Supports for Employees

Reporting to Equality Diversity and Inclusion, the full-time roles of Dignity & Respect Support Advisers will work proactively with employees and students who disclose issues of bullying and harassment and those who are reported. These Advisers, who are experienced and trained to support, respond and advise on all reports of a dignity and respect nature, will provide you with a supportive, confidential environment in which to discuss the issues and support you to make a decision that is right for you and your situation.

As a reporting person, these roles will provide support and work with you in relation to the steps to seeking a solution to the issues you are experiencing but the decision will rest with you as to how you would like the issue to be resolved. They can also assist you in making a formal complaint if you wish to do so and continue providing that support throughout the formal complaints process which may include accompanying you to investigation meetings and the provision of aftercare support following any informal or formal interventions.

As a person being reported, the Dignity & Respect Support Advisers are also available to support you if you have been accused of carrying out such behaviour however different advisers will support the various people involved to avoid a conflict of interest. If a formal compliant has been made, they will provide information as to what this will normally entail. They may accompany you to investigations and also provide aftercare support.

The Dignity & Respect Support Advisers will also support, and work closely with, the panel of Dignity and Respect Contact Persons, who are trained voluntary support roles available to those experiencing issues of a dignity and respect nature. Further information on these roles are available in the Support and Guidance document.

The Dignity & Respect Support Adviser roles are available during normal working hours, however in the case of emergency the Duty Manager in Estate Services is available at any time day or night on 716 7999 and has a direct contact the Gardaí (Police) if required.

Further info regarding responsibilities can be found in the D&R Bullying and Harassment policy.

The University has established a panel of Dignity and Respect Support Colleagues who have been trained to provide support and information to you in relation to the resolution of dignity and respect matters. This panel is available to both students and employees and you may approach any member of the Dignity and Respect panel that you wish.  As a student, following initial contact with a Head of School, Associate Dean, Programme Co-ordinator or the Student Adviser, you may also wish to make contact with a Dignity and Respect Support Colleague for further information and support or you can approach a member of the panel in the first instance if you wish. Any meeting that is arranged with a Dignity and Respect Support Colleague remains strictly private and confidential.

The membership of the Dignity and Respect Support Colleagues panel is a diverse group of employees representing different areas of the University who were appointed following an expression of interest process and are voluntary roles. To ensure impartiality, those getting in touch with a Support Colleague from the panel should choose someone not known to them. Further information on the Dignity and Respect Support Colleagues panel and their details can be accessed here.

Further info re responsibilities in the D&R Bullying and Harassment policy.

Employee Assistance Service (for employees)

The UCD Employee Assistance Service (EAS) is a 24/7 free and confidential support service designed to assist employees in dealing more effectively with any personal or work-related problems they might be facing including issues of a dignity and respect nature. The service is operated confidentially by Spectrum.Life, the largest provider of employee health and wellness services in Ireland. The service can be used by a UCD employee, their spouse, civil partner and dependents where the family member can be described as over the age of 18 and residing in the family home. All services provided through the Spectrum.Life EAS are done so in total confidence. The identity of individuals and personal details will always be protected and information will never be shared with or reported to UCD or management team or anyone else, without the employee’s clear consent. Further information on the EAS can be obtained here on the Employee Assistance Service page.

UCD EDI supports a number of employee networks, which provide opportunities for colleagues to get together and make connections and to provide peer support. See here for the list of Networks available

The trade unions are a partner in supporting a positive dignity and respect culture in the University.  Trade union representatives can be contacted to support employees experiencing issues relating to dignity and respect.  The three recognised trade unions in UCD are IFUT, SIPTU & UNITE.

At times, individuals may feel more comfortable contacting external supports outside of UCD where people are not known to them. The following are some external supports you may wish to avail of.

PAVEE Point

Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre is a national non-governmental organisation comprised of Travellers, Roma and members of the majority population working in partnership at national, regional, local and international levels. Over the past thirty years Pavee Point has an established track record in innovative and ground-breaking work using a collective community development approach to addressing Traveller issues and promoting Traveller rights.

