Student Death Protocol

This protocol explains how UCL will respond in the event of a student death. The protocol covers a number of scenarios, including UCL managed accommodation, on campus, off campus and overseas.

On this page: 

• Immediate contacts.
• About the Student Death Protocol.
• Responding to a student death.
• Specific actions regarding the location of a student death.
• Follow on steps.
• Student Death Review.
• Serious Incident Review.
• Guide for students affected by the sudden death of a peer.

About the Student Death Protocol

The information below outlines how UCL will respond in the event of a student death, including by any UCL staff members responding on the scene to a suspected death in a hall of residence. The protocol is divided into three sections:

1. Responding to a student death in any context.
2. Specific actions regarding the location of the student death, such as in UCL owned and/or managed accommodation, on campus, off campus and overseas.
3. Follow on steps for university officers, emergency services, external agencies, staff, students and the UCL Students' Union, governance and overseas deaths. 

This protocol also deatils the processes of the Student Death Review and Serious Incident Review. This webpage should be read in conjunction with other related notices, such as Support following a student death.

The objective of this protocol is to ensure that any student death is handled in the most sensitive and compassionate way possible. The primary consideration should always be those most affected by the death including family, friends and trusted contacts.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services at ssw-governance@ucl.ac.uk

Responding to a student death

The information below outlines actions to be taken by UCL staff in the event of a suspected student death in any context.

First steps  

1. The first member of staff to become aware of an incident should form a response team at pace.
2. Security should be informed of all incidents. Access to emergency resources, such as a roaming defibrillator, can be provided through this team. 
3. Brief the team on what they may expect. Designate ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ response leads and other roles if appropriate.
4. If the suspected student death has taken place in a student’s room or an isolated space, knock on the door and announce you are entering. Do not enter alone. Keep the number of people entering the room to an absolute minimum.
5. If necessary, co-opt appropriate people to manage the scene and other students involved or nearby.
6. The primary lead should telephone 999. Ask for an ambulance and take guidance from the emergency operator. Stay on the phone as long as required. Check for responsiveness and administer first aid, if appropriate.
7. Unless you are administering first aid or have been directed to do so by the operator, do not touch or move the person. We need to be mindful that the scene could, potentially, need to be forensically examined. 
8. If it is apparent that the person is deceased, cover the body with a towel or bedsheet. The dignity of the deceased is paramount. 
9. Send a member of the UCL staff team to station themselves outside the building's main entrance to direct the emergency services as they arrive.
10. The secondary lead should call UCL Security as well as the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services to inform them of the incident. The primary lead will likely still be on the phone to the emergency services.
11. Once emergency services are on the scene, the primary lead should continue to act as UCL's institutional liaison. The emergency services will then take charge of the situation.
12. UCL staff team to station themselves outside the building's main entrance to direct the emergency services as they arrive.
13. The secondary lead should call UCL Security as well as the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services to inform them of the incident. The primary lead will likely still be on the phone to the emergency services.
14. Once emergency services are on the scene, the primary lead should continue to act as UCL's institutional liaison. The emergency services will then take charge of the situation.
15. The UCL staff team should consider moving affected students to a safe place.
16. A member of the team should make a full list of all student details (student name and number, email address, contact number) for those present.
17. It is important to explain the need to respect the privacy of the family, who should only be informed in person by the appropriate authorities, namely the police. For this reason, students should be instructed to not post any information on social media, such as assumed cause of death or images of the incident. 
18. If possible, students should be directed to the the Support following a student death protocol, outlining what happens and what support they can expect. Where necessary, for students affected, SSWS will offer to contact family, friends, or trusted contacts.

Specific actions regarding the location of a student death 

A student death in a UCL owned and/or managed accommodation

• Typically, the response team should consist of any Student Residence Advisers, Wardens, Security or other site staff who are available.
• If the incident has taken place in a student's room, close the door and station yourself outside. 
• Students should be moved to a safe space such as a canteen or common room.

A student death on campus

• Typically, the response team should consist of any Security or Building Custodians, as well as other site staff who are available.

A student death off campus

• Typically, the response team should consist of any local Security or Facility staff in the location of the incident.

A student death overseas

• Typically, the response team should consist of any local Security or Facility staff, as well as other site staff who are available.
• The primary lead should telephone the emergency services in that country. Ask for an ambulance and take guidance from the emergency operator. Stay on the phone as long as required. Check for responsiveness and administer first aid, if appropriate.
• Unless you are administering first aid or have been directed to do so by the operator, do not touch or move the person. We need to be mindful that the scene could, potentially, need to be forensically examined as well as local judicial practices. 
• If it is apparent that the person is deceased, cover the body with a towel or bedsheet. The dignity of the deceased is paramount. Be mindful of localised religious and cultural practices in handling deceased bodies. 

