Wellbeing and Welfare
Trusted Contacts
Guidance on choosing and relying on Trusted Contacts for emergencies and important decisions.
You can nominate someone as your Trusted Contact for the University to reach out to if there are concerns about your wellbeing.
You will be asked to provide Trusted Contact details when you enroll with the University, and these details can be updated on e:Vision at any time.
Trusted Contact overview
A Trusted Contact is someone you nominate for the University to reach out to if there are concerns about your safety or wellbeing. They may be contacted to support you before an emergency occurs. This will only happen if we believe that contacting the Trusted Contact can help reduce your risk or assess your current wellbeing.
Providing a Trusted Contact is not mandatory, however, the University strongly recommends that you do so. This will help us respond more effectively to concerns and support your wellbeing. By providing a Trusted Contact, you are giving consent for the University to contact the nominated person. You should inform the individual that you have nominated them as your Trusted Contact.
The difference between Emergency and Trusted Contacts
An Emergency Contact is different from a Trusted Contact. An Emergency Contact would typically only be contacted in the event of an emergency, such as when there is a serious concern for your health and safety and your consent to share information cannot be obtained. Providing emergency contact details is mandatory as part of your enrolment with the University.
Selecting a Trusted Contact
A Trusted Contact should be:
- Someone who knows you well and has some knowledge of your history, behaviours, and any professional support you've received. This could include a parent, guardian, partner, spouse, or another close family member or friend.
- Someone you trust and feel comfortable sharing information with.
- Able and willing to act in your best interests.
- A person who respects your privacy and understands the responsibility of the role.
- Over the age of 18.
Additional important information to consider:
- Trusted Contacts can be the same person as your Emergency Contact but they do not have to be.
- A Trusted Contact should not be a York St John staff member, unless they are also your parent, guardian, partner or close family member.
- A Trusted Contact can be someone based internationally.
It is your responsibility to inform your Trusted Contact that you have nominated them.
Circumstances for contacting a Trusted Contact
The thresholds for contacting a trusted contact will be lower than that for an Emergency Contact.
Every situation is different, so it is impossible to provide an exhaustive list of when the University might contact a Trusted Contact.
We may contact a Trusted Contact when:
- We have been unable to contact you, and you have not been seen in your accommodation or on campus and you are considered to be missing.
- You have a serious illness which appears to be getting worse.
- A third party has reported a significant concern and we have been unable to contact you to establish your safety or wellbeing.
- You are behaving in a way that might pose a serious risk your safety, or the safety of others.
The University would always aim to gain your consent to speak to a Trusted Contact. However, where this is not possible, the decision to contact a Trusted Contact would be made by Senior University Staff who work in a Wellbeing or Safeguarding capacity.
Before making a decision to contact a Trusted Contact, a discussion will take place between at least two of the following staff:
- University Secretary and Registrar
- Director of Student Success and Learning Services
- Head of Wellbeing, Disability and Inclusion
- Head of Disability and Inclusion
- Wellbeing and Inclusion Complex Case Lead
- Senior Wellbeing Practitioner
- Specialist Disability Practitioner
- Welfare Team Lead
- Deputy Major Incident Team Lead
- Named nominees of University Safeguarding Lead
The discussion would take into account the current concerns and potential risks to either yourself or others. Other factors would be taken into account including your medical and mental health history, your engagement with university support services and any previous risk factors that may be relevant. Concerns from third parties may also be taken into account when deciding to contact a Trusted Contact. Alternative options to contacting the Trusted Contact will also be considered as part of the discussion.
Any decision to contact a Trusted Contact will be recorded with details of the rationale for making the contact. The nature of the information shared will also be documented, and we will always aim to keep confidential information shared to a minimum.
Sharing Trusted Contact details outside the university
We will always strive to keep your information confidential, however, in exceptional circumstances, we may share your Trusted Contact details with statutory and/or emergency services. We will always seek your consent before sharing these details with external services.
The University may share your Trusted Contact details without your consent if your life, or the life of others, is at imminent risk. Trusted Contact details may also be shared if it could assist emergency services during your admission to hospital or if requested as part of a police investigation.
Reviewing Trusted Contact information
You will be asked to nominate a Trusted Contact when you enrol with the University. We understand that your circumstances may change, and you might want to update your Trusted Contact during your time here. You are able to change your Trusted Contact at any time on E:Vision and you will also have the option to review and update these details during re-enrolment each year.
If you engage with Wellbeing, Welfare, or Disability and Inclusion Services during your time at university, you may be asked if your Trusted Contact information is current. This will give you the opportunity to review and update the details if needed. The Wellbeing Practitioner or Welfare Advisor will be able to answer any questions you may have about Trusted Contacts.
