What is a trusted contact?

A trusted contact may be contacted to support you prior to any emergency taking place. This may happen if we believe the trusted contact’s support will help reduce your risk of harm. We will contact your trusted contact only if the University has serious concerns that you are at significant, imminent risk. This is when we think you or others may face serious or lasting harm.

Please get your trusted contact’s permission before you register with us. Let them know what the role involves and that we will share their contact details with the University. A good way of doing this is by sharing this webpage with your chosen trusted contact.

It is essential that you keep your trusted contact details up to date. You can update these details at any time by logging into SAMIS. You are also required to provide details of your registered GP on SAMIS at registration. It is essential that these details are kept up to date and can be updated at any time.

Who can be a trusted contact?

The person you name as trusted contact must:

• know you well (i.e. know your medical history, previous behaviours and any prior professional support)
  
• be able and willing to act in your best interests to support you
  
• be over the age of 18
  
• ideally be able to speak English

In most cases, a trusted contact will be your parent, a guardian, spouse or other close family member. It can be someone else - it is most important that it is someone you trust. You should be confident that the trusted contact you choose will respect your privacy and understands how you would want to be supported. It is your responsibility to inform your trusted contact that you have chosen them to act in this important role.

When might the University contact the trusted contact?

It is unlikely that we would ever need to get in touch with your trusted contact. When there are serious concerns, wherever possible we would not normally use your trusted contact without your expressed consent. However, we would consider speaking to your trusted contact when we believe that you are at significant, imminent risk and where we believe you or others may come to serious or lasting harm.

Examples of when we might get in touch with your trusted contact

Every situation is different, and it is not possible to provide an exhaustive list. The following are examples of circumstances in which we might get in touch with your trusted contact and share personal information, but each case will be considered individually. For example:

• You are showing behaviour that is risking your safety and wellbeing or that of others, and you are not seeking professional support.
• You have not recently been seen in your accommodation, we have been unable to contact you, and you are considered missing.
  
• You are exhibiting behaviour that may pose a serious risk to your safety and wellbeing or that of others and are not engaging in professional support.
  
• You have not recently been seen in your accommodation, we have been unable to contact you, and you are considered missing.
  
• You have an ongoing serious illness and you appear to be deteriorating.
  
• A third party has reported significant concerns and we are not able to contact you to establish your safety and wellbeing.
  

By giving us a trusted contact, you are expressing consent that the University can reach out to them in situations like these. You can withdraw your consent at any time by deleting or changing your identified trusted contact on SAMIS or informing the member of support staff working with you.

Further information

Any decision to get in touch with your Trusted Contact or to share personal information without your consent would be taken by senior support staff from Student Support & Safeguarding and/or Security who are experienced in supporting student welfare and wellbeing.

Before deciding to contact a Trusted Contact at least two of senior support staff from Student Support & Safeguarding and/or Security will discuss your unique situation.

The discussion will consider:

• the risk you may be at
• your recent behaviour
• your previous engagement with support
  
• our knowledge of your medical history
  
• our knowledge of your relationship with your Trusted Contact
  
• concerns others may have shared
  
• concerns about your capacity to make safe decisions
  
• whether sharing information with others may increase the risk of harm to you or another person
• what support you most need to keep you safe.

Will my Trusted Contact be shared outside the University?

The University works in partnership with statutory/emergency services, agencies and other third-party organisations to keep students, staff and the community safe. With your consent, we may share your Trusted Contact information to relevant agencies so that they can facilitate the provision of support you may need at that time. The University may share your Trusted Contact information with the emergency services upon request, even without your expressed consent on required circumstances. This could be if we think this is in your best interests. It may help to prevent harm to you or to someone else. or it is requested as part of a police investigation or could assist emergency services to admit you in a hospital.

Information for a trusted contact

In a higher educational institution student autonomy is vital. Hence, we consider that our students are best placed to make the best decisions for themselves. This mean students might decide not to share details about their situation with their family and loved ones. However, on rare occasions described above, we may decide to override that student autonomy and reach out to a trusted contact.

The University provides a wide range of opportunities, activities and support for students. It promotes these to enable students to achieve their academic and social goals. The University strongly encourages students to engage in these activities, as better engagement can boost academic success. However, it’s entirely up to students whether they want to engage in academic and social activities, or access support, and to what extent.

Students engaging with medical services

Students with health concerns who are engaging with medical services would usually not be seen as a reason to contact a trusted contact. Health services will have their own information sharing protocols which do not include updating the University.

If a student is getting medical treatment, the health service will decide whether to share that information with others. We recommend students moving to Bath register with a local GP. The University Medical Centre is on the edge of campus.

Students receiving University support

When a student is receiving support from a University support service, it is usual that the staff member will ask the student about their support network. It’s common for staff to support student by encouraging the student to share information about their situation, with friends and family, as long as it is if safe and appropriate. The University recognises the benefits of students' broader support networks. We encourage them to access all of the support available to them as they see fit. This is important for trusted contacts to know, as often students do not want family or friends to know about the situation they find themselves in. Student autonomy is vital and the University would respect the students’ decisions, aside from particular situations described above.

It is important for trusted contacts to know that a students’ consent to share is fluid. While a student may have opted-in to the trusted contact process at enrolment/re-enrolment, they can change their minds. If support staff are working with a student and ask they can share information with others, e.g. the trusted contact, and the student declines, then the University will adhere to that decision. Since, it is the decision of an autonomous adult.

The University has more information for parents and supporters and a Data Protection Statement for student registration which provide further useful information relating to this guidance.