Safe Communications and Interviewing

Elements expected for all roles

Examples of statements or behaviours which indicate the need for further development

• The principles of safe, respectful communication including non-verbal body language and gestures

• Cultural differences in communication, including community mannerisms, derogatory terms, common expressions and euphemisms, gaps in language relating to SCRSV or survivors (following local input where necessary) [MC 6.8]

• Inclusive and non-harmful forms of communications and language in the relevant contexts (following local input where necessary and/or glossary/language work with interpreters/community actors) [MC 6.8, 1.8, 3.3]

• Examples of stigmatising language in that context [MC 3.3, 6.8]

• Basic elements of a safe interview space, and potential adjustments for gender, age, disabilities and other intersectional factors (before individual survivor input and adaptation) [MC 9.3]

• Basic elements of a private, confidential meeting space and private communications [MC 9.4]

• Basic elements of a safe structure and elements of a survivor-centred interview, including how to ask open questions, giving examples of these [MC 10.4-10.6]

• That interviews with persons under 18 years requires a different approach and methodology [MC 7.6]

• Specific risks of remote interactions and interviews with SCRSV survivors and basic measures to mitigate [MC 5.4]

See also the core values of Humanity, Dignity and Empathy, Composure and Balance, and the technical competencies of Working with People of Different Genders, Ages and Abilities; Trauma Awareness and Understanding (especially re Escalation Protocols).

• Using the same communication style and language regardless of setting or individual before them

• Starting the work without prior preparation which includes understanding communication, language and culture

• Interviewing people under 18 as if they were adults without best interest assessment or change in methodology or communication

• Failing to consider privacy or ‘safe space’ aspects of interview rooms, using institutional interview locations without alteration regardless of survivor, environment or privacy

• Conducting remote interviews without risks assessments or prior planning

Expected for all roles

Specific to programming (designing and delivering SCRV programming)

Specific to survivor interaction roles (direct interaction with survivor to gather information)

Examples of behaviour which indicate a need for further development

• Effectively and clearly convey information in an accessible understandable way to individuals (survivors, colleagues, partners, etc)

• Use culturally appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication

• Use non- stigmatising language and forms of communication (through our tone, words, body language or other actions) [MC 3.3]

• Plan for, identify and implement private communications, private access and low profile contact with or about individuals including survivors

• Create safe environment and safe space for others (survivors, colleagues or partners) to communicate freely and express views [MC 9.3]

• Seeks and facilitates open two way communication and encourages others to share concerns, express views and preferences, ask questions and say no

• Build (and maintain) trust and rapport with different individuals 

• Assess locations as safe spaces, including private access and meeting rooms [MC 9.3-9.4]

• Ensure resources for understanding language and communication in the relevant contexts

• Design, resource and plan for flexible methodology and safe, private spaces to adapt to individual survivor needs

• Design, resource, deliver and monitor safe and effective remote communications

• Select and resource teams and partners to ensure flexibility of personnel to meet survivor choice and needs (gender, age, etc.) [MC 5.2, 9.5] and skills to ensure inclusive participation such as personnel who have interviewed children, etc [MC 7.6]

• Create a supportive, physically and psychologically safe environment for in-person and any remote interactions, which is accessible and gender, age, disability, social, cultural and context sensitive

• Plan and deliver a safe interview structure, giving the survivor control but still guiding the process, and ensuring a safe, closing phase [MC 10.1, 10.4, 10.7]

• Adjust communication style, content and tone appropriately to individual survivors and context

• Recognise and adjust to communication barriers and challenges, verbal and non-verbal cues, as well as recognise when not understood or cannot properly understand the other person [MC 10.1]

• Ask open questions, moderate pace and tone without rushing [MC 10.5-10.6]

• Projects a sense of comfort and familiarity discussing topics of sexual violence and trauma (see also Core Value of Composure and Balance)

• Ask questions about sexual violence comfortably in a sensitive, non-confronting way while sticking to the minimum necessary details

• Listen actively and carefully, giving undivided attention and not interrupting (unless necessary for well-being reasons)

• Clarify their understanding of the information provided in non-confrontational way

• Work effectively and safely with interpreters

• Approaching/interviewing survivors in their homes, on their doorsteps or in public spaces

• Interviewing SCRSV survivors on the telephone without understanding risks

• Speaking to, and not with, survivors (one way communication)

• Being awkward or unnatural in interactions or conversations with survivors

• Communicating in way that lacks structure or clarity and tends to confuse others

• Uses jargon, technical terms or slang words from own culture

• Starting straight away with or focusing solely on direct questions about sexual violence (without a safe structure, considering context and recovery/strength-based aspects)

• Using language or conveying messages which are stigmatising, blaming, shaming, judgement, ridiculing, demeaning, minimising, or dismissive

• Conveying misbelief through words or body language, e.g. asking someone if they are sure or repeating the same question over and over

• Using ‘why did you/didn’t you’ questions a lot, conveying doubt and blame

• Using rigid structure of interrogation based a long series of questions or checklists

• Asking closed questions seeking confirmatory answers

• Confronting the survivor aggressively with questions which highlight inconsistencies and expresses doubts about the veracity or reliability of their account

• Uncomfortable with silences or emotions (talks to fill them)

• Their body language expresses heightened emotions, anxiety, nervousness, or embarrassment 

• Asking a survivor to recount what happened again without assessing and mitigating the risks of reinterview, multiple accounts, retraumatisation

• Never asking if a survivor has recounted what has happened before to another person

Associated Values

Examples of attitudes or approaches which indicate need for further development

Core Values: Composure and Balance; Humanity, Dignity and Empathy

Other values: Integrity, Honesty and Transparency

Approaches: 

• Seeks positive empowering interactions with survivors

• Honesty and transparency to ensure survivors can make decisions and that the work is based on trust and realistic expectations

• Being scared of giving the survivor any degree of control over the interview

• Ignoring or deflecting survivors’ attempt to recount other crimes or context

• Misgendering a survivor in contradiction to their expressed identity or preference of pronouns

• Controlling and restricting information which should be shared

• Conveying only positive messages so a survivor will like them and say yes, rather than being honest and realistic

• Avoiding conversations or information which is more difficult to discuss or which they think might lead someone to say no