Create safer, more respectful workplaces in healthcare
Nearly 1 in 10 NHS staff in England reported experiencing sexual harassment at work in 2023. This 5-week online course equips healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to recognise, respond to, and prevent sexual misconduct in healthcare settings.
You’ll explore key concepts of sexual safety, understand historical and systemic influences, and develop practical strategies to support colleagues and patients.
Understand sexual misconduct and legal responsibilities
You’ll begin this course by defining sexual harassment, misconduct, and discrimination in healthcare, and exploring the key legislation and policies designed to prevent it.
You’ll examine real examples of workplace incidents, reflect on your own experiences, and consider how prevention and reporting can make a tangible difference in your team.
Explore history, inequality, and intersectional experiences
On the second and third week of this course, you’ll examine the historical and systemic factors behind sexual misconduct and gender inequality in healthcare.
You’ll review reports like Surviving Healthcare, consider how power, culture, and institutional practices contribute to risk, and explore how intersecting identities—such as gender, race, age, and disability—affect experiences of harassment and barriers to disclosure.
Support survivors and create inclusive teams
During the final week, you’ll focus on domestic abuse, trauma-informed care, and positive workplace culture. Practical exercises will help you respond effectively to disclosures and embed inclusive policies in your team.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to implement allyship, promote diversity, and contribute to a safer, more respectful environment for both colleagues and patients.
What topics will you cover?
- explore sexual harassment and sexual misconduct
- explore the historical context
- explore intersectionality of sexual misconduct
- explore domestic abuse
- explore your role as a manager
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to:
- develop leadership skills and understanding of sexual harassment and misconduct in healthcare by recognising workplace behaviours, applying legal responsibilities, and implementing prevention strategies
- investigate systemic and historical factors behind sexual misconduct and gender inequality
- evaluate how intersecting identities influence experiences of sexual safety and disclosure.
- apply frameworks like the Power and Control Wheel and trauma-informed approaches to support those who disclose sexual harassment.
- create inclusive, respectful team cultures that promote diversity and equality as foundations for sexual safety in healthcare.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for healthcare professionals and managers, particularly those within the NHS system and continuing their learning and development through the NHS Leadership Academy’s Core Managers courses.
Who developed the course?
NHS Leadership Academy
Our purpose is to help people discover and fulfil their leadership potential to deliver outstanding health and care.
We recommend people complete Developing Inclusive Workplaces programme: Course 1 and Creating a Psychological Contract for a More Inclusive Workplace: Course 2 , Core Managers: Noticing and Challenging Microaggressions: Course 3, Core Managers: Effective Allyship: Course 4 , Increasing Disability Positivity: Course 5 and Leading Inclusivity LGBTQIA Essentials
Developed in partnership
This course is a partnership between the NHS Leadership Academy, the London Race Strategy team and Surviving in Scrubs.
NHS Leadership Academy’s purpose is to help people discover and fulfil their leadership potential to deliver outstanding health and care.
London Race Strategy
London’s Workforce Race Strategy team recognise the challenge and complexity involved in addressing race inequality. They work across London’s NHS to make a significant and tangible difference to the experiences of its BME workforce.
Surviving in Scrubs
We are working hard to raise awareness of this issue in healthcare. Since the campaign launched we have had more than 160 stories submitted, showing the sheer scale of sexism and sexual violence in healthcare.
If you are in the UK and have a role in public health and care, enrol today
For non-UK applicants or if you are not eligible for free access please enrol through FutureLearn.