STUDENT CONFIDENTIALITY

CONFIDENTIALITY AND SHARING INFORMATION WITH PARENTS, RELATIVES AND THIRD PARTIES

As a parent, guardian, or close relative of a student at the BSBC, there might be occasions when you seek information about their academic progress or well-being. It's natural for parents to want updates on how their loved one is faring in their studies, or to feel concerned if they haven't been in touch for some time.

As your child has entered into a contractual agreement with the BSBC and is considered an adult (aged 18 and over), they are entitled to privacy rights. It is our legal obligation to safeguard their personal information in accordance with data protection laws.

As a result, the BSBC cannot disclose personal data of students except in highly exceptional circumstances. This policy remains in effect even if you are a parent or caregiver providing financial support for their education.

We understand that this situation can be frustrating, especially if you have concerns about your loved one. However, it's our duty to uphold the legal rights of your adult child. While we're open to addressing general inquiries, specific details can only be discussed with your young person's written consent.

WHAT CAN THE BSBC TELL YOU?

The BSBC is unable to disclose personal data as a matter of routine without proper authorization. Nevertheless, if a student has provided written consent for information to be shared with a specified third party, we can proceed with sharing that information.

To obtain consent from student we will contact them and ask that they send an email stating that they are happy for us to speak with a named person about a specific matter. Verbal consent is not sufficient. It is important to note that this consent to share is time-limited and team-specific.

WHAT IF I HAVE A SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT A STUDENT’S WELLBEING?

In cases of immediate and serious concern regarding the well-being of one of our students, we strongly advise reaching out to emergency services by dialing 999 as the first course of action. Trained professionals may be dispatched to assist in locating your loved one. Additionally, information about services and support for mental health emergencies and crises in BSBC can be found on the Gov website, accessible 24/7.

We also suggest attempting to contact them directly through various channels, including phone calls, text messages, WhatsApp, or social media. Additionally, you may consider visiting them in person. As their parent or next-of-kin, you are probably best positioned to recognize if something is amiss and provide the necessary support.

If you need to get in touch with someone at the BSBC regarding a student, please reach out to our Student Information Desk Team at 08000996062 or via email at contactus@bsbcuk.co

STEPS THAT THE BSBC WILL TAKE IF CONCERNS ARE RAISED BY PARENTS OR THIRD PARTY:

• If the student resides in Halls of Residence, we'll conduct an in-person "welfare check" to ensure their well-being.
• We'll reach out directly to the student to inform them of your contact and encourage them to get in touch with you.
• We'll furnish both you and the student with details regarding the support services offered at the BSBC.
• The student's information will be forwarded to the Student Welfare and Safeguarding Adviser for review, ensuring that any potential safeguarding concerns are appropriately addressed.

Under data protection laws, the BSBC is allowed to disclose information in situations where we perceive a significant threat to life and where sharing information with a parent or third party is deemed necessary to protect the student's vital interests. While such instances are uncommon, in such cases, the student's consent to share information is not necessary. Instead, we would utilize the emergency or next of kin details provided by the student to the BSBC. If the student declined to provide this information, the BSBC would then contact emergency services.