Dignity and Respect Advisors

Source: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/departments/inclusion/support/dignityandrespect/#a2 Parent: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/departments/inclusion/

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Dignity and Respect Advisors

Dignity and Respect Advisors are members of staff from across the University who have volunteered and are trained to undertake the role. They provide a confidential and informal service for anyone involved in cases of harassment or bullying (including those facing allegations about their behaviour). Advisors can listen, talk through the options available and, if appropriate signpost to other sources of support and advice.

Who can contact them

Dignity and Respect Advisors can provide support to any staff or students. Students can contact any of the Dignity and Respect Advisors. Staff can contact any of the non-Guild Dignity and Respect Advisors. It is also recommended that wherever possible, the Dignity and Respect Advisors based in your own department or division are not selected to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

Occasionally, a Dignity and Respect Advisor may need to refer an individual contacting them to another Advisor within the Network. This may be due to personal commitments, a potential conflict of interest or because another Advisor is better equipped to assist with a particular issue.

Dignity and Respect Advisors are there to listen to what has happened and to help and support, and explain the options, whether or not someone wishes to make a formal complaint. They also have names and addresses of external support groups or other professional bodies if referral is more appropriate.

View a list of advisors and their contact details.

Confidentiality

You can be assured of Dignity and Respect Advisors' total confidentiality. The Advisor will complete a brief, anonymous record of any discussion that will be used by the University’s Equality and Diversity team solely for the purpose of monitoring the effectiveness of the Policy and the network of Dignity and Respect Advisors in dealing effectively with concerns about inappropriate conduct. The Advisor will discuss the contents of this record with you.

Exceptionally, if the Dignity and Respect Advisor considers that there is unacceptable risk to the individual, another person or the University, they may inform one of the University’s Personal Representatives to the Vice-Chancellor, but you will be advised of this before any disclosure is made. The information will only be disclosed to relevant parties and all investigations will apply appropriate levels of confidentiality.

What they can and can’t do

Dignity and Respect Advisors can:

• provide a supportive, confidential and informal environment in which to discuss issues regarding harassment and/or bullying
• provide information on the options that are available
• assist those seeking advice in thinking those options through
• empathise without judgement
• accompany individuals at meetings in an informal capacity or under their ‘right to be accompanied’ (providing all parties involved are in agreement)
• if appropriate, signpost to other sources of support/advice

Dignity and Respect Advisors cannot:

• make decisions for the individual seeking advice or ‘fix’ their situation
• take action against the alleged harasser
• mediate or negotiate between the individual seeking advice and the alleged harasser
• provide counselling (counselling for students is provided by Wellbeing Services; staff can access counselling through Spectrum Life)
• give directional advice
• meet with individual seeking advice outside of office hours or outside of University premises

How to get in touch

• Students can contact any of the Dignity and Respect Advisors.
• Staff can contact any of the non-Guild Dignity and Respect Advisors.

It is also recommended that wherever possible, the Dignity and Respect Advisors based in your own College or Service are not selected to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

Penryn Campus (Cornwall)

St Luke's Campus

Streatham Campus

Dignity and Respect Advisor profiles

Tim Harris

Streatham Campus

I am an Education Welfare Adviser, supporting students whose health or other personal circumstances make it hard for them to engage with their studies. I’ve also worked in the Wellbeing Centre, managing referrals and waiting lists for students accessing our mental health services. I previously worked in the Student’s Guild as an adviser in the Advice Team.

I am trained in Race Equity and Mental Health First Aid.

Email: t.harris@exeter.ac.uk

Telephone: 01392 727 060

Hayley McCormack

Penryn Campus (Cornwall)

I work as an administrator in the Education and Student Support Services Team in Penryn, and handle student enquiries and administration in regards to their course.

I have worked as a programmes administrator since 2010, initially for CLES, but now also for Politics and the new Business School. I am also an Exeter graduate – so have a good knowledge of student life and services at the Penryn Campus.

Email: h.l.mccormack@exeter.ac.uk

Prof Sandra Kröger

Streatham Campus

I am an Associate Professor of Political Science who specialises in EU democracy, with coexisting interests in ethics, smartphones, and digital democracy.

I joined the team of Dignity and Respect Advisors in fall 2023 to make a difference by listening and providing unbiased support to those who need it, having previously benefitted myself from talking to a D&R Advisor and Speak Out Guardian.

I feel strongly about fairness, respect and anti-discrimination and want to contribute to moving our community further in the direction of achieving those principles. Most of the support I provide is through Teams or Zoom.

Email: S.Kroeger@exeter.ac.uk

Totty Brobyn (she/her)

Streatham Campus and home working

I am the Committee Secretariat Administrator, coordinating and facilitating governance committees such as Council, Senate and Audit and Risk Committee. Alongside my full-time role, I am a Mental Health Champion and a member of the Wellbeing and LGBTQ+ networks.

My career at the University has seen me in a variety of roles from working in a college to being a member of the Executive Suite team, and I joined the Dignity and Respect Advisor Network in 2023.

Email: r.brobyn@exeter.ac.uk

Working pattern: Compressed full-time hours: 5 days week 1, 4 days week 2 (always Friday as non-working day), and on-campus days are Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Dr Mohammad Akrami

Streatham Campus

My portfolio for the Dignity and Advisory role seamlessly merges my academic expertise as a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering with my steadfast commitment to support staff and students, both personally and pastorally. Grounded in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), I am dedicated to upholding the dignity of all members of the university community.

My academic background provides a solid foundation in problem-solving, analytical thinking, and collaborative leadership, which I apply to foster an inclusive and respectful environment for staff and students. I firmly believe that nurturing dignity and advocating for EDI not only enhances the university experience but also cultivates a thriving academic community.

Email: m.akrami@exeter.ac.uk

Working pattern: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Catherine Hayman

Streatham Campus

I have had a long varied career with the University, stopping to have my two children along the way. Most of my roles I have been within CIOSS (previously 'Campus Services') and have been staff, student, and customer-facing.

I am currently the Estate Services Quality Systems Manager. I joined the Dignity and Respect Advisor Network in 2013.

Email:C.J.Hayman@exeter.ac.uk

Working pattern: Monday to Thursday on campus, Fridays from home.

Tristan Snowsill

St Luke's Campus

I am a Senior Lecturer (E&R) in the Department of Health and Life Sciences. I have worked at the University since 2011, with experience being an ECR, and have been a Dignity and Respect Advisor since 2013.

Email: t.m.snowsill@exeter.ac.uk

Telephone: 01392 726 092