Validation Process for External Non-Medical Help Suppliers

Transcription

1 Non-medical Support Provisions at the University of Wolverhampton Validation Process for External Non-Medical Help Suppliers 2014/15 University of Wolverhampton 1

2 What is Non-Medical Help Support? The non-medical helper (NMH) allowance, as part of the DSA grant, can help to pay for support workers such as readers, sign-language interpreters, note-takers, specialist one-to-one support and other non-medical assistants so that students can benefit fully from their course. The non-medical helper allowance should not be used to pay for support that should properly be funded by social services. However, in some circumstances a personal carer may also provide course-related help for a student. Non-Medical Help Support provision at the University of Wolverhampton Our aim is to ensure that all disabled students enrolled on a University course have equal access to good quality and cost appropriate non-medical help support as recommended by the Non-Medical Help Charter. Students in receipt of DSA for non-medical help will be strongly encouraged to utilise support staff that are recruited, trained and employed by the University of Wolverhampton s. The also has a register of self-employed non-medical helpers who are available to meet the diverse needs of students. The administers the payments for all non-medical helpers on behalf of disabled students covering the cost of National Insurance, Tax, liability insurance and we deal with support worker employment & performance related matters. University of Wolverhampton 2

3 Employing your own non-medical help Support Worker / Specialist Tutor / Mentor Employing your own If you do wish to access support from an external organisation/individual then please take note of the advice provided by Student Finance England (SFE) in the guidance chapters on Disabled Students Allowance which states: A small number of students may choose to employ their own non-medical helper (i.e. to act as the non-medical helper s direct employer), but as the rules regulating employment are complex and The Department of Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) and Student Finance England (SFE) do not recommend that students directly employ non-medical helpers. Support Worker Roles If you do decide to employ your own support worker (Note-taker, Facilitator, etc.) then you must obtain permission from the University for the worker to gain access to the University premises. We will help to validate the support workers qualification, ensure that they produce the relevant evidence, produce appropriate disclosure checks and follow up references. Please note that it is not advised to employ a family member unless there are exceptional circumstances. Support workers not employed by the University of Wolverhampton will need access to the campus premises to support students. It is important that students (not the worker) contact the on or sec@wlv.ac.uk. Please note that the University will not give permission to anyone to work on the University premises if the relevant documents have not been produced which includes qualifications, insurance, DSB (CRB) check and references. University of Wolverhampton 3

4 Specialist Support Worker Roles If you decide to employ your own Specialist Access and Learning Support worker (i.e. Specialist One-to-One Study Skills Support Tutor, Specialist Mentors, or English Language Support Tutor for deaf students) please note that they are not allowed to provide support on the University campus premises. If significant barriers are identified to accessing off campus support then authorisation must be granted in advance from the Disability Services Manager or, in their absence, the Specialist Support Team Leader for the external Specialist to gain entry to the campus premises. Please contact the for additional information. Independent Advice Students who do wish to employ their own non-medical help should seek independent advice (Disabled Students Helpline Disability Rights UK) before so doing, as managing this is complex and consideration should be given to the minimum wage, tax and National Insurance contributions, employment rights and employers liability insurance. Important Information Please note the following recommendations: Make sure that you keep copies of your time sheets Keep a record of what support you have received Never sign blank time sheets. Check regularly with your funding body to ensure that you have sufficient DSA funds to last for the designated period. If you would like to speak with the in confidence at any time please do. Be informed and be careful! University of Wolverhampton 4

5 Nature of Support Provisions Private Agencies/Support organisations providing Specialist Tuition/Mentoring engaged by Student. Private Individual Specialist Tutor/Mentor Students wishing to recruit their own support worker should be aware that consideration needs to be given to minimum wage, tax and National Insurance contributions, employment rights and employers liability insurance. Private Individual Support Worker Students wishing to recruit their own support worker should be aware that consideration needs to be given to minimum wage, tax and National Insurance contributions, employment rights and employers liability insurance. Arrangement Not Permitted on the University Premises. We strongly advise that students engaging an agency support worker to ask Agencies to confirm that the support worker has provided the Agency with the following: CV with details of references Original copies of Original copies of up-todate DSB/CRB check Not Permitted on the University Premises. If student s would like the SEC to validate any private tutor/mentor we will require the following documents: Copy of CV with details of references Original copies of Original copies of DSB check We understand that a privately employed support worker may need to gain access to the University s premises to provide support. Approval to work on the premises will need to be obtained from the s Support Services Manager please sec@wlv.ac.uk We will require the following: Copy of CV with reference details Original copies of Original copies of up-todate DSB/CRB check Confirmation of services being provided to cover administration costs and supply of a visitors staff ID card. Replacements will cost Implications We strongly advise that students ask for evidence to validate that their support worker has been recruited in line with the NMH manual. If a student chooses to work with a private agency / organisation the University will not be responsible for: Contacting the funding body for additional support funding/hours Supporting Extenuating Circumstances claims based on private specialist tutor performance Funding additional support to cover the specific support provided on a private arrangement. If the SEC has not validated a private Tutor/Mentor then the University will not be responsible for the following: Contacting the funding body for additional support funding/hours Supporting Extenuating Circumstances claims based on private specialist tutor performance Funding additional support to cover the specific support provided on a private arrangement. We strongly advise students to work with the trained, qualified support staff employed by the University of Wolverhampton. If an external support worker is employed the University would not be responsible for the following: Applying for additional funding from funding bodies Supporting Extenuating Circumstances claims where the support worker employed on a private support arrangement is cited. Funding additional support The support worker will only be allowed onto the University premises when they are accompanied or supporting the student that they have been verified to support. Failure to comply with this can result in the support worker s Visitors staff ID card being deactivated. As the employer of the support worker, the student is responsible for ensuring that TAX and NI contributions are paid Please note: Validating a private Non-Medical Helper can take up to one month so please contact University of the Wolverhampton SEC as soon as possible to prevent delays with your support 5