TASC welcomes the publication of new sector-wide data on sexual safety across the ambulance sector and the continued commitment from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) and ambulance services to tackling sexually inappropriate behaviours, sexual harassment, and other forms of sexual violence.
Karl Demian, TASC’s Chief Executive Officer, says:
“Commitment to creating lasting cultural change across our ambulance services is important and the publication of this data provides an opportunity to understand the scale and nature of the issue more clearly, however, it must also be the catalyst for continued action. As an organisation supporting ambulance staff affected by sexual safety issues, we also know that behind every statistic is a person and, in many cases, a deeply distressing experience.”
At TASC, we regularly hear harrowing accounts of the sexual harassment and sometimes the sexual violence they have experienced, and we’re particularly concerned by a recurring theme of people’s experiences being dismissed, minimised or unsupported by their line managers when they speak up. There is real progress being made and hopefully this and the publication of the data will encourage more people to come forward.
With identifying details removed, the following examples demonstrate some of the experiences that have been shared with TASC:
- Clients who struggled with sexually inappropriate comments that were dismissed as banter and raising it with management has turned it into “systemic bullying”.
- One client was sexually assaulted by a colleague but was convinced by her manager that she didn’t want the pain of making a formal report.
- “The sexual assault was easier to deal with than this”, what one client told us about her manager’s behaviour and actions after she told him about her attack.
For someone who has already experienced a sexual safety issue, being met with disbelief, indifference or a lack of action can compound the harm they have experienced. That’s why cultural change cannot stop with policies, strategies or commitments at an organisational level.
Karl Demian continues:
“We strongly support the work being undertaken across the sector, but meaningful change must filter through to every level.
Managers and frontline leaders have a particularly important role to play. They’re often the first people an employee turns to when something has happened, and the way they respond can have a profound impact. Staff should be able to raise concerns without fear of it being downplayed or facing negative consequences for reporting.
This is not about criticising individual managers or ambulance services. It’s about recognising that changing culture is complex and requires sustained effort at every level of an organisation. Publishing data and demonstrating action are important. Ensuring that those actions translate into the day-to-day experiences of ambulance staff is where the real test of cultural change lies and provides a benchmark against which progress can be measured.
Ultimately, TASC’s focus must remain on ambulance staff. While we can’t fix the issue, TASC can provide a safe place for staff impacted by sexual safety issues to go to talk, and be empowered to take back control if they wish to.”
TASC’s Sexual Safety Support Service provides an independent and confidential listening ear for ambulance staff and student paramedics who have been impacted by any type of sexual safety issue, regardless of the perpetrator. To learn more about the service visit: www.theasc.org.uk/safespace
Angie Crashley, TASC’s Wellbeing Support Manager, said:
“Ambulance workers are at the heart of this service. They do not have to report what happened. They do not have to decide what happens next. They can simply talk to someone who understands the ambulance environment and listens without judgement. Most importantly, nothing they tell us is shared with their employer, manager or colleagues.”
Karl Demian continues:
“We need to keep listening to those with lived experience, keep challenging behaviours and cultures that allow sexual safety issues to occur, and ensure that the response to concerns is as strong at local and managerial level as it is in organisational commitments. Most importantly, we need to make sure that ambulance staff know they are not alone.
TASC will continue to listen to the experiences of our ambulance community, use what we learn to inform the support we provide, and work alongside ACCE and other partners across the sector to help create lasting change.
No one should have to experience a sexual safety issue at work. And no one should have to face the impact of it alone.”