FOI: bereavement services

The request was successful.

Dear Fife College,

I am e-mailing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

If you have any questions or need clarification to complete my request, I would be grateful if you could contact me prior to the deadline of 20 working days from receiving my request.

I’m looking for information regarding the bereavement services which are available in your university or college. Please could you answer the following:

+Do you offer special provisions for counselling services for students specific to bereavement? Y/N
+Do you offer any support or counselling services for students? Y/N
+Do you have an institution wide policy/guidance regarding caring for students following a bereavement? Y/N
+Do your policies or practices exclusively relate to support for students who have lost parents or does your support factor in other forms of bereavement, such as losing a sibling?
+Can you tell me what special provision you have for offering extensions and academic breaks in study after a bereavement?
+How much money did you allocate to counselling and support services for bereavement per year (Jan 2016-Jan 2019)?
+If you feel you would like to offer an opinion, would you say your institution feels you are offered enough from the Government in order to support students who have experienced bereavement while studying?

I understand that under the Act, I should be entitled to a response within 20 working days. I would be grateful if you could confirm via e-mail that you have received this request.

Regards,
Georgia Coan + Poppy Damon
[Number Removed]

Yours faithfully,

Poppy Damon

Marianne Philp, Fife College

Hi

 

Please note that I am currently on annual leave, returning on Monday 15
July 2019.  I will reply to your email on my return.  If your query is
urgent, please contact [email address].

 

Best regards

Marianne

Shared Mailbox - FOI, Fife College

Dear Ms Damon

Thank you for your email dated 3 July 2019 which was received by Fife College on 4 July 2019 in relation to bereavement services available. I confirm that your request will be treated as a Request for Information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act aims to increase openness and accountability in government and across the public sector. The Act requires us to respond formally to your request promptly and, in any event, within 20 working days of your request being received. We will therefore be in touch with you again soon.

Further correspondence should be addressed to Freedom of Information, Fife College, Pittsburgh Road, Dunfermline, KY11 8DY or alternatively by e-mail to [Fife College request email].

Yours sincerely

Marianne Philp
Freedom of Information Officer

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Marianne Philp, Fife College

Dear Ms Damon

I am writing again in response to your email dated 3 July 2019 to Fife College requesting information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. I am now pleased to respond to your request. Taking each of your questions in turn:

• Do you offer special provisions for counselling services for students specific to bereavement? Y/N
No

• Do you offer any support or counselling services for students? Y/N
No

• Do you have an institution wide policy/guidance regarding caring for students following a bereavement? Y/N
No

• Do your policies or practices exclusively relate to support for students who have lost parents or does your support factor in other forms of bereavement, such as losing a sibling?
No

• Can you tell me what special provision you have for offering extensions and academic breaks in study after a bereavement?
This is considered on a case by case basis and agreed between the student and academic staff member. It would be dependent upon the course being undertaken and the time within the academic year. Options are not prescribed by policy as they would need to be specific to the individual circumstances.

• How much money did you allocate to counselling and support services for bereavement per year (Jan 2016-Jan 2019)?
None

• If you feel you would like to offer an opinion, would you say your institution feels you are offered enough from the Government in order to support students who have experienced bereavement while studying?
Fife College is not awarded any funding to support students who suffer bereavement. Any support for students is provided by referring students to external charities such as CRUSE.

I trust that the information provided meets your requirements. However please do not hesitate to contact the Freedom of Information team should you have any further queries. You can do so by writing to Freedom of Information at Fife College, Pittsburgh Road, Dunfermline KY11 8DY or by e-mailing [Fife College request email].

If you are unhappy with this response, you have the right to request a review. Such a review application should be made within 40 days of this decision being communicated to you and should be made to Hugh Hall, Principal and Chief Executive, Fife College, Pittsburgh Road, Dunfermline KY11 8DY.

If you are unhappy with the outcome of that review, you may thereafter appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within six months of the outcome of the review. The Commissioner will decide whether or not there is a case to take forward. You can appeal online at www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal or by writing to the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews KY16 9DS; Email [email address].

Yours sincerely

Marianne Philp
Freedom of Information Officer

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