Tackling and preventing sexual misconduct webinar series - resources

The webinar opened with an overview of the societal context on domestic abuse and sexual violence, data on sexual misconduct in the NHS, including sharing the results of NHS staff surveys, revealing significant proportions of staff experiencing sexual misconduct in the last 12 months, with variations across professions and sectors. The webinar continued with an explanation of the development of the Sexual Safety Charter. The Charter sets out principles for tackling sexual misconduct in the workplace, and its implementation across nearly 400 healthcare organisations. Barriers to reporting sexual misconduct were also highlighted as well as the challenges in the investigation process, emphasising the need for clear guidance and national interventions; the importance of culture change and consistent accountability frameworks to create safe spaces for reporting and addressing sexual misconduct in the NHS.

Useful Links

NHS England policy resources including organisational charter 

Update on actions as at December 2025 to prevent sexual misconduct

Futures workspace (contains resources related to Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence programme (requires NHS login) 

Presentations from Bron Biddle and Kelly Green focused on reducing misogyny and improving sexual safety within the ambulance sector and the HCPC’s role as the regulator of paramedics. The webinar began with an overview of the HCPC’s role regulating 15 professions and the challenges faced by paramedics, including the high number of fitness to practise concerns related to sexual misconduct and the challenge presented by the culture within the ambulance sector. Findings from the People Like Us research, highlighting the pressures on the ambulance sector, the rapid development of the paramedic profession, and the embedded culture of fear. There is also a prevalence of bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct within the ambulance sector, emphasising the need for a supportive environment for reporting such behaviors. 

Bron Biddle provided experience of sexual harassment within the ambulance sector and her motivation to lead the programme of work in the ambulance sector for reducing misogyny and improving sexual safety. The programme launched in October 2023, and focuses on harm minimisation, restorative learning, and empowering a community around sexual safety. Support for professionals involved in complex cases and the development of a guide for navigating resistance were highlighted as well as the ongoing research priorities, the development of a public health model, and the importance of upskilling professionals to improve sexual safety within the ambulance sector.

Useful links

• Reducing Misogyny and Improving Sexual Safety in the Ambulance Service - aace.org.uk
• People like us - HCPC (2017)

Professor David presented the case of Professor Oliver Brooke, who was convicted of procuring and distributing images of child sex abuse in 1986. The case highlighted the leniency of the appeal court, which reduced Brooke's sentence. A 1998 Dispatches programme, which exposed sexually motivated misconduct by doctors led to changes in legislation and a better understanding of the seriousness of such offences. Hania Khalid presented her research highlighting the prison sentences, sex offender orders, and the outcomes of the tribunals. She noted that 95.9% of the cases resulted in erasure, while two doctors were suspended and later allowed to resume clinical practice. Professor David summarised the learning points from the research, including the impact of IT-related changes, and the advantages of the UK regulatory system. He emphasised the importance of the PSA in reviewing final hearing decisions and protecting the public. Participants discussed the importance of early intervention, the role of colleagues in detecting suspicious behaviour, and the potential for AI to contribute to both the generation and detection of indecent images. They emphasised the need for better awareness and reporting mechanisms.

PSA’s Head of Legal, Rachel Culverhouse Wilson, explained the PSA's role in reviewing fitness to practise decisions and the process for appealing cases. She highlighted the stages of initial review, detailed case review, and case meetings and presented data on PSA case reviews and appeals related to sexual misconduct, noting an increase in cases and appeals over the years. She emphasised the importance of learning points and the challenges in categorising cases. Alexis Hearndon of 39 Essex Chambers analysed the difference between sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, the impact on workplace culture, and the importance of clear boundaries and effective policies. She highlighted recent cases and the role of regulators in addressing these issues. She reviewed research on sexual misconduct, including studies by Unison and the PSA and emphasised the importance of concrete action and role modelling by senior management in addressing sexual misconduct. She cited culture reviews from organisations like the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the NHS England Charter on Sexual Safety at Work.
 

