Reporting Code for Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and the Role of the Proactive Confidential Advisor

From Reporting Code to Culture

The reporting code is more than a step-by-step plan — it is a call for alertness, empathy, and responsibility. As a proactive confidential advisor you:

• Keep the topic regularly on the agenda;

• Identify risks and patterns from conversations;

• Encourage employees to address concerns with each other;

• Connect individual signals to broader organizational patterns.

You make discussable what often remains hidden — with care for both safety and privacy.

The Five Steps: Deployment from a Prevention Perspective

The reporting code consists of five steps. As a proactive confidential advisor, you use these not only reactively but also to strengthen dialogue and awareness.

1. Signaling
   As a confidential advisor, you remain alert to signals of insecurity, tensions at home, or concerns about children. You organize awareness workshops and create space to discuss suspicions without judgment.

2. Initiating the Conversation
   You hold confidential conversations with employees who share concerns, are victims, or feel powerless as witnesses. You support them in exploring their options.

3. Risk Assessment
   Together with the employee — and if necessary, in consultation with Safe Home (Veilig Thuis) or experts — you determine the severity. You maintain the balance between safety and autonomy.

4. Deciding Whether to Report
   You clearly explain what reporting entails, its consequences, and support decision-making. You respect the employee’s control, unless there is immediate danger.

5. Reporting and Referral
   In serious or acute situations, you refer to organizations such as Safe Home. You follow the formal route carefully and communicate clearly.

Collaboration and Safeguarding

The proactive confidential advisor:

• Encourages collaboration between HR, managers, and Safe Home (Veilig Thuis) when necessary;

• Establishes clear agreements about internal and external referrals;

• Ensures that employees know where to turn for help.

Privacy and Confidentiality

As a proactive confidential advisor you:

• Openly discuss what you may or may not share;

• Explain what the reporting code requires — and what your role is in it;

• Act in accordance with GDPR and respect the boundaries of trust, unless safety is at risk.

Aftercare and Sustainable Support

After a report, you don’t let go:

• You provide aftercare, monitor progress, and assist with recovery efforts;

• You support employees during conversations at the workplace or with external agencies;

• You ensure that people continue to feel supported, even when things get tough.

Mandatory Application and Proactive Implementation

As a proactive confidential advisor, you are required to apply the reporting code when signals arise, but you add value by:

• Providing education within teams;

• Making unsafe home situations a topic of broader cultural discussion;

• Reflecting annually on the application of the reporting code in your organization.

In Conclusion

The reporting code is a tool. Your role as a confidential advisor makes the difference — in how the topic is lived, discussed, and leads to action. With a heart for safety and an eye for system dynamics, you contribute to an environment where no one has to face unsafe situations alone.