Student Wellbeing Team
Dealing with demanding
students
Managing your own wellbeing
Managing your own wellbeing
Students you are unsure about (Demanding Students)
‘Demanding’ - intrusive and persistent requiring a lot of time and attention.
-Students may often present to tutors or university staff on a regular basis.
-A student persistently seeking out support for a variety of issues can feel very overwhelming for staff
concerned. It can also take up a considerable amount of time and attention.
Characteristics that may indicate such presentation:
• Problems with boundaries/structure/limits
• Difficulty in accepting proposed solutions
• Need for direct information (difficulty with ambiguity)
• Dependent personality
• A sense of entitlement
• An inability to empathise
• A need for control
• Dependency
It is often very difficult to know how to best manage such situations, as staff
often simply want to be as supportive and understanding as possible.
Managing your own wellbeing
What can you do?
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Set boundaries and limits to contact (i.e offer fixed times of availability/contact time)
Seek understanding of the situation; when possible, talk to the student in a safe and comfortable
place.
Make clear what behaviours are acceptable/ unacceptable
Request that you are treated with respect.
Be clear about the time you will give the student.
Be explicit about your role and what you in a position to respond to
Give clear unambiguous direction to students, particularly if issues raised are beyond your remit.
Know your limitations - Signpost to support services within our University and offer to make contact
on the student’s behalf.
Inform your line manager of your concerns.
Managing your own wellbeing
Don’ts • Argue with the student
• Try not to give in to inappropriate requests
• Adjust policy/your schedule to accommodate the student
• Giving inconsistent messages
• Ignore inappropriate behaviour for fear of upset
• Take on concerns/issues beyond your professional limits or areas of expertise.
• Take on too much responsibility; there are others who can help.
• Allow the student to intimidate you
Try not to• Try to not feel guilty
• Try not to allow the student to manipulate you not to address problematic behaviour.
Managing your own wellbeing
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The reasons for such presentation can be complex, but it is often due to a variety of underlying
issues.
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Whilst demanding traits can be associated with anxiety, panic, depression, and/or thought
disorders, mania, drug use/abuse, they are often a result of personality problems.
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It is also possible in such cases that the student is seeking out support from a variety of staff in the
University, and that this is not known to each individual involved. It may be that a case-conference
type approach is required to ensure consistent messages and effective coordination
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The Student Wellbeing Team can support in this, and you can always ring without breaching
student confidentiality to discuss a concern
Managing your own wellbeing
Leeds Beckett University Policy and Guidance
Student Code of Discipline:
Students of the University are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a
manner which demonstrates respect for the University, its students and staff, and
members of the wider community. Every student is an ambassador for the University
and, accordingly, is expected to behave in a way that enhances its reputation.
2.1 The essence of misconduct is:
2.3.1 Disruption of, or improper interference with, the academic, administrative, sporting, social or
other activities of the University, whether on University premises or elsewhere;
2.3.2 Obstruction of, or improper interference with, the functions, duties or activities of any
student or member of staff of the University or any visitor to the University;
2.3.3 Violent, indecent, disorderly, threatening, bullying or offensive behaviour or language, including
harassment and unlawful discrimination;
also-Failure to comply with a reasonable request or instruction of the University;
-Making accusations against other students or staff which are not
substantiated in whole or in part and where there are reasonable grounds to
believe the accusations have been made maliciously or in bad faith
Managing your own wellbeing
Leeds Beckett University Policy and Guidance
Student Code of Discipline – PART B
Relates to the disciplinary procedure
1.1 The aim of this disciplinary procedure is to provide a framework within which the University
can work with students to maintain satisfactory standards of conduct and to encourage
improvement where necessary.
Both formal and informal routes
Cases involving mental ill health
These tensions have particular significance in the case of students with mental health problems. It is
not uncommon for a student who has such a disability to come up against employee and student
complaints that her/his conduct is ‘unacceptable’.
Our University as the manager of these complaints has a duty to balance the rights of all individuals
concerned, in order to resolve matters fairly and reasonably.
In respect of the mentally ill student her/himself, our University should ensure that,
as far as is reasonably possible, appropriate and sufficient support structures
are put in place to accommodate the student’s needs.
Managing your own wellbeing
Leeds Beckett University Policy and Guidance
In such cases, in the context of a community model in which all students have
agreed to take responsibility for their conduct, it is appropriate for a student
exhibiting unacceptable behaviour, irrespective of that student's health, to be
subject to the Student Code of Discipline.
Code of Discipline where mental health might play a factor
If, following referral through the operation of the Student Code of Discipline, it is known, suspected or
becomes apparent that the alleged misconduct has a mental health dimension to it, the member of staff
or panel responsible for reaching a judgement in a particular student disciplinary case:
a) may refer the matter to the Director of Student Services /Senior Student Advisor (Member of
Student Wellbeing Team) responsible for co-ordinating support for students with mental health
concerns; and
b) put the Student Code of Discipline into abeyance pending a report from the Director of Student
Services /Senior Student Advisor (Member of Student Wellbeing Team).
Misconduct and mental illness.doc Approved July 2005
Effective for 2012-13 (last updated July 2012)
Managing your own wellbeing
For Staff: Practical Advice on Situations Where Breaking Confidentiality Might Be Appropriate
In the first instance, it is vital that you consult your line manager and/or the appropriate member of your
Senior Management Team. If it is decided that information should be passed on it is important that you
address the following questions:
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Why are you breaking confidentiality?
Who you will tell and why?
How serious is the situation? What immediate or significant risk does the student face?
What is likely to happen to the information?
What consequences this will have for the student involved and your
relationship with them.
Are his or her actions placing anyone else at immediate or significant risk?
What implications – both positive and negative – could breaking confidentiality have?
What significant harm to the student, other people or yourself could result in NOT disclosing
this information?
Where appropriate, explain all of the above
Try to limit the negative consequences by keeping accurate records of your actions,
state the reasons for your decisions in addressing the above questions and at
every stage of the process
Managing your own wellbeing
Leeds Beckett University Supports
Staff:
Student Wellbeing Team provides staff:
• Consultancy, guidance and advice
• Joint meetings and on-going liaison with students
• Sharing of information to ensure co-ordinated approach to student experience
• Training – MH Awareness sessions bookable via I-Trent
• Training – MH Awareness: supporting Students module –People Development on-line
• Support for Urgent Situations
University Policies and regulations
http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/public-information/student-regulations/
(Student conduct section)
Students:
• On Line Registration
• Registration via our on-line form accessed from our webpage
• Variety of supports available
• Extensive range of self help resources to be able to direct students to