Phone: +353 (01) 8780255
Email: (opens in a new window)info@pavee.ie

Transgender Equality Network Ireland

TENI is a non-profit member-driven organisation, founded in 2006 and registered as a company limited by guarantee in February 2010. The governance is provided by a volunteer Board and operations are led by the Chief Executive and staff. Community engagement is an essential part of TENI’s identity and their mandate is based on a substantial membership, which elects the Board and is involved in long-term strategic planning.

Gender Identity Family Support Line: 01 907 3707

Akidwa

Akina Dada wa Africa-AkiDwA (Swahili for sisterhood) is a national network of migrant women living in Ireland. AkiDwA’s vision is a just society where there is equal opportunity and equal access to resources in all aspects of society – social, cultural, economic, civic and political. Their mission is to promote equality and justice for all migrant women living in Ireland. Over two decades, AkiDwA has gained recognition as a leading NGO for highlighting the issues faced by migrant women in Ireland. AkiDwA consults with migrant women and other key stakeholders, identifies discriminatory practices and develops evidence-based and representative solutions that address key issues like health, sexual and gender-based violence, and discrimination.

Phone: 01 8349851

As set out in the Dignity and Respect – Sexual Misconduct policy, [insert link] the University is committed to supporting the development of a working and learning environment in which sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and sexual violence, is unacceptable and where individuals have the confidence and trust in the process to come forward, in the knowledge that their concerns will be dealt with appropriately, sensitively and fairly. The University recognises that coming forward with an issue of sexual misconduct is difficult for an individual. Any issues raised will be treated seriously and objectively and sensitively, where the rights of the person raising the issue and the person against whom the issue is being raised are respected.  As an individual coming forward with an issue, you will be provided with a range of supports, options and re-assurances in order to help the issue to be resolved and for you to feel safe. The aim of this webpage is to provide information to you on supports that are available during this process. These supports will also provide information to you as to your options or will signpost you to where you can obtain more detailed and specific information and guidance in relation to resolving the issues. This is advised before deciding what course of action is appropriate. There are a number of roles in the University that have a responsibility in relation to promoting a culture of dignity and respect. These roles are described in detail the Sexual Misconduct policy.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) – Phone 1800 77 88 88

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is an external source of support that offers counselling services to help people recover from the trauma of sexual violence. 

Their telephone counsellors are available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, to listen, provide information and organise counselling if desired. The Helpline is available to people who have experienced rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment or childhood sexual abuse. It is also available to those supporting victims - family, friends and professionals.

They have a dedicated group of trained volunteers who are available to offer support and information to anyone who is attending the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in the Rotunda Hospital. This support service is also offered to families and friends accompanying those attending the unit.

They also have trained volunteers available to accompany anyone wishing to make a statement to the Gardai. They will also accompany those who are attending court or similar proceedings. 

Men’s Aid

Men’s Aid Ireland is the only dedicated national service supporting men and their families experiencing Domestic Violence including coercive control in Ireland. Their professional and qualified support team have years of experience in supporting men and families experiencing domestic abuse.

National Confidential Helpline – 01 554 3811

Women’s Aid

Women's Aid is a leading national organisation that has been working in Ireland to stop domestic violence against women and children since 1974. They work to make women and children safe from domestic violence, offer support, provide hope to women affected by abuse and work for justice and social change. Over the course of 40 years the organisation has built up a huge body of experience and expertise on the issue, enabling them to best support women and children and share this knowledge with other agencies responding to women experiencing domestic violence.  

Direct Services for women experiencing domestic violence underpin and inform all of their work to end domestic violence.

The Women's Aid National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides support and information to callers experiencing abuse from intimate partners.

The Women's Aid Helpline is the only free, national, domestic violence helpline with specialised trained staff, fully accredited by The Helplines Association and with a Telephone Interpretation Service facility covering 170 languages for callers needing interpreting services.