1. Hardship Funds (formerly Access Funds): The Department for Education has established Hardship Funds to enable universities to provide financial help to students in financial difficulties. Both part-time and full-time UK undergraduates and postgraduate students are eligible to apply, as are refugees and "asylees". EU and international students are not eligible. Contact the Student Funds Office in the Student Services Centre for an application form. New College students should contact the Student Information Office.
   
   
2. Student Loans: Full-time UK students, refugees and "asylees" are also eligible to apply for a repayable loan to the Student Loan Company. Student loans are part of the Government's financial support package for students in taught Higher Education, and are available to help students meet their living costs. It is the student's decision whether to take out a loan and how much to borrow. They can borrow up to a maximum amount set each year. A booklet "Student Grants and Loans", published by the DfEE, is available from the Student Advice and Information Centre or the Student Loans Office in the Student Services Centre. New College students should contact the Student Information Office.
   
   
3. Students in financial difficulties as a result of late arrival of SLC Loans may apply direct to the Student Funds Office for a bridging loan not exceeding £500. These interest-free loans must be repaid upon receipt of the Student Loan Company cheque.
   
   
4. Students in general hardship or longer-term financial difficulties may seek help in one or both of the following ways:
   
   
   • Remission of tuition fees: The student concerned, or the tutor, may apply to the Head of School for remission of fees, wholly or in part. If the application is supported, the Head of School will write to the Fees Officer who will then inform the Student Services's Department, interview the student and report back to the Head of School. It will then be the Head of School's decision whether or not to submit the recommendation for remission of fees to the Dean of the Faculty. Consultation with the Dean of the Faculty at an early stage is advised since the cost of any remission is borne by the Faculty.
     
     
   • University Loan Fund: A limited number of loans not exceeding £150 each may be made to students in difficult financial circumstances. Information and the conditions under which these loans are made may be obtained from the Fees Office (Mrs S Moisey, Ext 22990).
     
     
5. University Hardship Funds: The University is prepared to consider applications for financial assistance from students in hardship resulting from circumstances beyond their control which have arisen since they first registered for their present course of study. Such help is normally available only to international and EU students and the funds available are extremely limited. Enquiries may be made to Ms Theresa McGoldrick (Ext 23062).
   
   
6. Faculty Hardship Funds: Some Faculties also operate hardship funds for their own students. Enquiries should be directed to the appropriate School Office.
   
   
7. Benefits: Full-time students are not eligible to claim Jobseekers' Allowance or Housing Benefit unless they are a lone parent, a pensioner, disabled or a student couple with children. Contact the Student Advice and Information Centre for details about students and benefits.
   
   
8. Trusts and Charities: Students in need may be able to get help from charitable sources but the criteria for such funds tend to be very strict and it may take months to produce results. Details of such organisations are kept by the Student Advice and Information Centre.
   
   
9. Students with Disabilities: Students who have a specific learning difficulty or other disability may be eligible for the Disabled Students' Allowance, or other funding for their specialist support, and should be referred to the Disability Service (ext 25644, email enable@soton.ac.uk).

• history of illness, over-anxiety or insomnia at 'A' levels or other examinations;
• unexpected failure in examinations or courses;
• falling performance in academic work;
• over-meticulous work or inability to present work on time because of attempts to make it "perfect";
• no longer able to concentrate on work;
• no interest in or energy for social or leisure activities;
• getting very little sleep;
• avoiding other people, either at work or socially;
• moody, short tempered or touchy;
• unable to "get on with" people;
• self-deprecation and self-blame;
• over-activity and elation, which may alternate with lassitude or unhappiness;
• heavy drinking;
• rapid increase or decrease in weight;
• unhygienic or unkempt.

• Grants, loans, benefits
• Access and hardship funds
• Debt problems
• Housing rights
• Student visas and certain immigration issues
• Legal and consumer problems
• Academic appeals and other academic issues
• Disciplinary matters

• Legal Advice: A local firm of solicitors hold regular surgeries at SAIC during term-time.
• English Language Classes and Conversation Scheme: Sarah Wilks offers English clases for the partners of international students and staff.
• Home Office Batch Scheme: student visa application service.

