Counselling and Disability Service (Loughborough University) Position on Non-Medical Helper support

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1 University Counselling and Disability Service ( University) Position on Non-Medical Helper support Under current guidelines Student Finance England are requesting that a choice of 2 support providers are included. Currently University has a 2 quote exemption in place and has appealed for a continuation of this. University has a long established and ongoing NMH Support Scheme. This Service provides a variety of support across all four bands described in the Non-Medical Helper Manual. The University undertakes responsibility for the quality assurance of provision including the recruitment, training, matching and monitoring of relevant personnel. University will only work with outside contractors, or allow them access to university facilities, if a prior formal agreement has been produced, in accordance with the University's procurement policy. The university is therefore unable to endorse any suppliers as it has no system for ensuring that they are operating within a regulatory framework which is appropriate to the HE sector. SFE is currently considering whether to implement a policy for all institutions to include a choice of two NMH providers. During this review University is exempt from this policy and currently does not consider any other provider if the need can be met through our existing internal arrangements. Confirmation of our current exempt status can be found here However, if required students can always discuss alternative provision with the University s Counselling and Disability Service. Veronica Moore Head of Counselling and Disability Service June 2015

2 University Costs for Non-Medical Helper Support, 2015/16 Band 1 Support Assistants Role Description of Role Charge to Funder Practical Support Assistant To provide mobility support and/or practical assistance in educational situations/locations. This includes providing physical assistance in workshops or labs and orientation assistance for students where required. This could include helping to manipulate a wheelchair, carrying books, IT equipment etc. It could also include social support in order to ensure access to the wider aspects of student life, for example for a student on the autistic spectrum. Library Support Assistant Reader and/or Scribe Workshop/Lab Assistant Sighted Guide To collect and return books; locate, retrieve and carry books; search the library catalogues; photocopy articles; enlarge text from source materials; scan text and provide in an agreed format. To read relevant material out loud to the client; to record readings onto tape or voice recorder as requested. To write down or type what a student dictates. To support a student in gaining access to the practical aspects of their course, e.g. in the laboratory or in a workshop/studio situation, e.g. Technical workshop or art studio. To provide one to one mobility assistance to a student with a visual Impairment helping them navigate their way around the campus.

3 University Proof Reader To read through the student s work and point out the types of errors that the student has made in grammar/spelling/structure etc. and to suggest ways of rectifying these in the future. The activity is not to correct mistakes for the student or to comment or advise on content. Band 2 Enhanced Support Assistants Study Assistant (Mentor) Examination Support Worker Manual Note taker To act as a regular study assistant for students with complex and persistent needs, where frequent organisational support is required. This may include time management, organisation and planning, interventions as necessary. This includes supporting students with Autistic Spectrum Conditions. In some instances in order to provide the most effective support the Specialist Mentor might also be expected to have a greater understanding of the student s degree path. To support a disabled student to gain access to the examination and fulfil its requirements. This covers reader, scribe and exam prompter. It can include reading out the examination paper, writing down student answers using exactly the words used by the student and giving a prompt as to when it is time to move on to another question. To take comprehensive notes on behalf of the student, in the format required by the student, reviewing and making notes accessible prior to handover. These may be taken in lectures, seminars, discussions, and off-campus events. 30 per hour 25 per hour 25 per hour

4 University Band 3 Specialist Enabling Support Electronic Note Taker Specialist Transcription Service Communication Support Worker Mobility Trainer The note taker to take a comprehensive, although non-verbatim, live, typed record of the content of lectures, seminars, discussions, off-campus events etc. in the student s preferred style and format. This may include the information appearing simultaneously on the student s computer using either Speedtext or Stereotype specialist software. To transcribe lecture notes, seminar notes, oral dictation or audio files into an alternative format accessible to the student. To translate sign language into voice and vice versa although not at the level of competence required by a trained British Sign Language (BSL)/English Interpreter. Provides a professional assessment of the campus location and then carries out a time limited programme of training. This training is particularly applicable for blind or visually impaired students who will require an individually developed programme in order to learn safe routes around the campus, either making use of a long cane or with a guide dog. This kind of training may also be applicable to other students whose disability means they have particular difficulty with orientation, for example students who have significant difficulty with orientation because of acquired brain damage. 45 per hour 2.20 per minute of audio recording to be transcribed 60 Per hour, minimum booking of 3 hour session at per hour

5 University Band 4 Specialist Access and Learning Facilitators Specialist Mentor (Mental Health Advisor) Specialist One to One Study Skills Support Specialist Mentor (Disability Support) BSL Interpreter To provide one-to-one support, where additional input is required in relation to the impact of the student s mental health-related disability on academic progress or accomplishment. This is a non-therapeutic, practical based support service, focused on assisting students in developing strategies to overcome the negative impact of their mental health difficulties in relation to their academic studies. To provide individual study skills support, including literacy and numeracy, to students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, neurodiversities or other disabilities. This one to one support will address the issues which some students might have in acquiring, recalling and retaining information in written and spoken language as well as the range of memory, organisational, attention and numeracy difficulties that students might face when working in an HE context. To provide one-to-one support where additional input is required because the client s disability or impairment impacts on the access to the chosen course of study. This may include students with Autistic Spectrum Conditions and sensory impairments. To provide interpretation for students who are deaf and whose first or preferred language is BSL. The interpreter will attend lectures, seminars and tutorials and will interpret from English to BSL or vice versa. 60 per hour, minimum booking of 3 hour session at 180

6 University Language Support Tutor for deaf students Assistive Technology Trainer Additional Exceptions Specialist Braille and Accessible Materials Transcriber for visually impaired students. To provide one to one specialist English language enhancement to deaf students either those whose first language is BSL or those who communicate orally. To provide a programme of training in how to use the range of assistive technology and specialist software or hardware, in relation to their studies. For students in and the surrounding area up to 20 miles. For students outside of this area, please contact us to check if we have trainers available who can provide the service. To translate between text and braille and to transcribe and produce visual materials in Braille format for blind students as required. To transcribe and produce materials in other accessible formats, (including paper based and electronically) for students with visual impairments. This includes reformatting and re-organising text based sources as appropriate for student need. 80 per hour book in 2 hour slots 45 per hour There are a number of very specialist services which University doesn t currently deliver directly. If you wish to recommend the support outlined below for a student currently at, or looking to come to, then please contact us to discuss how we can help facilitate delivery of this with our preferred partners. Exceptional Lip Speaker Deaf Blind Support Worker Speech to text reporter Conveys a speaker s message to lip readers accurately using unvoiced speech. Through the Deafblind Manual Alphabet, relays at appropriate speed what is said by a third party to a deafblind person. Produces a verbatim record of everything that is said (including references to laughter etc.) which is shown instantly on a monitor or screen.