 Follow on steps

Next steps: University Officers, Emergency Services, External Agencies, and Families and Trusted Contacts

1. Emergency services present at the scene of a death will confirm the outcome and will guide the team on the ground through next steps.
2. If they do not arrive with the initial first response team, police may then be called by the 999 operator or the on-site paramedics.
3. Police and/or paramedics will ask for information to determine events leading up to the incident. For example, they may ask to confirm the identification of the deceased, names of individuals, timeline of events prior to the current situation, actions taken, next of kin information and so on.
4. A private room will need to be assigned with at least one member of the UCL staff team present for possible police interviews.
5. Police may need to take personal belongings for further investigation.
6. Police will inform the coroner. The coroner will then inform the undertaker to the manage the deceased’s body. 
7. Members of the UCL staff team may need to survey the site and liaise with the coroner for the best route to remove the deceased.
8. Police will inform next of kin and/or trusted contacts.
9. If required, the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will (once relevant permissions have been obtained) liaise with the Police to obtain any personal belongings. 
10. If required, the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will (once relevant permissions have been obtained) collect any certifications issued by the Coroner and/or other legal authorities. 
11. If required, the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will (once relevant permissions have been obtained) liaise with an undertaker and make arrangements for a funeral or committal service. The UCL Chaplain and Interfaith Adviser may also be commissioned to assist with this responsibility. 
12. The Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will communicate with the Head of Patient Services for Camden. 
13. If required, the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will make arrangements for family, friends, or trusted contacts to be accommodated in London. 

Next steps: Staff

Note: At any point of communication, it is paramount that assurances be sought that families, friends, or trusted contacts have been informed. Only in exceptional circumstances should information be conveyed which has not first been relayed to those most affected by the death. 

1. Unless they are already aware, the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services (or their nominee) will inform the Vice-President (External Engagement) within 24 hours to follow their processes for media monitoring and engagement. 
2. Unless they are already aware, the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services (or their nominee) will email relevant senior members of UCL within 24 hours. This includes: the Vice-President (Operations), the Vice-President (External Engagement), the Registrar, the Executive Director of Operations, the Director of Safety Services, the relevant Dean, the Faculty Director of Operations, and the Faculty Tutor.
3. Student Support and Wellbeing Services will assign a member of trained staff to act as the liaison point for the family and police drawn from the Student Support and Wellbeing Services Leadership Team. 
4. Student Support and Wellbeing Services will assign a member of trained staff to identify any cultural, religious, and spiritual backgrounds of the student and those most affected by the death. 
5. Unless they are already aware, the Deputy Director will email relevant managers within the Service to alert them to potential student support requirements. 
6. Student Support and Wellbeing Services may need to inform UCL Workplace Health and Wellbeing or UK Health Security Agency if the cause of death was related to a broader, public health consideration. 
7. Student Support and Wellbeing Services will inform any staff affected of the support on offer via UCL Workplace Health and the Employee Assistance Program if necessary.
8. The Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will liaise with the Director of Accommodation to ensure the student’s room is closed for the remainder of the academic year and, where appropriate, reimburse hall fees. Consideration will also be given to cultural and religious practices in accessing the space. 
9. If known, the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will securely record the cause of death. 
10. Where required, consideration will be given to commissioning the use of translators to communicate with friends, family, and trusted contacts who do not have English as a first language.
11. The Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will liaise with Student and Registry Services to determine, wherever possible, if a posthumous award can be issued. On behalf of the University, the Registrar and Executive Director of Student Services shall have the authority to issue an award. A decision to confer a posthumous award shall be taken at the earliest opportunity possible. 
12. The Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will also inform Central and Faculty Professional Services teams, such as Registry and Student Finance, to close down a student’s electronic record. 
13. The Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will supply the Provost’s Office with additional information, such as Next of Kin or Trusted Contacts, within five working days. 
14. If a student has a locker or any belongings kept at UCL (outside of UCL student accommodation), the department will arrange for Security to clear the locker and hold any items. The Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services should be notified to arrange to inform the family and return the possessions.

Next steps: Students and the UCL Students’ Union

1. Student Support and Wellbeing Services will reach out UCL students who were directly involved in the incident to offer one-to-one appointments and inform them of all the support available. 
2. Student Support and Wellbeing Services will also inform a senior Students’ Union officer of any death to ensure any potential students involved in clubs and societies can be offered support. 
3. Student Support and Wellbeing Services may organise a group session or one-to-one sessions for any students affected by the incident.
4. Student Support and Wellbeing Services will recommend any students affected contact their local GP support for additional support if required.
5. Student Support and Wellbeing Services will diarise the date of death and potential trigger dates (for example, the deceased's birthday) to send out appropriate communications to those affected in the future. 
6. Student Support and Wellbeing Services will provide student support with inquest involvement and support through the process.
7. If the student has a faith or spiritual custom, the UCL Chaplain and Interfaith Adviser will work to ensure cultural practices are adhered to in a sensitive manner. 

