What is Report + Support?
Report + Support is an online tool where staff and students can report instances of harassment including racism, misogyny, islamophobia, homophobia and sexual misconduct that they witness or personally experience online or offline. The platform is also a place where staff and students can report any behaviours that may impact wellbeing. Staff and students can make anonymous or named reports using this platform. The Report + Support location is also home to information about internal policies and procedures provided by the university.
Who can make a report?
All Keele University students and staff, including students on placements, visitors, and external contractors, can make a report through Report + Support.
What happens when someone makes an anonymous report?
Reports received will be directed to authorised Keele University Student Services and Human Resources staff. Named reports received will normally be responded to within 48hrs to a maximum of five working days. It will not be possible to respond to anonymous reports however any information received will be addressed with the appropriate persons. All reports will be stored securely by Human Resources and Student Services.
What is the difference between anonymous and named reports?
An anonymous report means that the person writing the report has chosen not to supply their name and contact details, although they may have named other people within the content of the report. All reports received will be investigated although if an anonymous report is received the person making the report cannot be contacted for further information and will not be advised regarding the outcome of the report. Oppositely if a person chooses to provide their name and contact details, we can contact them, offer further support and receive any other information they wish to share. A named report does not necessarily mean the action taken will become formal, but it does allow us to offer support, ask questions regarding the details received within the report content and gain first hand understanding from the report writer.
What happens when someone wants to contact a person directly?
An alternative way for students if they wish to contact Student Services directly is by emailing student.services@keele.ac.uk or they may wish to speak to their Personal Tutor. If a staff member wishes to contact Human Resources, they can do so by contacting your Human Resources link adviser, or they may wish to speak to their line manager. The appropriate person will then contact the student or staff member directly.
What action can you take from anonymous reports?
Information provided within all reports will be addressed with the appropriate area and or person. The information also allows Keele university to gain a greater understanding regarding what behaviours are prevalent across the institution and to address these using appropriate interventions with the aim of eliminating unacceptable behaviour. The statistical data gained also informs proactive prevention work to ensure Keele maintains it stance as an inclusive employer and place of study.
How will Keele University manage malicious complaints?
If a report is found to be malicious or vexatious, such reports will be addressed under existing student and staff procedures. We understand that making a report is not easy because of a what was experienced or witnessed. This is why we treat reports received with sensitivity; however students and staff should be aware that on rare occasions reports could be made without good intention and therefore we must also have a process to deal with these.
What do you do with the data gathered from advisor reports?
The data collected from Report + Support is reported to various areas of the university. The reports produced are anonymised and only high-level information is shared. Examples of what high level reports consist of includes the number of cases received, most reported types of harassment and location.
How secure is the data and information sent through the system?
Data held on Report + Support is GDPR compliant and further information about how data is collected and stored is outlined in the Privacy Notice seen on the link on the platform. The system has been security tested by both the developer and Culture Shift.
How long is data stored on the system?
We will only retain personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil purposes we collected it for. We keep records in line with the normal university data retention policy. All personal data will be kept according to the Records Retention Schedule.