What to do if you are concerned about the immediate safety and wellbeing of a student?

If you are worried about a King’s student you can:

• Call Student Services on (+44) (0)207 096 9984 from 08.00–18.00, Monday to Friday, or log a case using our online system.
  
  
• Visit our Crisis support webpage for help outside of these times or if a student needs urgent support.

I’m concerned that a student is at risk of suicide, what should I do? 

It can be very difficult to hear that someone you care about is experiencing suicidal thoughts. If you're supporting a student who's expressed that they're having suicidal thoughts, you can help them to take the first step to getting help by listening to their experiences and encouraging them to access professional support as soon as possible. You may find the following article helpful: Concerned about suicidal thoughts for yourself or someone else?

If a student needs urgent mental health support, please follow the instructions on the Crisis support webpage.

What will happen when I raise a concern about a student? 

Once you’ve contacted Student Services with your concern, if appropriate, we’ll make a referral to our Student of Concern procedure, as outlined in our article I’m concerned about a student/peer.

Student Services will be guided by the King’s College London Safeguarding Policy. To understand how we manage confidentiality, please read our article When I share information with a student support service, is this kept confidential?  ​​​​​

If you raise a concern with Student Services, you will receive an acknowledgment that it has been received. However, it will not be possible to provide any further details unless the student has given prior consent to share information with you. 

Further information can be found on our What support can students access? article.

If you are concerned about a students welfare, we suggest the following:

• Approach them for a discussion

• Be aware of what they are going through and when 

• Signpost them to the relevant university support listed on this webpage

• Encourage them to get in touch with their Personal Tutor (each student will have been assigned a Personal Tutor when they joined King's).

You may also find the following articles useful:

• • Academic, digital & employability skills
  • Disability support
  • Fees, funding & money advice
  • Graduation
  • Health & wellbeing
  • Housing & accommodation support
  • Immigration & visa advice
  • Returning to study after a placement/interruption

What and when we can disclose information about your student?

In situations where a student has given us written consent to discuss a particular matter with you, then we would be happy to share relevant information.

There may occasionally be exceptional circumstances where the need to obtain consent before disclosing information may be waived. This may happen if there is a risk to a student’s health and wellbeing or where they lack capacity to make a decision and need additional support. In these situations, the University would disclose information to a nominated trusted student contact, that the student has provided as part of their registration or their King’s Residences’ health and safety induction. Further information can be found on our Student Trusted Contact Procedure policy.

When are we unable to share information about your student?

We understand there may be occasions where you wish to get in contact with us to discuss your student’s academic progress and/or issues around their health or wellbeing. Due to data protection, we are unable to confirm or deny any information about our students. However, please be reassured that we take the welfare of our students very seriously and we will follow up your concerns even if we can’t share the information with you about the outcome. Where possible, we will encourage your student to get in touch with you.

Further information on the University’s Data Protection Policy, can be found on our Data Protection policy webpage.

We are aware of circumstances such as family estrangement, unsupportive relationships, or other cases where students have explicitly requested that the University does not contact their family. In such situations, we respect the wishes of our students. In these cases, we encourage students to consider an appropriate person they can nominate to be their supportive trusted contact.