Statistics of number of parents / nominated persons contacted by university regarding student mental wellbeing.

Roedd y cais yn llwyddiannus.

Dear Royal Central School of Speech and Drama,

Following a spate of sudden student deaths in 2018, an ‘opt-in scheme’
was pioneered by the University of Bristol as part of a set of measures
aimed at preventing suicide. In 2019, a coroner wrote to the Department
for Education and Minister for Suicide Prevention suggesting that these
measures might be shared throughout the sector. I am now seeking to
establish the extent to which ‘opt-in’ has been subsequently adopted
and/or utilised.
The ‘opt-in’ or ‘consent at registration’ scheme implemented by Bristol
University comprises an additional personal information sharing
agreement that supplements when information might be shared. It gains
consent at annual registration for the university to contact a ’safe and
nominated’ parent, guardian or friend in situations that are not
emergencies, but where staff have serious concerns that something
bad might happen to an enrolled student, and/or where their health,
wellbeing or welfare could be affected. Essentially it involves lowering
the bar at which parents or nominated others could be contacted by a
designated professional at the university, from ‘vital interests’ to ‘serious
or significant concerns’. It could for example apply in cases of trauma or
distress associated with suspension / expulsion / non-attendance /
mental health issues etc.
To qualify as ‘opt-in’ a scheme must be optional and additional to the
regular emergency contact protocol. The latter is compulsory and
typically restricted to serious incidents and/or emergency situations, that
may present an imminent threat to a student’s vital interests. Further
particulars can be found at:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/contacting-peop...
https://thetab.com/uk/2018/09/20/these-a...
https://thetab.com/uk/bristol/2019/10/31...
This important scheme has been implemented at a number of universities, and perhaps at your institution as well. If so, please provide me with the following information as absolute numbers and percentages.
For each academic period (2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21) and
year-of-study (e.g. 1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year) sub-division:
• How many students opted-in at registration?
• How many students subsequently rescinded their consent?
• How many times was the opt-in consent used to contact somebody?
• How many times was use of the opt-in consent considered, but
with you deliberately choosing not to contact a parent or
nominated individual?

Yours faithfully,

Gillian Green

Dear Royal Central School of Speech and Drama,
I am writing to remind you of my FOI request which should have been answered by now. Could you please confirm that you received it?
I understand that times are difficult, so this is just a polite reminder.

Yours faithfully,

Gillian Green

Dear Royal Central School of Speech and Drama,
I am writing to remind you of my FOI request which should have been answered by now. Could you please confirm that you received it?
I understand that times are difficult, but I would appreciate an answer asap.
Yours faithfully,

Gillian Green

Dear Royal Central School of Speech and Drama,
I understand times are difficult, but my request is so long overdue.
I really would like an early reply.

Yours faithfully,

Gillian Green

FOI, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Dear Gillian Green,

Please see below the School’s response to your FOI request:

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama does not operate an 'Opt-in' or 'Consent at registration scheme.' Students who engage with our Disability and Dyslexia Service (which includes mental health support) can include a Wellbeing Contract within their Reasonable Adjust Plan document, but this process is not managed at Registration. Therefore, we are unable to answer the other questions in this FOI and I must offer a nil response

Yours Sincerely,

Abigail Fitch-Hickson

Kind Regards,
Abigail Fitch-Hickson
Assistant Academic Registrar
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

For Vital Student Information and procedures relating to COVID-19 click here

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
University of London
Eton Avenue
London
NW3 3HY
Main: +44 (0) 20 7722 8183 (Internal ext. 2572)

Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

#CentralSaysEnough

Information and guidance about Covid-19 for the Central community and for applicants can be found here.

dangos adrannau a ddyfynnir

FOI, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Dear Gillian,

Apo0logies for the School's delayed response to your FOI request. The collation of data was impacted by remote working and the impact of the pandemic.

Thank you for your patience.

I have responded to your request today.

Kind Regards,
Abigail Fitch-Hickson
Assistant Academic Registrar
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

For Vital Student Information and procedures relating to COVID-19 click here

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
University of London
Eton Avenue
London
NW3 3HY
Main: +44 (0) 20 7722 8183 (Internal ext. 2572)

Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

#CentralSaysEnough

Information and guidance about Covid-19 for the Central community and for applicants can be found here.

dangos adrannau a ddyfynnir