Useful links:

• Shaping a Culture of Inclusion by Walking the Talk 
• Review of culture of Fire Service by Fenella Morris KC 

The focus of this webinar was on the General Medical Council's work to tackle sexual misconduct, including improvements in prevention guidance and new support for reporting concerns. 

The webinar discussed the GMC's standards and prevention efforts, highlighting the importance of the standards in driving cultural change. Information was shared about the workshops and training provided by the GMC to raise awareness and tackle warning signs of sexual misconduct. The fitness to practise process for handling sexual misconduct cases was explained, including the investigation and decision-making stages. The importance of equipping staff to handle these cases and training provided to ensure better support for victims were also highlighted. Support provided for victims and survivors, including tailored resources and guidance on what to expect from the fitness to practise process were also outlined. There have been updates to the GMC's decision-making guidance, including new content on the seriousness of sexual misconduct and the factors that increase its severity. 
 

Useful links:

• ELSA programme report
• For doctors: Decision on whether regulatory action is required guidance, and the new MPTS guidance - Guidance for use in doctors' hearings
• For PA/AAs: Decision on whether regulatory action is required guidance, Decision on what restrictive action is required guidance, and the new MPTS guidance - Guidance for use in PA and AA hearings

Keziah Pearson introduced the Worker Protection Act, highlighting its significance in strengthening protection for workers against sexual harassment, emphasising the challenges organisations face in adapting to the new expectations brought by this legislation. The Act brings an increased focus on sexual safety and misconduct, attributing it to cultural changes, the gender pay gap regulations, and changes in police investigation methods. Presenters highlighted the importance of addressing sexual misconduct in the workplace. The new Preventative Duty on Employers means employers have to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment. This duty applies to all employers, regardless of size. This included a discussion on the impact on regulators noting that the change in law and increased focus on sexual misconduct will likely lead to an increase in referrals to regulators. The webinar continued with a discussion on the seriousness of sexual misconduct and its impact on fitness to practise, emphasising the need for consistency among regulators and the importance of considering harm, registrant engagement, and mitigating factors. Risks and challenges regulators face in addressing sexual misconduct allegations were also highlighted. These included: potential claims, judicial reviews, and the need for transparency and communication. 

The webinar started with discussions around four appeal cases involving sexual misconduct, covering issues from charging to sanction decisions and appealed by the PSA. These cases highlighted the importance of proper handling of evidence, engagement of witnesses, and the consideration of public confidence and standards in impairment decisions. The four cases were then discussed with the background and why the PSA appealed and the results of the appeals and judgments.

Professor Rosalind Searle discussed the origins and proliferation of sexual harassment and abuse, drawing on various data sources. Professor Searle highlighted the importance of understanding the stages of reporting and the impact of trauma on witnesses and targets, emphasising the need for multi-level trust breach recognition. The webinar continued with a discussion around the importance of early detection in training environments and the need for vigilant gatekeeping by universities and training establishments. The importance of organisational systems, staff surveys, anonymous reporting, and trauma-informed investigation to detect and address sexual harassment and abuse were highlighted. The concept of moral disengagement and the need to understand perpetrators' behaviours were outlined, including their impact on targets and organisations. The webinar closed with key takeaways and prevention strategies, including professional environments, upstander education, EDI training, and effective reporting and sanctions. 
 

Useful links:

Facts & Myths | Sexual Harassment & Abuse Between Doctors
Return to Work | Sexual Harassment & Abuse Between Doctors
Who is Affected? | Sexual Harassment & Abuse Between Doctors

Searle, R.H., & Garippa, L. (2025) Social, cultural & structural factors in reporting: A paradigmatic case study of medical trainee sexual abuse. Social Science in Medicine - Qualitative Research in Health. 

Book: Sexual Harassment between Doctors: Healing Medical Cultures around the World
Short video introducing the book presented by co-editors

Harassment policy: Busby, N. and Searle, R.H., (2022) MODEL Sexual Harassment Prevention and Action Policy. Engender. 

