Dignity Champions
- We have a network of Dignity Champions to support staff who want to raise concerns about Dignity and Respect at Sussex.
- Find out more about the role or read the job description.
- You can make a request to speak to a dignity champion using our online request form.
- What is a Dignity and Respect champion?
-
Our seven new Dignity Champions to support our Dignity and Respect Policy. Dignity Champions provide confidential and informal advice to those who feel they are experiencing difficult working relationships, including bullying or harassment, or who have witnessed such behaviour. They are a group of trained individuals from across the University. They can listen, talk through the options available and, if appropriate, signpost to other sources of support and advice.
- What skills do they offer?
-
- listens in a way that is attentive and non-judgemental
- deploys effective questioning, affirmation, summarising and reflection
- reads body language and uses body language to support communication
- able to synthesise multiple strands of information and find a way through
- empathetic
- open-minded, aware of unconscious bias
- knowledgeable about the relevant policies and practices, and able to translate these into clear information and options for ways forward
- sets clear boundaries
- builds trusting relationships quickly
- maintains focus so that discussions are outcome focused
- contains own emotions and manages themselves and their own values appropriately
- able to contribute to the wider team of Dignity Champions
They will also have:
- coaching skills
- experience working with issues of Dignity and Respect
- knowledge of relevant policies and practices
- What do they do?
-
Dignity Champions will work as part of a team of champions, offering mutual support, advice and sharing responsibility for updating the VC and DPVC EDI on the content and extend of issues in their caseload.
- What are their main responsibilities?
-
To meet with individuals and provide appropriate support such as:
- listening effectively to their concerns and fully exploring issues raised
- help them analyse the problem
- provide good information on the University’s relevant policies and procedures
- help them understand the courses of action available to them
- advise on sources of support
- If the individual wants to attempt an informal resolution, the adviser can:
- explain the informal procedures
- help them to think about how they might approach the other party, and come up with a form of words to frame their concerns
If the individual wants to make a formal complaint, they can
- explain the formal procedure
- advise the individual about how they might prepare a complaint, and the procedure to be followed.
- What does a Dignity Champion not do?
-
- decide or give a view about what behaviour constitutes discrimination and /or harassment
- give legal advice
- offer ongoing emotional support
- act as a representative if the individual decides to take action
- attend meetings with the individual when the issue is being resolved
- write letters on the individual’s behalf
- mediate or negotiate between the individual seeking advice and the alleged perpetrator