If a tutor is given information about a student's mental health, what exemption in the Data Protection Act would allow him/her to give the information to anyone else in the institution without the student's permission?

Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Jenny Louise
Sent: 24 February 2005 16:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Students with mental health difficulties


Hi, If a student has disclosed information regarding their
difficulties to a representative of your college, in this
instance their tutor, then your institution must put appropriate
support in place. I would suggest some one from your DS meets
with the student and discusses what their problems entail and
how they feel their problems affect their ability to study. You
should be honest and say that the tutor is duty bound to
disclose information to the service and so had to tell you about
the students difficulties. I would not think any thing else can
be done until you have a good understanding of the students
disability. In the rare instance of the student having a history
of violence then a risk assessment would be a good idea, but if
the student is under professional care or taking medication then
she or he is 'safe'. I agree with Joel, those with MH
difficulties are more likely to suffer ill treatment than ill
treat others.
Hope this helps.
Jen

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 14:19:00 -0000 "Petrie, Joel"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> It's worth pointing out to the concerned tutor that mental health difficulties are incredibly common, he / she has probably taught many people before with such difficulties without even realising it.  People with mental health issues are statistically far more likely to be ill-treated themselves in society than cause difficulties to anyone else.
>
> If any student causes difficulties for other learners there are presumably institutional policies for dealing with this.
>
> Best, Joel
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on behalf of diana maniati
> Sent: Thu 24/02/2005 13:59
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Students with mental health difficulties
>
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
>  One of the enrolment tutors has approached me regarding a potential student who has mental health difficulties. The tutor is concerned that the student may find the course difficult or he may adversely affect the class.
>
> The student has disclosed his mental health difficulty but he doesn't specify what exactly it is.
>
> 1. Under the DDA we can't reject him but if we don't know his condition we can't  provide appropriate support.
> 2. if the student adversely affect the class what the college should do?
>
> Any recommendations, thoughts, help....would be grate.
>
> Many thanks
> Diana
>
> Diana Maniati
> Disability Advisor
> Acton & West London College
> Gunnersbury Lane
> W3 8EA
> Tel: 020 8231 6371
> Email: [log in to unmask]

----------------------------------------
Dr. Jenny Louise
Centre for Lifelong Learning
Institute for Learning
University of Hull
HU6 7SZ UK
+44 (0)1482 466876
Email: [log in to unmask]