Sussex University Support Workers

Student Support Unit

Guidelines 2015/16

- for Support Workers and students working with Support Workers

of 10 Student Support Unit

Guidelines for Support Workers

General Responsibilities For All Support Workers:

 Exchange mobile/phone numbers and email addresses with the student before your first meeting and advise the student and the Student Support Unit of any changes immediately

 Contact the student by email and arrange to meet 10-15 minutes before the first session to agree seating arrangements etc

 Arrive on time for all booked sessions

 Position yourself in the room as advised by the student

 Attend all booked sessions as agreed

 Maintain professional boundaries (see section on ‘Boundaries’)

 Retain an up to date list of Support Worker Pool mobile/phone numbers and email addresses, as supplied by the SSU

 Where possible, arrange cover for unavoidable absences through the Support Worker Pool, before contacting the SSU

 Read the ‘Guidelines for Students Working with a Support Worker’

Student Absences

Ongoing note-taking services are only provided in a student’s absence if the absence is disability-related AND is notified to the SSU at the earliest opportunity.

 If the student is unable to attend a timetabled session for which a Support Worker has been booked both the Support Worker and student should inform the Student Support Unit.

 If less than 48 hours notice is given of an absence or cancellation, the Support Worker should claim payment for the booked times as usual

 If the student is absent from a session without notice, Note-takers are required to take notes for the first session and contact the Student Support Unit immediately afterwards to confirm whether or not they should continue

Boundaries

Please respect the privacy of the student and adhere to the Student Support Unit’s guidelines on confidentiality, which state that no information given by a student to Student Support Unit staff should be disclosed to any person outside the Student Support Unit unless permission has been given by the student to do so or in exceptional circumstances, such as when there is a risk to the safety of the student or to the safety of others.

 You should adhere strictly to the support role agreed with the Disability Advisor in the SSU

 Under no circumstances, should you contribute to, or involve yourself in, taught sessions. If for any reason the content has been unclear, consult the student at the end of the session and agree an appropriate response

 Please observe professional boundaries and do not get involved with the student’s personal life, or take on any counselling or advisory role with the

student. If such issues arise or if you have concerns about a student’s well-being, please contact the Disability Advisor

 You should not become involved in:

 Giving personal or academic advice  Liaising with teaching staff on behalf of the student  Helping with or correcting coursework  Reading up independently on background material for the student  Commenting on projects or assignments  Explaining the content of lectures or seminars

 Do not enter students’ accommodation

Payment/Invoicing

 Ensure that timesheets are signed by the student at the end of each session. If this is not possible, for any reason, please inform the SSU at the earliest opportunity

 Collect payment claim forms and timesheets from the SSU and submit all claims by the advised deadlines. If you do not submit your pay claim on time, payment may be delayed.

Guidelines for Students Working with Support Workers

All Student Support Unit staff work to professional standards and, while we appreciate feedback from students about the services provided, we cannot allocate Support Workers on the basis of students’ preference.

General Responsibilities:

We expect students to interact with all Student Support Unit staff in an appropriate manner and to be aware of the professional boundaries of the Support Workers allocated.

 Please arrive on time for sessions

 Attend all sessions for which a Support Worker has been booked

 Any cancellation requires a minimum of 48 hours notice to the Support Worker; cancellations with less than 48 hours notice will be claimed for from your funding authority

 Exchange mobile/phone numbers and email addresses with the Support Worker before your first meeting and advise of any changes immediately

 Advise your Support Worker where you would like them to sit during taught sessions, if applicable

 Introduce the Support Worker to teaching staff, if appropriate, such as in seminars or small group work

 Sign the Support Worker’s time sheet immediately after each session

 Advise the Support Worker of any timetable or room changes as soon as they are known

 Respect the professional role of the Support Worker (see section on ‘Boundaries’)

 Complete and return Student Support Unit occasional feedback forms as requested

Working with Note-takers:

 Meet your Note-taker 10-15 minutes before the first session to agree seating arrangements etc

 Inform your Note-taker of any specific requirements in advance of the session

 Provide Note-takers with A4 paper and pens

Working with more than one Support Worker

 Minor timetable changes which do not affect the number of hours worked by each Support Worker can be agreed directly with the Support Workers and do not need to be notified to the Student Support Unit

 Timetable changes which could affect the number of hours worked by each Support Worker must be notified to the SSU at the earliest opportunity. Re-allocation of Support Workers in these instances will be the responsibility of the Student Support Unit

Absences

Ongoing note-taking services are only provided in a student’s absence if the absence is disability-related AND is promptly notified to the SSU.

 If you are unable to attend a timetabled session, please inform your Support Worker in person at the earliest opportunity, giving the reason for your absence. If you cannot speak to the Support Worker in person, please contact the Student Support Unit at the earliest opportunity

 Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice will be claimed for from your DSA or funding authority

 If your Support Worker does not attend as agreed, please inform the Student Support Unit immediately

Boundaries

Support Workers operate within the Student Support Unit’s guidelines on confidentiality, which state that no information given by a student to Student Support Unit staff will be disclosed to any person outside the Student Support Unit unless permission has been given by the student to do so or in exceptional circumstances, such as when there is a risk to the safety of the student or to the safety of others.

Please be aware that your Support Worker is not responsible for:

 Giving personal or academic advice  Liaising with teaching staff on your behalf  Helping with or correcting coursework  Reading up independently on background material for the student  Commenting on projects or assignments  Explaining the content of lectures or seminars

Contact details:

Student Support Unit Telephone: 01273 877466 Bramber House Email: [email protected] Refectory Road