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

The request was successful.

Dear Kingston 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• How many students subsequently rescinded their consent?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

Kingston University, FOI, Kingston University

Dear Gillian,

Thank you for your recent request for information relating to Kingston University. Your request was received on 11/03/21 and is now being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please note that in some circumstances a fee may be payable prior to information being supplied. If a charge is applicable in this case I will contact you to request payment before proceeding further. Details of the University’s charging policy can be found in section 3 of its Freedom of Information Policy, available at the link below:

http://www.kingston.ac.uk/aboutkingstonu...

I will be in touch again in due course and in any event not later than 12/04/21 this being twenty working days following receipt of your request. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

Kind regards,

Lyn

…………………………………………….
Lyn Porteous
Resources and Compliance Team
Library and Learning Services
Kingston University

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Kingston University, FOI, Kingston University

Dear Gillian

Further to your recent request for information, the University’s response
follows.

This opt-in scheme has not been implemented at Kingston University.

This completes the University’s response to your information request. If
you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request an internal review of our
decision please contact:

Director of DPO, email : [1][email address] or by post:
 Kingston University, Hind Court, 106–114 London Road, Kingston upon
Thames, Surrey, KT2 6TN. Please note that we are unable to receive post to
this address, whilst staff are working away from campus as a result of the
Covid-19 situation.

In the event that you are not content with the outcome of your complaint
you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision
unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by Kingston
University. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

I hope that you now have the information you require.

 

Kind regards

 

Cathy

----------------------------------------------------

Cathy Murr

Resources and Compliance Team

Kingston University Library

[2][email address]

 

 

 

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