Cause for Concern and Safeguarding
Please cascade the following information to your teams so that every member of your team knows how and when to refer a student of concern.
Further information can be found here: http://www.intra.mdx.ac.uk/key-information/supporting-our-students/cause-for-concern-procedure
The Safeguarding Policy and Procedure can be found here:
http://www.intra.mdx.ac.uk/_media/_intranet/document-library/s/safeguarding-policy-may-2017.pdf
| Concern, - in case of: | Tel number | In person | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency | Security Team – x16200 | Security Team - in College Building Quad | Fire, First Aid, medical concern or crisis. |
| Any student matter out of office hours | Security Team – x16200 | Security Team - in College Building Quad | As any example below |
| Physically aggressive behaviour | Security Team – x16200 | Security Team - in College Building Quad | Verbal threats which appear that they may quickly become physical. Actual physical violence. |
| Behaviour or conversation which suggests a mental health concern | Wellbeing specialist support – X14118 | Via Wellbeing Administrators at Sunny Hill House | Not responsive to reassurance or attempts to calm. Display of sustained heightened or prolonged emotion. |
| A safeguarding situation | Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs) on call – contact through the Security Team X16200 | N/A | A vulnerable adult* or child is at risk of potential or actual harm, abuse and/or neglect. |
| A situation which may fall under the organisation’s Prevent duties | Director of Student Affairs X15830 or Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs) on call – contact through the Security Team X16200 |
N/A | Reference has been made in any format (paper, verbal, electronic) which is believed to relate to the organisation’s statutory duty under Prevent. |
| A student who may be unfit to study | Cause4Concern group via Cause4Concern@mdx.ac.uk | N/A | A student’s mental or physical health is preventing them and/or others from progressing successfully in their studies. |
| A student who may be unfit to practise | Relevant School Fitness to Practise Panel or Cause4Concern group via Cause4Concern@mdx.ac.uk |
N/A | A student’s competence, conduct and/or health are preventing them and/or others from progressing successfully in their professional practice placement. |
| Student conduct | Student Casework Manager X14601 or Director of Student Affairs X15830 |
Email preferred: m.rayit@mdx.ac.uk d.malpas@mdx.ac.uk |
Repeated disruption to learning, accommodation or other University environments. Inter-student/staff conflict. Failing to behave in a way that enhances the reputation of the University. |
| Student complaint | Student Casework Manager X14601 or Student Union Advisor X14141 |
Follow online complaints procedure: unihub.mdx.ac.uk/student-life/your-voice/student-feedback/formal-complaints-procedure | Dissatisfactions regarding academic or service provision. |
| A general concern about a student and which is not an emergency | Cause4Concern group via Cause4Concern@mdx.ac.uk or Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs) are on call – contact through the Security Team - X16200 |
N/A | An unclear, though potential welfare concern (e.g. student appearing to be sleeping in the Library). |
| A staff member feeling distressed after responding to a student | Optum Employee Assistance Programme 0800 282193 FREE www.livewell.optum.com |
Optum Employee Assistance Programme 0800 282193 FREE www.livewell.optum.com |
The situation being dealt with has been upsetting beyond the staff member’s, their team’s or line manager’s capacity to support a colleague. |
| Uncertainty about who to call | Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs) on call – contact through the Security Team - X16200 | N/A | None of the above ‘concern – in case of:’ seem to apply. |
Note best practice in one-to-one meeting spaces with students:
— go out of the space to greet the student – affording good initial contact with and assessment of the student’s state of mind, and an opportunity to change the meeting location or invite a colleague to join you if you think necessary.
— let neighbouring colleagues know you are nearby and remain aware of their location too.
Any referral is accepted as the referee’s perception of the situation and will not in itself
determine action.
*A vulnerable adult is described as a person aged 18 years or over, who is in receipt of or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness and who is/may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.