EAWOP webinar Workplace Harassment and Aggression prevention
EAWOP Animation: Silence is Golden?
EAWOP Animation: Why do good people do bad things?

Journal article: Sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape by colleagues in the surgical workforce, and how women and men are living different realities: observational study using NHS population-derived weights 

Journal article: How many more people will be abused before we act on sexual violence in healthcare?

A presentation focused around recent research commissioned by the General Dental Council to explore issues surrounding sexual misconduct in the dental environment. The aim of the study was to examine current evidence on sexual misconduct in dental settings and form recommendations for policy development and further research. The key findings were presented outlining the prevalence of sexual misconduct among dental students, hygienists, and dentists, and the types of misconduct experienced. Implications for regulators were discussed, including the need for regulators to reduce the occurrence of sexual misconduct, support reporting, and provide explicit guidelines on sexual misconduct.

Useful links:

General Dental Council Rapid Evidence Assessment: Sexual misconduct in dentistry, University of Manchester May 2025 Sexual misconduct in dentistry 

Sexual misconduct in dentistry - research YouTube video summarising the work

Article: Erase or Be Erased. Social Media Referrals to Healthcare Regulators in the United Kingdom 2017 to 2024

This webinar focused on on the prevention and response to sexual misconduct in various sectors.

Presenters shared statistics on sexual misconduct, emphasising its prevalence in society and the workplace, including the NHS and surgical workforce. The webinar continued with a discussion on the challenges individuals face in reporting sexual misconduct, including concerns about retaliation, career impact, and the need for trauma-informed support. It also highlighted the significant psychological, physical, social, and professional impacts of sexual misconduct on individuals. The webinar finished with a summary of the critical role of regulators in creating safer cultures, setting standards, and ensuring trauma-informed responses to sexual misconduct. 
 

Useful links:

•  LimeCulture Safer Cultures Briefing Sexual Misconduct Prevention Response in the NHS _.pdf 

This webinar focused on consent, including discussions around common myths and misconceptions about sexual harm and harassment, such as the belief that real victims report immediately or offer resistance. The presenters emphasised the importance of understanding the cultural messages that shape these misconceptions and the need to challenge them and highlighted how these myths/misconceptions can lead to biased investigations. The legal perspective included the legal definition of consent, emphasising the importance of choice, freedom, and capacity. They discussed the relevance of this definition in both criminal and regulatory contexts and the need to avoid common myths and stereotypes in investigations. 
 

Useful links:

'He says she says' sexual harassment cases. Dead end or rich in evidence__Discussion Paper.pdf
Myths and misconceptions every sexual harassment investigator should know (Consent Collective).pdf
The case for respondent-focused interviews (Consent Collective).pdf

Responding to the challenge of rape myths in Court 
Book (May 2026) All Reasonable Steps: How Psychology Transforms Workplace Sexual Harassment Prevention (free preview available)

Joni Browne, a researcher and survivor of sexual abuse by a healthcare professional, drew on both perspectives to discuss prevention of sexual abuse by health professionals through evidence-based approaches. She highlighted how abuse often develops through grooming - gradual manipulation within a power imbalance - making it difficult to detect, especially given patients’ trust in practitioners and uncertainty about appropriate medical boundaries. Victims frequently experience long-term psychological harm, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, which can delay disclosure for years. Reporting is further complicated by systemic barriers such as power dynamics, fear of disbelief, and scrutiny of victims’ credibility, while subtle indicators of abuse often go unnoticed. To address this, Joni proposed user-centred interventions such as intelligent monitoring systems, technological interventions, improved and compassionate complaints processes, and mandatory training co-developed with survivors. Emphasis was also placed on empowering patients through education, consent tools, and safety measures like chaperones or recorded appointments. In conclusion, Joni recommended that tackling abuse in healthcare requires early detection, supportive reporting systems, and patient-centred, transparent practices.
 

Useful links:

Opening Up: Ending Sexual Abuse by Health Professionals

This webinar discussed risk factors, prevention, and remediation related to professional sexual misconduct, drawing on the presenters’  experience with health professionals under investigation.

