Sexual harassment is never acceptable in social care. It damages trust, wellbeing and safety for staff, service users and the wider workplace. With the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 now in force, every employer in the UK must take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment before it happens.
For social care providers, this means strengthening policies, training, and culture.
What the Worker Protection Act 2023 means for social care
From October 2024, UK employers are under a new duty to prevent sexual harassment at work. The law makes it clear that:
- Employers must show they have taken reasonable steps to stop harassment before it occurs.
- The definition covers unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that violates dignity or creates an intimidating or offensive environment.
- Responsibility includes harassment by third parties such as suppliers, contractors, visitors, or service users.
- Employment tribunals can increase compensation if employers fail to meet this duty.
For social care, this is particularly important. Staff are often working in sensitive environments, interacting not only with colleagues but also with suppliers, contractors, service users, and family members. This creates unique risks that providers need to recognise and manage.
Everyday risks to be aware of
Sexual harassment does not only happen in obvious situations. In social care, it can take many forms, including:
- Unwanted messages, texts or social media contact
- Inappropriate behaviour at workplace events such as Christmas parties
- Sexual comments or jokes in staff rooms or during handovers
- Harassment from visiting suppliers, contractors, or family members of service users
- Non-verbal actions such as staring, gestures, or displaying inappropriate images
Recognising these risks is the first step to preventing them.
Download your free poster template
To help providers raise awareness, Insequa has developed a free poster template designed for social care settings.
- Display it in staff areas, offices or communal spaces
- Personalise it with your safeguarding lead or HR contact
- Use it as part of induction or refresher training
Download your free sexual harassment awareness poster template, below.
This simple resource helps staff and service users know where to turn for support and reinforces your commitment to keeping everyone safe.
Training makes the difference
Policies alone are not enough. Staff need clear, practical training so they understand:
- What sexual harassment looks like in a care setting
- How to respond if they experience or witness harassment
- How to report concerns safely and with confidence
- The organisation’s commitment to protecting them
At Insequa, our social care leads deliver tailored sexual harassment training that speaks directly to the realities of working in care. Sessions are interactive, practical and designed to build confidence. We refresh training regularly so it stays relevant and reflects current risks and best practice.
Keeping your organisation compliant and safe
To comply with the Worker Protection Act and create a safe workplace, social care providers should:
- Review policies to include risks from suppliers, visitors and events.
- Carry out risk assessments that reflect real situations staff face. [Free Risk Assessment template]
- Train all staff with regular refreshers.
- Provide clear reporting routes and support for those who raise concerns.
- Monitor and review policies and training so they remain current.
Insequa’s team of experienced social care leads work closely with providers to keep policies up to date, ensure training programmes stay fresh, and provide practical tools to make compliance easier.
Take action today
As we approach the first anniversary of the Worker Protection Act 2023, now is the perfect time to review your organisation’s approach.
- Download the free Insequa poster template to display in your workplace
- Book sexual harassment training designed for social care staff
- Talk to our social care leads about keeping your policies and programmes effective
Sexual harassment has no place in social care. Together we can build workplaces where everyone feels respected, supported and safe.