Daniel Bedingfield of SAIC holds surgeries at Winchester Campus, Room 2069. These are currently held on Wednesdays, 1pm - 4pm, term-time only. Further details may be obtained from the WSA Students Union, Ext. 26988.

4.3.3. The University Counselling Service

The University Counselling Service is available to all members of the University community and has a team of professionally trained and experienced Counsellors who are used to helping people from many different backgrounds and cultures.

When might staff come for counselling?

Staff come to the Service to explore a wide range of issues, sometimes work-related and sometimes to do with their personal lives.

Work-related stress or personal problems have an effect on how staff manage their work, and counselling can enable clients to gain a new perspective.

Counselling can help people to explore, clarify, confront and understand personal issues. The Counsellor will share an active role in this process, but will not give direct advice. By respecting a client's own values, choices and lifestyle, the Counsellor can help people towards making choices or changes that are right for them.

The Counselling Service works within the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy's 'Framework of Good Practice', and details of what happens in counselling sessions are held in confidence. Under normal circumstances, nothing will be revealed to anyone outside the Service without a client's express permission. Counselling sessions take place in a comfortable and private setting and are usually for 50 minutes once a week. Appointment times are available throughout the day and early evening. A reduced service is maintained during the vacations.

The reception at 28 University Road is open each weekday between 10am and 4pm for enquiries and appointments for Highfield and New College Campuses. Telephone 023 8059 3719 or ext 23719. Messages may be left by voicemail outside of these times. The same telephone number will also provide information about the opening times. Appointments for Winchester School of Art can be made with the Registry office. Telephone 023 8059 6918 or ext 26918. Appointment times are available throughout the day and early evening. A reduced service is maintained during vacations.

This informal and confidential service will endeavour to offer an initial appointment within a few days. However, the service does get very busy and there is sometimes a waiting list for ongoing counselling. Nevertheless, every effort is made to see clients as soon as possible.

When should staff suggest that a student makes contact the Service?

Sometimes students will approach staff about their problems; others cope by avoiding the issues, or communicating them indirectly, e.g. through deteriorating attendance and academic performance. Counselling may become advisable if the relationship with the student becomes difficult, i.e. too intense or overwhelming, and encouraging them to contact the Service could be a way forward. there is a useful document on Referring People to the Counselling Service on the web at www.counsel.soton.ac.uk/publications/referrals.php

Other useful contacts

Samaritans	08457-909090	Face to Face (under 25s)	01962-878300
No Limits (under 25s)	02380-511051	Victim Support	02380-650306
Nightline (Students' Union)	02380-591222	Relate (Couples)	02380-229761 01962-861336
Caring in Crisis (Pregnancy)	0800-028-2228	Citizens Advice Bureau (general)	02380-221406

4.3.4. Chaplains (Ext 23511)

The Chaplaincy Centre is at 41 University Road. There are three full-time Chaplains: Anglican, Roman Catholic and Free Church. They are available in the centre to talk confidentially and the Anglican Chaplain (Tel: 023-8055-8126) will be glad to act as a point of reference on behalf of the team in the evenings and at weekends. They are also able to given names of contacts for other faiths. The chaplains offer regular events for study, exploration, discussion and worship for both students and staff.

4.3.5. Careers Advisory Service (CAS) (Ext 23501)

The Careers Advisory Service is in Building 3.

Termtime opening hours: Monday to Friday 0830 - 1700
Vacation opening hours: Monday - Friday 0830 - 1230, 1330 - 1630

Students will receive a warm welcome at the CAS throughout their time at University and beyond. They should be encouraged to begin their career planning as early as possible.

The Careers Service runs events throughout the year including Career Focus weeks for Second years and finalists, a Work Experience Fair, Graduate Recruitment Fair, Finance and I.T.Fair and a programme of Skills Workshops run by major employers.

