Student Support Unit
Guidelines 2015/16
- for Support Workers and students working with
Support Workers
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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’
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Student Support Unit
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
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Student Support Unit
 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:

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


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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.
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Student Support Unit
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
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Student Support Unit
 Respect the professional role of the Support Worker (see section on
‘Boundaries’)
 Complete and return Student Support Unit occasional feedback forms as
requested
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Student Support Unit
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
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Student Support Unit
 If your Support Worker does not attend as agreed, please inform the
Student Support Unit immediately
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Student Support Unit
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
Bramber House
Refectory Road
Telephone: 01273 877466
Email: [email protected]
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Student Support Unit
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