Dignity & Respect Liaison & Resolution Officer

The role of Dignity & Respect Liaison & Resolution Officer holds a lead responsibility for managing key aspects of Dignity & Respect and Student Casework issues that involve student safeguarding. 

About the role

The landscape of safeguarding in education has undergone significant changes in recent years, responding to emerging challenges and evolving needs. Safeguarding now encompasses a broad range of issues, especially in higher education, such as preventing sexual harassment, hate crimes, and promoting better mental health.

As students’ experiences become more diverse, this role will seek to create and enhance our environment at the university where both students and staff feel safe and supported and to address inclusivity, discrimination, and the unique challenges within a higher education setting. 

You will:

• lead and manage the operation of the University’s Support & Report system and the response to reports raised through it for student Reporting Parties. 
• act as a single point of contact for a student reporting party throughout joint informal and formal Dignity & Respect cases.
• initiate and liaise with students and HR (where involving staff) to explore, design and deliver informal resolution-based solutions to potential Dignity & Respect and also student discipline and complaint reports and issues. 
• provide information on university processes and facilitate and signpost to practical and wellbeing support for the parties. 
• act as a facilitator identifying and designing resolution processes between the University and the student reporting parties and respondents to reach positive resolutions at the earliest possible point, where this is appropriate. 
• identify learning from resolution and other processes and utilise this to improve practice across the University on an ongoing basis and will support in the training of staff in managing these situations. 

About you

We’re looking for excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build trust, show empathy, and manage complex and challenging situations with sensitivity. You should have solid experience in helping people resolve conflicts, understand different perspectives, and improve relationships and behaviour through learning and growth.

A good understanding of issues in higher education, equality and diversity, and resolution-based approaches is essential. Experience with trauma-informed investigations would be an advantage.

Qualifications or training in mental health, trauma-informed practices, sexual misconduct, or suicide prevention are helpful but not essential, as training can be provided.

Further information

For an informal conversation about the role please contact Elisabeth Day, Deputy Director (Student Policy & Safeguarding) on ed216@bath.ac.uk.

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