Careers Advisors, along with the Information and Employer Liaison staff, can offer advice and guidance to enable students to make informed choices with regard to further study, postgraduate research or employment.

The extensive Careers Library contains paper, video and computer based resources for information and guidance on a self-help basis. The new web-based Library Catalogue allows students to identify resources quickly and effectively.

E-Jobs, a web-based service, allows student to identify part-time/casual/temporary work, year-long industrial placements, voluntary/community work and graduate appointments. For more details contact Katie Williams, (K.M.Williams@soton.ac.uk) (Business Projects Officer) or Jennifer Hay (jh3@soton.ac.uk) for graduate appointments.

All CAS activities are advertised in their fortnightly term-time publication Careers News and on their Web site at: www.careers.soton.ac.uk

4.3.6. Highfield Health

Visit the Highfield Health website: www.soton.ac.uk/~health for detailed information about Highfield Health.

4.3.7. The University Health Service

Visit the University Health Service website: www.unidocs.co.uk for detailed information about the University Health Service.

4.3.8. University Day Nurseries

The University has Day Nurseries on both the Highfield and New College campus. They are open to children from four months to five years of age and offer a caring and stimulating atmosphere for the children of staff and students of the University. A multi-activity scheme for children aged four to twelve years operates during school holidays: please contact the Ext 23465 for more details. The qualified staff are experienced in providing a happy learning environment within a multi-cultural environment. Early application is essential as there is a lengthy waiting list and places cannot be guaranteed. Appointments can be arranged to visit either nursery.

For further details please contact Amanda Saunders, the Day Nursery Co-ordinator on Ext. 23465 or visit the website at www.nursery.soton.ac.uk.

4.3.9. Nightline

Nightline is a confidential telephone listening service run by students for students and is located at 8 University Crescent. Telephone 02380-671222 any night during term-time, 2000 - 0800 hours.

4.3.10. The Management of Acute Mental Health Emergencies

Overview

1. The University has developed and adopted a Mental Health Policy (2002) one of whose principles is to ensure that all employees and students who experience mental health difficulties are treated fairly, sensitively and with respect, and are offered the support that they need to deal with their particular situation. The University also has a responsibility under the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 to avoid discriminating against students with disabilities, including mental illness.
   
   
2. If someone's behaviour gives you cause for concern, do not worry about whether you are qualified to decide whether or not they have a mental health condition: your concern is sufficient cause, so contact the appropriate services, listed below, for advice. Whilst you should certainly try to limit the information you reveal to external sources in order to protect the student's confidentiality, it is entirely appropriate to inform the services of any information which may be relevant to their evaluation of the situation. Whilst students and staff of the University have a Duty of Confidentiality under the Data Protection Act 1998, this confidentiality is limited by the Duty of Care which we have to our students and staff. The duty of care takes precedence where there are serious concerns about the individual's mental or physical health or for the safety of others exposed to serious risks from that person
   
   Note: The University Counselling Service adheres to a separate code of confidentiality associated with that profession and anyone experiencing concerns about the well-being of another member of the University can approach them for a confidential consultation. Only where it is necessary and only to limit the risk of death or serious harm to the student or another vulnerable person, would the University Counselling Service disclose information given to them.
   
   
3. The needs of students who develop mental illness have to be balanced with the need to protect the safety and ability to study of their neighbours, friends and classmates; and to ensure that members of the university, such as Hall staff or Personal Tutors, are not required to provide support to mentally-ill students that they are not trained to give.
   
   
4. It is the responsibility of the GP with whom the student is registered to provide professional support and care in incidents of mental illness. Staff and students of the University will support medical practitioners in whatever ways they can, but laypersons cannot be expected to replace the professional care and support that are the responsibility of the National Health Service.
   
   The purpose of this protocol is to define the various responsibilities of all those members of the university community who might come into contact with students who are suspected to be suffering from mental illness and whose behaviour gives reasonable grounds for concern.
   
