Situations occur at all times of the day or night that may impact听a student鈥檚 wellbeing. There are protocols and procedures in place听to deal with听issues听during the week from听8:30am to 5pm.听
For听those听that take place outside of these hours,听a听Welfare Duty Officer听(WDO)听is听on call听from 5pm to 8am weekdays and all day and night during听weekends and bank holidays.听听
The WDOs听are a small team of BU staff who undertake this role in addition to their main role. WDOs work on a rota basis, covering one week at a time.听They,听in turn, are听supported and advised by senior members of staff, one of whom will also be on call outside of core work hours.听听
For any out of hours incident or emergency,听anyone听can call Poole House Security on 01202 962222.听If it involves a student welfare issue, such as a student who has become unwell,听a member of the Security team will听alert the听WDO. The WDO will听then听contact听any relevant听staff member听who is on the scene,听such as听a security guard or accommodation听staff member.听The WDO does not attend听callouts,听but they do stay in touch听by telephone听until a situation is resolved.听听
In some cases when a welfare concern is raised, a WDO will speak to a student directly for assurance that they are safe.听WDOs can also gauge how a student is feeling by their non-verbal cues, such as tone of voice.听The WDO听may also听recommend听that听a student is followed up during the next working day, for instance,听by听the听ResLifeBU听Wellbeing Officer or the Achieve@BU team. The WDOs will not听generally听report any incidents to a student鈥檚 faculty.听
Information for parents/carers
They can also contact Security听out of hours on听01202 962222听if they have concerns about their child. However, due to data protection, staff听will explain that unless a student has given express permission for the university to speak with听their parent/carer, staff will not provide any information, nor will they听acknowledge whether someone is a student or not. They听will听take details and听make enquiries.听If necessary, they will get in touch with the WDO.
Information for friends/housemates
If a student听is in听difficult situation,听suffering听from听a physical听or mental health听condition听or you are simply concerned for their welfare听out of hours,听please ring Security on 01202 962222 to alert them.听They will arrange for the WDO to become involved.
