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What is a Trusted Contact?

A trusted contact is like your next of kin. They are the person we would contact if there was a serious concern about your welfare. Examples of this could be:Ìý

• Reports that you are missingÌý
• Serious physical illness or injuryÌý
• Your mental health is deteriorating, or you are experiencing a mental health crisisÌý
• Admittance to hospitalÌý
• Reports of risky and unwanted behaviours that can cause serious harmÌý
• That you are not engaging with your department or professional support and there is a known risk or serious concern to your health or safety
• That you are not engaging with your department or professional support, and your absense is unexplainedÌýeven though they've attempted to contact you on the phone and by email on multiple occassions.

Appointing a trusted contact allows ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûto establish a support network. ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûwill always consider the impact of contacting your trusted contact. Where possible, we will consult with you on this decision. On certain occasions, it may be necessary for us to share information with a trusted contact. This will only happen without your consent if it is in your best interest to do so.ÌýÌý

In the absence of consent, a ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûstaff memberÌýsuch as a Faculty Tutor, Departmental TutorÌýorÌýthe Student Student and Wellbeing Team will thenÌýdecide who to share your information with. These considered decisions may also include contacting a third party. For example, if we cannot contact your next of kin, we may contact your GP or mental health services. This approach to information sharing aligns with UUK, ICO and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) guidance. The guidance permits such disclosures if it is necessary and proportionate to reduce the risk of serious harm.ÌýÌý

Who can I appoint as my Trusted Contact?

You can appoint anyone over the age of 18. Like a next of kin, we recommend a parent, sibling, spouse or close friend who can support you. You may prefer to have different trusted contacts for specific circumstances.Ìý In this case, you can have more than one trusted contact.ÌýÌýÌý

ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûwill only reach out to your trusted contact when there is a serious concern about your health and safety. It is important to keep these contact details up to date on your Portico. Please make your trusted contact aware that you have appointed them. If your trusted contact is not proficient in English, please provide details of their preferred language. We can arrange translators if required.ÌýÌý

How do I update my Trusted Contacts?Ìý

You can update your Trusted contact via Portico:Ìý

• Ìý
• Select Update my Trusted ContactÌý
• Click ‘Add Trusted Contact’Ìý

• Fill in their:Ìý
  - NameÌý
  - Relationship to youÌý
  - Email addressÌý
  - Home addressÌý
  - Phone number Ìý
  - Language preferencesÌý

All students at ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûmust provide details for at least one trusted contact. It is important to keep your trusted contact list up to date. You can update your trusted contact at any time whilst you’re registered at UCL. ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûarchives any trusted contact details on your student record system. This aligns with UCL’s data retention schedule.Ìý

UCL's Student Support and Wellbeing staff can also update your trusted contact details on Portico on your behalf. Any updates made to Portico will be confirmed with you.Ìý