At St Hugh’s, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels able to speak up when something does not seem right.
We encourage both staff and students to raise concerns about wrongdoing, misconduct, unsafe practices, unethical behaviour, breaches of policy, fraud, safeguarding issues, discrimination, harassment, or any other activity that could harm individuals, the College, or the wider community.
Why Speak Up?
Speaking up helps us:
- Protect the wellbeing, safety and welfare of our students, staff and visitors.
- Identify and address issues at an early stage.
- Maintain high standards of integrity, accountability and professionalism.
- Foster a culture of openness, trust and continuous improvement.
You do not need to be certain that wrongdoing has occurred before reporting a concern. If you have a genuine concern, we would rather hear about it and assess the situation appropriately.
Reporting a Concern Through Safecall
To support a safe and independent reporting process, the College has partnered with Safecall, an independent and confidential reporting service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Safecall provides an alternative route for raising concerns if you:
- Feel uncomfortable reporting directly to the College.
- Wish to discuss a concern confidentially.
- Believe the matter involves someone you would normally report to.
- Prefer to use an independent third party.
Reports can be made by telephone or through the Safecall online reporting portal:
0800 915 1571
Why Use an Independent Reporting Service?
Using an external provider offers several important benefits:
- Independence – reports are received by an organisation that is separate from the College.
- Confidentiality – your information is handled sensitively and only shared with those responsible for reviewing the concern.
- Accessibility – reporting is available at any time, from any location.
- Anonymity – if you choose, you may make your report anonymously.
- Trust and reassurance – some individuals find it easier to raise concerns through an independent organisation.
While anonymous reporting is available, providing your identity can make it easier to investigate concerns thoroughly and provide feedback where appropriate.
Important: Tell Safecall Whether You Are a Student or a Member of Staff
When making a report to Safecall, you must identify yourself as either:
- A Student, or
- A Member of Staff
Please therefore include “Student” or “Member of Staff” at the start of your report before describing your concern (or under ‘Details of the concern’ when reporting online). This information is required to enable the College to route your report to the appropriate team.
You do not need to provide more personal information than you are comfortable sharing, but please ensure that your status as a student or staff member is clearly stated when making your report.
What Happens Next?
Once a concern is received, it will be reviewed by the appropriate department in College and assessed to determine the most suitable course of action.
The College will investigate concerns fairly, objectively and confidentially. Where possible, updates will be provided, although there may be occasions when confidentiality requirements limit the information that can be shared.
Protection for Those Who Speak Up
The College does not tolerate victimisation, retaliation or adverse treatment against anyone who raises a genuine concern in good faith.
Anyone who speaks up responsibly will be treated with respect, and concerns will be handled seriously and confidentially.
We encourage all members of our College community to play their part in maintaining a safe, ethical and inclusive environment by raising concerns whenever something does not feel right.