Next steps: Governance

1. The Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will inform the Head of Student Support and Wellbeing Services (Strategy, Governance, and Projects) who will commission a Serious Case Review within five working days of the death (see below for further information). 
2. Whilst any review will be driven by the needs of a particular circumstance, the review should be concluded within good time and findings presented to the University at the earliest opportunity. Interim findings shall be communicated to relevant officers as they emerge. 

Next steps: Overseas deaths

1. Unless they are already aware, The Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will inform the Head of Study Abroad of any reported deaths. They will liaise with any institutional partners and advise of any issues. 
2. At the earliest opportunity, the local UK Embassy, Consulate, or Diplomatic Mission should be informed of the death. 
3. If required, the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services, in liaison with the Head of Study Abroad, will arrange for the repatriation of a student body to a country of their family, friend, or trusted contacts choice. 
4. The Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services will coordinate discussions around insurance considerations in returning the deceased student to the country of choice. 
5. The Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services, in liaison with the Head of Study Abroad, will plan for additional support for UCL students travelling with the deceased student including (but not limited to) returning to the UK. 

Student Death Review 

The actions below outline the processes and procedures that take place following a student death and the role of the coroner.

Student Death Review Actions

UCL assists the coroner by providing any information as available and required. UCL reviews the circumstances leading up to the student's death, this can include how they were coping with their academic work, any support arrangements both within and external to UCL, friendships and peer networks at UCL, financial concerns and any other personal pressure points.

Where appropriate, UCL engages external consultants to conduct an incident review and implements changes in line with the recommendations of the review. Students struggling with their mental health will most likely be under the care of NHS services. If a student is under the care or had been recently referred to any NHS service, UCL will work collaboratively with that service to review the incident and identify and address any potential issues, gaps or contributory factors.

The review process will include highlighting any recommendations and an action plan to ensure timely completion. As many UCL students live and study in the Borough of Camden, UCL has committed to working specifically with the NHS Camden and Islington Foundation Trust. There are established protocols in place to ensure this close connection, and an agreement to work in partnership to review a student death.

UCL strives to create an inclusive, caring and supportive environment for all students. Inclusion and care for each other reduce isolation and as such reduce the risk of student suicide. 

Role of the coroner

A cause of death needs to be confirmed by a coroner.

It is important to remember that we can only talk of suspected suicide until a suicide has been confirmed by a coroner. The coroner needs to have a clear evidence of suicide, such as a suicide note. A conclusion is reached on the balance of probabilities, which means that the coroner or jury need to believe that it was more likely than not that the person has taken their own life. 

Serious Incident Review 

The actions below outline the processes and procedures that take place following a serious incident.

Serious Incident Review Actions

UCL assists the coroner and other legal bodies by providing any information as available and required. UCL reviews the circumstances leading up to the student’s death, this can include how they were coping with their academic work, any support arrangements both within and external to UCL, friendships and peer networks at UCL, financial concerns and any other personal pressure points.

Where appropriate, UCL engages external consultants to conduct an incident review and implements changes in line with the recommendations of the review. Students struggling with their mental health will most likely be under the care of NHS services. If a student is under the care or had been recently referred to any NHS service, UCL will work collaboratively with that service to review the incident and identify and address any potential issues, gaps or contributory factors.

The review process will include highlighting any recommendations and an action plan to ensure timely completion. As many UCL students live and study in the Borough of Camden, UCL has committed to working specifically with the NHS Camden and Islington Foundation Trust. There are established protocols in place to ensure this close connection, and an agreement to work in partnership to review a student death within five working days.

The Serious Case Review will comprise members drawn from across UCL including (but not limited to):

• The Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services (or nominee).
• The Deputy Director of Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
• General Counsel (or nominee).
• The Head of Security (or nominee).
• The Director of Accommodation (or nominee).
• The Vice-President (External Engagement) (or nominee).
• The Director of Safety Services (or nominee).
• Any other relevant parties.

The Serious Incident Review will be overseen by the Head of Student Support and Wellbeing Services (Strategy, Governance, and Projects). 

UCL strives to create an inclusive, caring and supportive environment for all students. Inclusion and care for each other reduce isolation and as such reduce the risk of student suicide. 

A Serious Incident Review will be initiated, where appropriate, for all current students as well as those who have left UCL within the last six months.