First Responders may also support you by advocating on your behalf when accessing University services, or in relation to your studies where a safeguarding incident might impact on your university participation. For staff, First Responders can provide in-person support at meetings if appropriate.
How are First Responders allocated?
First Responders are allocated on a case-by-case basis. You will be contacted by the Report and Support Response Team who will introduce themselves, identify a suitably trained First Responder for your case (for example, a First Responder trained to support Gender-based Violence, children, or vulnerable adults), and discuss the plan of action.
Your allocated First Responder will usually be from outwith your Faculty or Professional Services area. This is to create neutral distance and discretion from your usual work, study, or personal relationships.
Please note
First Responders may take simple and effective action if a person of concern is not able to make decisions for themselves, or is at risk of harm caused by themselves or others. First Responders may call upon Campus Security for urgent action or contact emergency services if needed.
How does it work?
There are two ways to tell us about something that's happened:
Make a disclosure
A disclosure is when you may want to tell someone about something that has happened to you, or something you're concerned about, but do not wish for action to be taken, or to start a more formal process with the University or legal procedures.
Submit a report
A report is the first formal step in raising an incident with the University or the police.
Your report
If seeking support, especially if you're from the LGBTQIA+ community or someone who engages in sex work, we understand that you may be fearful of information in your report or disclosure being revealed or used against you. We respect your right to protect information about yourself. Information disclosed in your report will not be shared outside the small group of staff that respond to reports without your consent or before you are ready to tell your own story. Our focus is on a safe and supported disclosure and, in cases of sexual assault or gender-based violence, we would not normally pursue any disciplinary processes if you disclose such things as drug or alcohol consumption within your report. Exceptions to this are where we consider there are serious risks of harm to you or to other people, and cases relating to fitness to practice, professional standards or conditions set by regulatory bodies.
Next steps
The Report and Support Response Team will select and put you in touch with a suitable First Responder. If you have a preference for who you might like to speak with, please email report-and-support@strath.ac.uk, and let us know. We'll do our best to connect you.
Meet the team
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