Receiving a gender-based violence (GBV) disclosure
Updated on: 26 October 2025
Guidance on what to do if you receive a gender-based violence (GBV) disclosure
If you or someone else is in immediate danger
Call the emergency services on 999 (dial 9999 from a University extension) if you or someone else is in physical danger or needs urgent medical help.
After calling 999, you can contact the University Security and Response Team on +44 (0)1334 46 8999 (dial 8999 from a University extension).
You can find more information and support below:
- For staff: Guidance is available in this guide and in the Dignity and Respect at Work policy (PDF).
- For students: Visit the student support and wellbeing pages.
- For everyone: Specialist gender-based violence (GBV) support.
What to do
If someone tells you they have experienced sexual or gender-based violence (GBV), your response can make a big difference. You do not need to be a specialist – your role is to listen with empathy and help them find the right support.
All staff should keep a GBV support card (PDF), ideally stored with your staff ID. The card outlines six steps to guide you if you receive a disclosure. These steps are explained below.
Six steps to support someone making a disclosure:
1. Believe them
Be kind. Reassure them they are not to blame. Confirm you are taking the matter seriously. Do not ask for proof.
2. Explain your role and guide them towards specialist support
Make it clear you are not a trained specialist but you can listen, share information and help them access support.
The best outcome is that they receive help from a specialist as soon as possible.
You can:
- Offer to support them in reporting the incident to the University through or to the Director or Deputy Director of HR at hrconfidential@st-andrews.ac.uk.
- Refer the employee to Specialist gender-based violence (GBV) support.
3. Ask if they feel safe
Gently ask if they are feeling frightened and what they are afraid of.
Let them know early in the conversation that you must share the disclosure if there is a risk of serious harm to them or others. This is to keep them safe.
Share the information with:
- The Director or Deputy Director of HR at hrconfidential@st-andrews.ac.uk or
- Vice-Principal People and Diversity.
If you are unsure whether to escalate, remove any identifying information and ask the Director or Deputy Director of HR for advice.
4. Listen actively
Focus fully on what they are telling you. Don’t interrupt. Don’t be afraid of silences.
Do not investigate or ask for details, that is not your role.
Take short, factual notes only. Do not include assumptions.
You should email a copy of your notes to the person who is making the disclosure and include details of support they can access. Then dispose of any printed notes.
5. Give them control
It’s important that the person making a disclosure feels in control of what happens next.
Do not offer solutions, give advice or take action without their full consent, unless there is a risk of serious harm to them or others (see step 3 above).
6. Safeguard under-18s
If the person making the disclosure is over 16 but under 18, you must pass this information to the University's safeguarding contact. Ideally, do this with their consent.
Further guidance if you receive a disclosure
You may be called as a witness if the person (or the University) reports the incident to the police.
You have an obligation to keep the information confidential. Except where there is a risk of serious harm to them or others. In that case, you have an obligation to disclose to the director or deputy director of HR at hrconfidential@st-andrews.ac.uk or the Vice-Principal for People and Diversity.