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The Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences and the University of Oxford have a zero tolerance approach to harassment and bullying; and are fully committed to supporting individuals who feel they have been, or are being, harassed or bullied. The department is dedicated to maintaining a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all members of the University community are respected. This includes staff, students, and visitors.

General Information

University policy on harassment and bullying:

You can find information on the University’s policy on bullying and harassment on the Equality and Diversity Unit webpages, including:

It is part of the University's policy that all complaints are dealt with in the strictest of confidence.

Departmental Sources of Advice and Support

To discuss any issues you may be experiencing with bullying or harassment in confidence you can contact our trained bullying and harassment advisers in the department, listed below:

NDS Bullying and Harassment Advisors

For those staff members based in the Botnar Research Centre – you can contact any of the individuals above, however if you would like to speak to someone closer to home please contact the Botnar Bullying and Harassment team:

The Bullying and Harassement Advisors at the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism are:

  • Mark Stevenson, Senior Post-doctoral Researcher  (email Mark
  • Sue Beatty, Clinical Research Unit Nurse Manager (email Sue)
  • Chris Groves, Laboratory Manager (email Chris)

Further advice and support at the University

Information on the Harassment Adviser Network: If you would like to speak with someone outside of the department you may prefer to make use of the University’s confidential harassment adviser network. There are approximately 300 harassment advisers within the University, with two (one of either sex) appointed within each department and faculty. You can arrange to discuss any problems you might be having with regards to bullying by emailing or calling 01865 270760.

Internal and external sources of advice: This University maintained webpage details several services both internal and external for support and advice.

College harassment policies: If you are a student dealing with harassment, many Colleges have their own harassment policies which may be of use to you. Please visit the College website to find their policy on harassment.

Occupational Health Service: The University Occupational Health Service will be able to advise on dealing with stress and provide access to counselling and support.

Student Counselling Service and Student Advice Service: Both designed for students, the counselling service (run centrally) and the advice service (run by the Oxford University Student Union), are excellent sources of advice and support.

Online training in harassment 

Challenging Behaviour: Dealing with bullying and harassment in the workplace is an online training course designed to give you a better understanding of:

• The legal and moral responsibilities of all staff
• The tools to recognise and put a stop to bullying and harassment
• Why certain behaviours are inappropriate
• The damage caused by bullying and harassment
• How to respond to inappropriate behaviour
• The knowledge and skills necessary to work successfully as part of a diverse team.

All staff and students affiliated with NDS are encouraged to undertake this training. Log on to the training course using your single sign-on credentials. 

Bullying related stories in the news

Workplace bullying associated with a higher risk of diabetes, says study