FOI: bereavement services

The request was successful.

Dear Goldsmiths, University of London,

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

Goldsmiths Information Access, Goldsmiths, University of London

Dear Poppy Damon and Georgia Coan,

We are writing to formally acknowledge your Freedom of Information (FOI) request received on 3rd July 2019.

We will respond promptly but in any event by 1st August 2019 this being 20 working days following the receipt of your request and is in accordance with the time limit set out in the FOI Act.

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross,
London, SE14 6AF

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Goldsmiths Information Access, Goldsmiths, University of London

Dear Poppy Damon,
 
I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information request dated
XXXX. You asked:
 
“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?”
 
 
Our response:
 
Wellbeing support at Goldsmiths has been developed and expanded to support
all Goldsmiths students whose personal circumstances are affecting their
wellbeing and/or their studies. Our Wellbeing Advisers, who provide a
daily drop-in service and follow up support, are specialist practitioners
who offer mental health advice and support to students with personal,
emotional or mental health issues including loss and bereavement.
Wellbeing Advisers can help bereaved students to obtain counselling,
obtain other specialist services and provide advice on taking breaks from
study. Goldsmiths does not have a specific policy regarding caring for
students following a bereavement. Our Academic Regulations allow for
mitigating / extenuating circumstances to be applied for in circumstances
such as bereavement and for consideration to be given for deadline
extensions and/or deferral of assessments and examinations. Similarly, the
Regulations make provisions for an authorised absence of up to 4 weeks or
interruption of studies for a period of up to 2 years. Our budgeting
arrangements do not disaggregate support services for bereavement
separately.
 
If you would like to find out more about Wellbeing support at Goldsmiths
please follow this link:
[1]https://www.gold.ac.uk/students/wellbein...
 
I hope this information satisfies your Freedom of Information request.
However, if you are dissatisfied with this response, you may ask for it to
be reviewed by either contacting us by email: [2][email address] or by
writing to:
 
Data Protection Officer
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross,
London, SE14 6AF
 
Please describe the original request, explain your grounds for
dissatisfaction, and include an address for correspondence.
 
If you are still not satisfied following the internal review, you have a
right to appeal to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at
the following address.
 
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
[3]www.ico.gov.uk
 
 
Yours sincerely,
Information Governance
Goldsmiths, University of London

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