It can be very difficult to find the words to talk about any experience of sexual assault and rape, and we understand that. Some people don’t tell anybody about their experience(s) of sexual assault or rape for many years. Talking to someone you trust can be helpful for some people. That may be a trusted friend or relative or for some people they feel more comfortable speaking to a professional. The University can also offer support for incidents of sexual assault and rape in the following ways:
Support for Students
Support for Students
- Completing a form on Report and Support to report your experience. A Wellbeing Advisor from Student Welfare, Advice and Guidance will then contact you within three working days to make an appointment to offer support, advice and guidance. Support can include:
o Spending time to simply listen to you
o Information and referrals to local external organisations who could offer further support. This could include support to contact the police, attend hospital or access to local third sector organisations including RASA and Safe Space. For further information on external organisations please see ‘Additional Support’ section on Report and Support.
o Information to support with your studies including Extenuating Circumstances
- The University counselling service has qualified and experienced therapists who can provide you with a safe place to talk. For more information regarding our Counselling Service please click here.
- The University has on-line resources including the online platform Silvercloud; modules include stress, depression and anxiety.
- The Liverpool Guild of Students is independent from the University and can offer support and advice for students who have experienced bullying and harassment. Please click here to access the website for the Guild.
- For information on all the University student support services please click here.
- If you need to speak to someone urgently please contact the Wellbeing Advisors who can provide confidential support, advice and guidance. To contact them please call 0151 795 1000 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday or you can email on advice@liverpool.ac.uk
Support for Staff
- Completing a form on Report and Support to report your incident and to access support. A HR Advisor will then contact you to make an appointment to offer support and advice.
- You can speak to your Team Leader / Line Manager to discuss the impact on you personally and professionally and agree any support you might need. If any issue is about your line manager, then raise your concerns with their manager.
- Staff Counselling is available through the Employee Assistance Programme providing assess to qualified and experienced therapists who can provide you with a safe place to talk. For more information regarding our Employee Assistance Programme please click here.
- The University has on-line resources including the online platform Silvercloud; modules include stress, anxiety and depression.
- The University’s Bullying and Harassment Policy can be found here.
- The Staff Equality Networks may be able to provide peer support. Please click hereto contact them.
- Seeking advice from your Trade Union.
If you are Supporting Someone Else
If a member of the university community has spoken to you about sexual assault or rape you can offer support in a number of ways:
- Listen to them. They trust you so provide a safe space and just listen, you don't need to provide the answers. You could work together and identify a few options and support them in any decision they make. However it is not your responsibility to solve their problem.
- It can take a lot of courage to open up and share unpleasant experiences of any form of sexual assault. Reassure them that you believe them and that they are not to blame for what happened.
- Encourage them to report the incident through Report and Support and to seek support, but don’t push them. It’s their choice, no matter what they decide to do. They can report formally or choose to do this anonymously.
- Respect their privacy. If they have told you in confidence, then keep it confidential. However there may be times you do need to share the information particularly if you believe their safety is at risk. Try and get permission first and let them know who you will share the information with.
- As well as offering support, please seek support for yourself. If you are a student please see 'Support if you are a Student' section above. If you are a staff member please see 'Support if you are a member of staff' section above.
Staff Supporting A Student
You may be the first person a student turns to, to disclose their experience(s) of sexual assault or rape. If you are their lecturer or academic advisor then you may have had a lot of contact with the student and they have chosen you because they feel safe to confide in you.
You can simply listen to the student, try not to ask too many questions and allow them to get upset. Reassure the student that you believe them and that they are not to blame for what happened. We don’t expect you to provide expert advice or long-term support, we will arrange this for the student.
You may be the first person a student turns to, to disclose their experience(s) of sexual assault or rape. If you are their lecturer or academic advisor then you may have had a lot of contact with the student and they have chosen you because they feel safe to confide in you.
You can simply listen to the student, try not to ask too many questions and allow them to get upset. Reassure the student that you believe them and that they are not to blame for what happened. We don’t expect you to provide expert advice or long-term support, we will arrange this for the student.
What to do next
- Give the student options of support (see 'Support if you are a Student' section above). You can encourage them to report any incident through Report and Support. They can do this formally or choose to do this anonymously.
- The When to Refer guide provides additional information on sexual assault please click here for more information.
- The University Disclosure Guide gives information and advice to staff when a student has made a disclosure of sexual assault or rape, please click here for more information.
- If you have any questions following a student disclosure please contact the Wellbeing Advisors and they can give you advice. To contact them please call 0151 795 1000 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday or you can email advice@liverpool.ac.uk