   
5. For the purposes of this document, acute mental health emergencies may consist of any of the following:
   
   
   • The person is considered to be an immediate danger to themselves
     
   • The person is considered to be an immediate danger to others
   • The person is exhibiting extreme distress
   • The person is neglecting their own health (e.g. neglecting medication, self care or failing to eat adequately) such that they are likely to trigger a crisis.
     
     
6. Everyone involved with the management of cases of serious mental illness will respect the rights of all students under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998.
   
   
7. Do not contact the student's friends or family unless specifically requested to do so by the student in person. If in any doubt about contacting family, please consult with either the Head of Student Support, the Head of the Counselling Service or the Disability Co-ordinator.
   
   

1. Members of staff and students who encounter students who are showing symptoms of an acute mental health emergency (i.e. they are an immediate danger to themselves) should attempt to discover the identity of the student's GP, and, where this is known, to report their concerns to the GP. (If the student has not registered with a GP, or if the GP's identity cannot be ascertained, contact should be made with either Highfield Health (023-8059-5545) or University Health Service (023-8059-3539: both numbers 24 hours) for an emergency consultation. Each of these Practices uses out-of-hours deputising services, which can be contacted via the above numbers. The GP will decide what action(s) are required, e.g. hospitalisation, arrangements for personal care, etc. If the situation is especially urgent, please call an ambulance by dialling 999. When talking with the emergency services, remember that the paramedics will not be familiar with the campus, and will need precise and unambiguous directions.
   
   
2. Callers should give their own name and contact number; the name of the student; current location; and describe as clearly as possible the nature of the behaviour that is giving cause for concern.
   
   
3. If the caller feels that their own safety, or that of other people, is being endangered by the distressed student's behaviour, the University's own Security Service (023-8059-2828) should be contacted and assistance requested. (Out of hours, the Emergency Control Centre should be contacted on 023-8059-2811.) Alternatively, the caller can always contact the Police/Ambulance Service by dialling 999. Encourage other people to leave the area if at all possible, and discourage new people from entering the area. Try to position yourself so that you are nearer to the door than is the student and so that you can both be seen by people outside the immediate area.
   
   
4. If the threat concerns a person who is not in the immediate vicinity, please inform the appropriate authorities: Police or University Security.
   
   
5. The caller should also inform the Head of Student Support (023-8059-3062) of the incident, so that he may inform the student's Personal Tutor and either the Warden (if the student is a hall resident) or the Accommodation Officer (if the student is in private rented accommodation).
   
   
6. Do not contact the student's friends or family unless specifically requested to do so by the student in person. If in any doubt about contacting family, please consult with either the Head of Student Support, the Head of the Counselling Service or the Disability Co-ordinator.
   

1. Staff should inform the Head of Student Support of any such cases as soon as possible, as they will be responsible for convening a case conference within 5 days to review the University's responsibility for the management of the student's situation.
   
   
2. Any enquiries concerning the student from the media should be directed to the Head of External Relations.
   
   
3. Any enquiries concerning the student from friends or family should be directed to the Head of Student Support.
   
   
4. The staff member should make a detailed and factual record of events (avoid any speculation about diagnoses or possible precipitants of the behaviour) and place in the student's file
   

1. Inform the Personal Tutor and Hall Warden/Accommodation Officer of any case of serious mental illness that is reported to him/her. The Head of the Counselling Service should also be notified and, where this has not already been done, the student's GP. In general, the Head of Student Support will be responsible for the co-ordination of all on-campus student services, including the relevant GPs.
   
   
2. Inform the Head of External Relations if the case is such that it may attract media interest. Any subsequent media enquiries should be directed to the Media Relations Department.
   
   
3. Where appropriate, and normally at the request of either a GP or a Hall Warden or the Disability Co-ordinator, convene and chair a Case Conference to discuss the University's responsibility with respect to the management of the student's illness. Those invited to attend will normally include some or all of the following: student's GP; Head of the Counselling Service; Hall Warden or Accommodation Officer; Personal Tutor or Supervisor; Disability Co-ordinator.
   
