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

The request was successful.

Dear Edinburgh Napier University,
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• How many students subsequently rescinded their consent?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

Freedom of Information, Edinburgh Napier University

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Yours sincerely,

The Information Governance Team
Edinburgh Napier University 

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Freedom of Information, Edinburgh Napier University

1 Attachment

FOI 056-21

 

Dear Gillian,

 

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Acknowledgement

 

I acknowledge receipt of your request for information and confirm that a
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(Scotland) Act 2002.

 

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Please let me know if you require your response in an alternative format.

 

Further information is available from the Office of the Scottish
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Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

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St. Andrews

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KY16 9DS

 

[1]http://www.itspublicknowledge.info

 

If you have any queries please contact me quoting the reference number
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Yours sincerely,

Shona

 

Shona Dunning FIRMS AIRMS

(She/Her)

Information Governance Adviser

Governance & Compliance

 

Sighthill Campus

Edinburgh Napier University

EH11 4BN

[2]napier.ac.uk

 

[3]ENU Governance _ Compliance_colour_RGB1

 

 

 

 

 

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Freedom of Information, Edinburgh Napier University

2 Attachments

FOI 056-21

 

Dear Gillian,

 

Thank you for your recent information request.  Please find the response
to your request embedded within the attached response document, in blue
text for ease of reference.

 

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David Cloy

University Secretary

Governance & Compliance

Edinburgh Napier University

Room 5.B.18 Sighthill Campus,

Sighthill Court,

Edinburgh EH11 4BN, or email: [email address]

 

Your review will be undertaken by staff not involved in the original
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The Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St Andrews

Fife

KY16 9DS    

Email: [email address]

Tel: 01334 464610

Online: [1]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal

 

Yours sincerely,

Shona

 

Shona Dunning FIRMS AIRMS

(She/Her)

Information Governance Adviser

Governance & Compliance

 

Sighthill Campus

Edinburgh Napier University

EH11 4BN

[2]napier.ac.uk

 

[3]ENU Governance _ Compliance_colour_RGB1

 

 

 

 

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