

Contact

If you cannot find the information you are looking for, or if you wish to have an informal conversation about receiving reports of inappropriate behaviour, please contact the DCU DRSMR Manager, Lorna.Greene@dcu.ie. Speaking with the DRSMR Manager does not constitute a formal report and will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Feedback

DCU is committed to ensuring that reporting processes are as accessible, fair and trauma-aware as possible. If you have any questions about any element of the reporting process or if you have any feedback you wish to share, please contact the DCU DRSMR Manager, Lorna.Greene@dcu.ie