The session explained how professional sexual misconduct may be prevented and, in some cases, remediated. The Professional Boundaries Company described the types of behaviours that raise concern (including sexualised conduct and boundary erosion), common warning signs, and the importance of assessing context and risk factors to inform remediation plans. They also outlined referral routes and timing, their approach to building insight and accountability, typical scenarios they see, and practical preventive steps such as clearer boundaries, recognising power dynamics, accountability structures, self-awareness, and seeking support.

This webinar focused on lone workers and boundaries and regulators’ role in providing consistent policies and codes of conduct as well as the challenges faced by lone workers in maintaining professional boundaries. The presenter stressed the importance of addressing boundary violations early and highlighted the need for regulators to update their language and concepts related to sexual misconduct. The presenter also explained that boundary violations are a feature of all regulated professions and discussed the importance of consistent policies and codes of conduct for all staff members, including non-regulated staff. There was also discussion around colleague relationships and the growing concern about boundary violations between colleagues, particularly in the context of power dynamics and stressed that these issues are not just about patient relationships but also about maintaining professional boundaries with colleagues. 
 

Useful links:

Supporting Professionals, Protecting Patients: Shifting the Narrative on Professional Boundaries in Osteopathy - General Osteopathic Council

Thematic Analysis of Boundaries Education and Training - General Osteopathic Council

• Key definitions:  rape and sexual assault – Sexual Offences Act 2003: Sexual Offences Act 2003
• Definition of sexual harassment – Equality Act 2010: Equality Act 2010
• Worker Protection Act 2023: Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023
• EHRC guidance on preventing sexual harassment at work: Employer 8-step guide: Preventing sexual harassment at work | EHRC
• Crown Prosecution Service: Violence against Women and Girls Strategy 2025-2030: CPS_Violence_against_women_and_girls_strategy_2030_FINAL_EXTERNAL_PUBLICATION.pdf
• Crown Prosecution Service:  Rape and Sexual Offences - Annex A: Tackling Rape Myths and Stereotypes: Rape and Sexual Offences - Annex A: Tackling Rape Myths and Stereotypes | The Crown Prosecution Service

• Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy: Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy - GOV.UK

• Powerful perpetrators: Powerful Perpetrators – ERC/UKRI project led by Dr Natasha Mulvihill, University of Bristol, UK.
• See also Opening Up project above.

Other published reports and research

Government Equalities Office

• Sexual harassment survey 2020: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60f03e068fa8f50c77458285/2021-07-12_Sexual_Harassment_Report_FINAL.pdf

UNISON

• It’s Never OK: a report on sexual harassment against healthcare staff, 2019: Microsoft Word - sexualharassreportfinal.docx
• With Nursing Times, Survey 2021: Majority of nursing staff have experienced sexual harassment at work, survey shows - UNISON National
• UNISON-NT-sexual-harassment-survey.pdf

Royal College of Surgeons Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery

• Breaking the Silence Addressing Sexual Misconduct in Healthcare 2023: db2313_6246937816244a589b4519284026586a.pdf (NB further links in references)
• BJS article by working party members 2023: Sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape by colleagues in the surgical workforce, and how women and men are living different realities: observational study using NHS population-derived weights: Sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape by colleagues in the surgical workforce, and how women and men are living different realities: observational study using NHS population-derived weights | BJS | Oxford Academic
• Breaking the Silence on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery: One Year On, 2024: db2313_f29e309e35274828a9aedc8b03dd6e24.pdf (NB further links in reference
• Turning the Tide: Progress and Actions to Support Targets of Sexual Misconduct in Surgery, 2025: Turning-the-tide-progress-actions-sexual-misconduct-in-surgery.pdf
• Article published in the Royal College of Surgeons Bulletin Protecting or enabling? A review of medical practitioner tribunals involving sexual misconduct: https://publishing.rcseng.ac.uk/doi/10.1308/rcsbull.2025.124#con4

Surviving in Scrubs

• https://www.survivinginscrubs.co.uk/