Safeguarding and student of concern reporting
If you are worried about the safety, wellbeing or welfare of a LIS student, you can use the forms on this page to tell us about your concern. You do not need to be certain that something is a safeguarding concern before making a report. If something does not feel right, or you are unsure what support may be needed, please share what you know and the appropriate team will consider the next steps.
Not sure whether this is safeguarding? You can still submit a concern. You do not need proof, and you should not investigate it yourself.
Student of Concern / Safeguarding Referral Form
Use this form if you would like to tell LIS about a concern regarding a student and are happy to provide your contact details.
Anonymous Safeguarding Referral Form
Use this form if you would prefer to raise a concern without giving your name. Please provide as much factual information as you can. You are not expected to investigate the situation yourself.
If someone is in immediate danger
The forms on this page are not an emergency service. If you believe a student or another person is at immediaterisk of serious harm, call 999 before submitting a referral. If someone requires urgent medical or mental health assessment, they can also attend the nearest Accident and Emergency department which is:
Whitechapel Road
London
E1 1FR
Telephone: 020 7377 7000
When should I make a referral?
You can make a referral whenever you are concerned about a student’s safety, welfare or wellbeing.
Examples might include:
· a student has spoken about suicide, self-harm or feeling unable to keep themselves safe;
· you are concerned that a student may be experiencing abuse, exploitation, harassment, violence or coercion;
· a student’s behaviour or circumstances suggest that they or somebody else may be at risk;
· a student appears to be experiencing significant distress or a deterioration in their wellbeing;
· a student has stopped engaging with their studies or the university and you are concerned that wellbeing or safety difficulties may be contributing;
· a student is showing potentially harmful or high-risk behaviour involving alcohol or drugs;
· you have noticed a significant change in astudent’s behaviour, presentation or circumstances;
· a student has gone missing and you have tried all possible contact methods to reach them which has not worked;
· a student has disclosed something to you that you believe LIS needs to know in order to consider their safety or support.
This list is not exhaustive.
You do not need to decide whether something formally meets the definition of safeguarding before reporting it.
If you are concerned because you cannot contact a student
Before submitting a referral solely because a student has not responded, consider whether you have:
· tried calling the student;
· contacted them using the alternative contact details available to you, where appropriate;
· allowed a reasonable period for them to respond.
In many circumstances, allowing at least 24 hours is appropriate. However, you should not wait 24 hours if there are other reasons to believe the student may be at risk or if the lack of contact is unusual and concerning in the circumstances.
What happens after I submit a referral?
The response will depend on the nature and level of concern.
LIS may:
· contact the student to check on their welfare and offer support;
· contact you for further factual information or to discuss your concern;
· consider whether the concern should be managed through wellbeing, safeguarding, accessibility, academic, conduct or another appropriate university process;
· liaise with relevant LIS colleagues where this is necessary to support or protect the student or others;
· support the student to access appropriate external services, such as their GP, mental health services, local crisis services or specialist organisations;
· where there is a serious safety or safeguarding concern, share relevant information with appropriate external services or a student’s Trusted Person where it is necessary and proportionate to do so.
Where there is no immediate safeguarding concern, students will ordinarily be encouraged to make their own choices about whether and how they engage with support.
Will I be told what happens?
If you provide your contact details, we will normally acknowledge that your referral has been received.
We may contact you if we need further information or if your involvement is helpful in supporting the student.
Because information about individual students is confidential, we may not be able to tell you what action has been taken or provide an update about the student’s circumstances.
If you remain concerned, receive further information, or the situation becomes more serious, please contact us again or submit a further referral.
When are referrals monitored?
Safeguarding and Student of Concern referrals are monitored during LIS working hours:
Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
We aim to review concerns as soon as reasonably possible and normally within 48 working hours.
The forms are not continuously monitored during evenings, weekends, bank holidays or university closure periods.
If the situation is urgent or someone is in immediate danger, do not wait for a response to a form. Contact the appropriate emergency or crisis service.
Looking after yourself
Supporting someone who is distressed or hearing about difficult experiences can also affect you.
You are not expected to manage a serious concern by yourself. Seek help, involve appropriate people and use professional or emergency services where needed.
If you are a LIS student and something you have heard, witnessed or supported someone through has affected you, you can also contact Student Support and Wellbeing here: studentsupport@lis.ac.uk
You can ask for support even when the original concern was about somebody else.
.svg)
