Speakers
Siân Jones-Davies
Presentation
In this session, Siân Jones-Davies and Claire Bridgman provide an overview of some key legal, procedural and practical considerations that arise for higher education providers when dealing with a student death, including by suspected suicide. It'll provide you with guidance to inform your practice when carrying out a serious incident review, hear about various aspects of the coronial process, address issues of information sharing, consider document creation, disclosure and record-keeping, consider 'duty of candour' and highlight the importance of supporting staff and students following a student death.
We'll emphasise the importance of higher education providers understanding the nature and extent of their legal and regulatory obligations, such as the parameters around an institutions responsibility when dealing with the health and wellbeing of a student.
In addition, the session will provide observations and recommendations for good practice. Please note that, whilst the session will be presented from the perspective of the law in England and Wales, there may be differences in law, regulation and process across the UK, though the session will be of interest to colleagues from all four nations.
Siân specialises in education, public law and regulatory matters. She has extensive experience of providing legal, regulatory, governance and strategic advice to clients in the higher education, further education and schools sectors. She advises on a range of student-related issues including student contracts and “CMA” / consumer law, complaints and court claims (including for judicial review, breach of contract, duty of care and discrimination), misconduct and discipline, fitness to practise, natural justice and procedural fairness, student mental health, duty of care and safeguarding, and harassment and sexual misconduct. Siân reviews student regulations, policies and procedures and advises on their fair implementation in practice. She is a regular speaker at education sector events and delivers training and workshops to clients. Siân is recognised in Legal 500 as a leading associate.
Claire has over 10 years of experience in healthcare law. She started her legal career representing NHS Trusts in clinical negligence claims and during medical inquests. Since then, Claire has broadened her expertise and now offers advice on mental health and mental capacity matters. She continues to represent a variety of clients during inquests and enjoys advising and representing her education clients as part of this. Claire enjoys helping clients and witnesses navigate the increasingly complex legal landscape of coronial law, she is mindful of the interactions organisations have with local NHS Trusts and the potential for reputational risk to organisations. Claire aims to help minimise such risks and any associated stress for her clients, and she prides herself on being personable, supportive and approachable. Claire also has many years of experience in delivering training to clients through seminars and lectures.