Please read the page about bullying and harassment first.
The Harassment Advisers will not, as a general rule, make recommendations or reports (although there may be rare occasions when they do) but instead will listen in an informal atmosphere and help with the discernment of the necessary action and support needed.
They are not able to take on an advocacy role but will:
- be a point of contact and support for any lay or clergy (church officer/ member of congregation/employee)
- consider whether the matter is appropriate to be dealt with in an informal way. Cases involving formal action will lie outside the remit of the Harassment Adviser. For instance, the threshold for invoking the Clergy Discipline Measure is if a complaint of serious misconduct has been made against members of the clergy
- refer to the DSA (Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser) when appropriate. NB: Any pastoral support for a complainant will be dealt with separately
- arrange an appropriate time for each discussion/meeting
- actively listen in a non-judgmental manner
- help identify the problems faced, and explore and discuss options in order to determine whether and how matters should be progressed
- help to obtain information on diocesan policies and procedures
- signpost other services or agencies as appropriate
- maintain appropriate confidentiality
- make and store securely appropriate summary records of action taken for each case, taking into account any safeguarding and GDPR requirements for record keeping, which remain the property of the Bishop of Coventry’s office
- receive initial training/orientation, with refresher training as appropriate
Harassment Advisers in the Diocese of Coventry are:-
Rev. Sue Fairhurst sue@fairhursts.me.uk 01926 735254
Rev. Jonathan Fryer jonathan@allsaintscoton.org 07986 838459