Confidential advisers
Supervisor as first point of contact
If you're experiencing undesirable behaviour from colleagues or students, your line manager is usually your first point of contact. However, a manager cannot always guarantee confidentiality. If you prefer not to speak to your manager, or if the conversation doesn't lead to a resolution, you can always contact a confidential advisor. They are available to all staff, but also to students, external PhD candidates, guest researchers and visitors.
What a confidential advisor can do
A confidential advisor can:
- offer a listening ear for your experiences and emotions;
- support you in stopping the behaviour or preventing escalation;
- only take action with your explicit consent;
- refer you to professional support services if needed;
- assist in filing a formal complaint with the Complaints Committee.
All conversations are strictly confidential. You can find more information about the role and working methods of confidential advisors on the pages ‘Annual reports of confidential advisers’ and ‘Regulations coverning the confidential adviser for academic integrity’.
Contacting a confidential advisor
All confidential advisors work independently and confidentially, and are specially trained for this role.
You are free to choose which advisor you wish to contact – this does not have to be someone from your own faculty or service.
-
Confidential advisers for undesirable behaviour and integrity violations
Are you dealing with sexual harassment, (verbal) aggression, violence, bullying, or discrimination or suspect an integrity violation (e.g. theft, bribery,abuse of power, self-enrichment through fraud)? You can contact one of the confidential advisors for undesirable behaviour and integrity. You may choose who to approach. Contact details can be found on the page ‘Contact details for confidential advisers for undesirable behaviour and integrity violations’.
-
Confidential advisers for support of those accused
If you have been accused of sexual harassment, (verbal) aggression, violence, bullying, discrimination or an integrity violation, you can contact one of the two confidential advisers specialising in supporting the accused: Enneke Tuinhof and Erik van Arkel. They are trained confidential advisers and have additional qualifications in this area.
Enneke Tuinhof
Enneke is a project manager within the Administration Centre (AC) and has been working at the UvA since 2017. She has been involved in various projects in educational logistics and for the last three years as theme coordinator within the Educational Logistics Programme (POL).
Enneke has been working in the AC's Business Office since this year and is also a confidential adviser.
In her own words
'I became a confidential adviser because I think it is important that employees always have a place where they can go if they no longer feel safe in their work environment. If you are dealing with aggression, bullying, harassment or sexual harassment, it can be very confronting and it can hinder your ability to do your job well. I listen to your story. Often that can help a lot, so it's fine if you want to leave it at that, but I can also give you advice about possible next steps. Whether and to what extent you want to take steps is entirely up to you. In any case, do not hesitate to contact me.'
Contact
J.G. (Enneke) Tuinhof
Administratief Centrum/ Bedrijfsbureau
T: 06 29 94 26 39
E: j.g.tuinhof@uva.nl
Erik van Arkel
Erik van Arkel has been a coordinator of operations in the Public Law department since 1 September 2017. He previously worked in operations and management in central government and ran his own business CATREAL.COM, which aims to help people and organisations to boost their resilience.
In his own words
'As a confidential adviser, I want to help create a UvA environment in which people feel safe and where diversity is respected and valued.'
-
Confidential adviser for academic integrity
Do you suspect fraud, plagiarism, or another breach of academic integrity? Don’t wait – speak to a confidential advisor, you are encouraged to discuss your concerns at an early stage. The following advisers are available for this:
For more information, see the ‘Regulations governing the confidential adviser for academic integrity’.
After a report
If you contact a confidential advisor, you’ll go through a number of steps together. You are always in charge of the pace and direction of the process.
Step 1 – Initial conversation
You will usually be invited for a confidential meeting within 5 working days. This can take place by phone, online, or at a safe location on campus. You are invited to share your story. Further steps will only be taken if you choose to do so.
Step 2 – Exploring options
In a follow-up meeting, different options are discussed. The confidential advisor explains the possible courses of action and their consequences. You set the pace and remain in control.
Step 3 – Choosing a next step
Together you decide which step fits best. Options include:
- a conversation with the person involved (with or without mediation);
- discussing the issue with a line manager;
- putting the situation in writing and sharing it;
- reporting to the ombudsperson;
- submitting a formal complaint;
- deciding not to take further action.
You can also discuss whether additional support is helpful.
Step 4 – Evaluation
Finally, you will evaluate whether the approach has had the desired effect, and whether further steps are needed. The confidential advisor remains available for support.
Reporting Point for Social Safety and Integrity
Are you experiencing inappropriate behaviour or a breach of integrity? Depending on the type of support you need, there are several places you can turn to. The Reporting Point will guide you.