   
4. On the recommendation of the GP and with the agreement of the Case Conference, to secure funding for the short-term private care of a mentally-ill student in an off-campus facility, for specialist nursing care in a hall of residence or, in the case of an EU or international student, an airfare to the student's home country. Private medical care or nursing care delivered on-site shall be reviewed after five days' duration.
   
   
5. Private medical or nursing care will only be considered in those cases where, in the GP's opinion, the student's best interests cannot be served in any other way. For example: by sectioning under the Mental Health Act, referral to the Department of Psychiatry or, for UK students, return to the student's home address.
   
   
6. In emergencies out-of-hours,where the GP and the Hall Warden agree that nursing care is required and the NHS is unable to admit or retain a mentally-ill student after their in-patient care has ended, the Warden and the GP, on behalf of COSS, can either contact a defined agency (e.g. Select) to provide a suitable carer to support the student in their own room or in Emergency Rooms at Wessex Lane, or arrange for the sick student to be admitted to private medical in-patient care, e.g. Marchwood Priory. Invoices for this care should be directed to the Head of Student Services for settlement. In the case of emergency action of this kind, it is the responsibility of the Warden to inform the Head of Student Services and the Disability Co-ordinator as soon as possible of what has been done. The Head of Student Services will then convene a Case Conference to review the provision of private care, and the longer-term management of the student's illness.
   

1. When called by a member of staff about a student who appears to be showing symptoms of an acute mental health emergency (i.e. they are an immediate danger to themselves) GPs are requested to respond by offering an emergency consultation (or by advising the staff to call an ambulance) regardless of whether the student is actually their patient. Where the identity of the student's GP is known, contact will have been made direct with that GP.
   
   GPs are asked to remember that University staff are not generally trained in dealing with people with acute mental illness and will need clear and unambiguous guidance from you about how the situation should be handled.
   
   
2. Callers to the GP should provide the name of the student, their current location, their own name and describe clearly and factually the behaviour which is giving cause for concern.
   
   
3. The GP will decide what action(s) are required e.g. hospitalisation, arrangements for personal care, etc. The key questions are:
   
   Does this person need immediate hospital treatment?
   
   IF YES: the responsibility for arranging this is with the GP.
   
   IF NO: the GP should advise on appropriate accommodation:
   
   If the student is in private rented accommodation: should they stay there, OR be instructed to return to their parental home (if feasible) OR be moved into the emergency flat in Hall? Note that the emergency flat is provided as an accommodation-only facility: there is no attached care, either from Wardens or other staff, except under para 4, below. If the emergency flat is required, please contact Montefiore reception (24 hours) on 023-8059-8015.
   
   If the student is in a Hall of Residence:
   
   
   1. contact the Warden (via Montefiore Reception (023-8059-8015: 24 hrs) to advise them of the concern about the student, and
      
      
   2. discuss with the Warden whether the current Hall is an appropriate place for continued residence - if not should the student be either instructed to return to the parental home or moved to the emergency flat?
      
      
4. If the student needs hospitalisation but no bed is available in the local NHS facilities, the GP and Warden should:
   
   
   1. decide where is the most appropriate location to house the student pro tem (own room, emergency flat or other) until an NHS bed becomes available.
      
      
   2. the GP should advise the Warden whether personal care is required. Personal care will be provided through a local agency: the carer will NOT be a qualified nurse but should have experience of working with people who have a mental health difficulty.
      
      
   3. where the person's distress is very severe and immediate hospitalisation is an absolute necessity, the GP should arrange a bed with Marchwood Priory (invoices for this should be directed to the Disability Co-ordinator, who will process for payment authorisation by the Head of Student Support).
      
      
   4. Inform the Head of Student Support, who will arrange a Case Conference within a maximum of 5 days in order to discuss and agree continuing management plans.
      
      

1. If you come into contact with a student who appears to be showing symptoms of an acute mental health emergency (i.e. they are an immediate danger to themselves) you should immediately make contact with your colleagues in the Wardenal Team for that Hall and inform them of the situation - do not try to deal with the situation without assistance. Contact should also be made with the Warden responsible for that Hall and, where contact cannot be made immediately, then the Duty Officer within Business Services should be contacted.
   
   
2. Encourage other people to leave the area if at all possible, and discourage new people from entering the area. Try to position yourself so that you are nearer to the door than is the student and in such a way that you can both be seen by people outside the immediate area. Where other residents are involved, another member of the Wardenal Team should take them to a quiet area where they can be interviewed in confidence and record any relevant information about the situation / incident.
   
   
3. If your safety, or that of others, is being endangered by the behaviour of the distressed student contact the local Hall Security Service (via the Reception in Wessex Lane Halls or Glen Eyre Halls - Small Halls without 24h Reception should contact University Security [outside working hours Main Control Centre 22811] OR call the Police / Ambulance Service by dialling 999.
   
   
4. Attempt to determine the student's GP and, where this is known, report your concerns to the GP (or Deputising Service) requesting assistance. If the student's own GP is not known, please contact the University Health Service (023 8059 3539) or Highfield Health (023 8059 5545) [both numbers 24 hours] for a doctor to either attend or arrange for an emergency consultation the following day. The GP will decide what action(s) are required e.g. hospitalisation, arrangements for personal care, etc. If the situation is especially urgent, you can call an ambulance by dialling 999.
   
   
5. Callers should provide the name of the student, their current location, their own name and describe clearly and factually the behaviour which is giving cause for concern. Any calls made should be logged.
   
   
6. Do not contact the student's friends or family unless specifically requested to do so by the student in person. If in any doubt about contacting family, please consult with either the Head of Student Support, the Head of the Counselling Service or the Disability Co-ordinator.
   
   
7. The GP will consult with the Warden whether the current Hall is an appropriate place for continued residence. It is the Warden's responsibility to bring to attention of the GP any facts or issues which may be material to this decision. Where the GP and Warden agree that the student will remain in accommodation within a University Hall of Residence (either in their own room pro tem or in the Emergency accommodation), the members of the Wardenal team of that Hall will receive clear, written instructions from the GP, signed by both the GP and the Warden, as to the limits of their responsibility for that student as Duty Warden(s). The GP should advise the Warden whether personal care is required and make the necessary arrangements for the provision of that care - the Wardenal Team are not expected to provide care and support beyond that offered to any other resident in Hall. Personal care will be provided through a local agency: the carer will NOT be a qualified nurse but should have experience of working with people who have a mental health difficulty.
   
   
8. If the GP and Warden agree that the student should not remain in accommodation within the University Halls of Residence, then where the person's distress is very severe and immediate hospitalisation is an absolute necessity, the GP will either arrange an immediate admission to the local NHS Hospital or where necessary, make arrangements for a bed with Marchwood Priory (invoices for this should be directed to the Disability Co-ordinator, who will process for payment authorisation by the Head of Student Support). Where hospital admission is not required and it is inappropriate for the student to remain in residence, the GP and Warden will advise the student to leave Hall at the earliest opportunity and return to the Parental home (or that of Next of Kin or nominated individual). If the student is admitted or leaves Hall, the Warden must ensure that the details are logged.
   
   
9. If the threat concerns a person who is not in the immediate vicinity please inform the appropriate authorities (Police, Social Services, University Security).
   

1. The member of the Wardenal Team dealing with the student should make a detailed and factual record of events (avoid any speculation about diagnoses or possible precipitants of the behaviour) and pass this record to the Warden at the earliest opportunity.
   
   
2. The Warden should contact the Deputy Director of Business Services to advise him of the situation at the earliest opportunity and also forward a copy of record of events.
   
   
3. The Warden should ensure that Theresa McGoldrick, Head of Student Support, on ext. 23062 is made aware of the situation at the earliest opportunity and receives a copy of the record of events. The SSM will alert other colleagues about the concerns (e.g. personal tutor).
   
   
4. Any enquiries concerning the student from the media should be directed to the Head of External Relations and the Warden informed.
   
   
5. Any enquiries concerning the student from friends or family should be directed to the Head of Student Support and the Warden informed.