The Student Advice Service Bulletin Trinity 2015 NEWSLETTER IN THIS ISSUE: DISABILITY MASTERS FORUMS SEXUAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE The Student Advice Service is the only professional advice, information and advocacy service exclusively available to Oxford University Students. The Student Advice Service is independent of the Colleges, Departments and the Central University and so the services it offers are impartial and objective. Our services The Student Advice Service is part of Oxford University Student Union, (OUSU). As part of OUSU, the Student Advice Service works closely with the and so is student-driven and studentfocused. Experience gathered from the work of the Student Advice Service is University policies and procedures that affect student welfare. What We do Advisors offer short-term information and advice and engage in long-term casework and advocacy. Work in partnership with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate a range of support groups for students. Work in partnership with Student workshop programmes and information sessions for students. Sophie Swan, Lisa Stokes King and Cate Hemingway Advisors have experience dealing with the following issues: Accommodation Academic concerns Academic Appeals Disability Drugs and Alcohol Eating Disorders Harassment and Abuse Health Physical/Mental/Sexual Homesickness Student parents Relationships Safety successful resolution to whatever issues they may face. Who We are We are a team of three permanent Cate hemingWay, adviCe ServiCe manager Cate’s role is to manage and co-ordinate the work of the Student Advice Service. She studied at Keele, Cambridge, London and Oxford, was an assistant junior dean and MCR President at Oxford and Cambridge and a lecturer at Oxford Brookes and London University. For over twenty years, Cate has worked in advice services in the public, private, independent and university sectors worker and psychologist. LiSa StokeS-king, adviSor Lisa has been a part-time Advisor since 2009. She has been an Oxford undergraduate, an international graduate student, a mature student, experienced being a student parent and expertise include Academic concerns, Harassment, Relationship Abuse, Housing and Accommodation, and Graduate issues. She is however happy to speak with you about anything that is troubling you. Sophie SWain, adviSor Sophie Swain is a part-time Advisor who joined the Service in 2014. She completed her undergraduate degree at Lancaster University and was a member of her college’s JCR welfare team. She has worked in a variety of roles in the public, charity, arts and education sectors. She has lived in the UK and Spain. Her specialisms include issues around Academic concerns, Sexuality/ Sexual Health, Mental Health and Sexual Abuse but she is happy to help with anything that is troubling you. The Student Advice Service Bulletin Trinity 2015 STUDENT ADVICE SERVICE 185% increase in cases Students Seen: increase of 66% 401 April 2014 to April 2015 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES The disabled students who approach the Student Advice Service are a diverse group, reflecting the broad spectrum of chronic physical, mental and emotional conditions defined as disabilities in current legislation. Some have arrived at Oxford with a clear diagnosis and understanding of their needs, and come to us for advice on how to interpret and engage with the University Regulations, or with their College’s attempts to put in place reasonable adjustments. In these cases, we encourage students to work closely with the Disability Advisory Service, but many students appreciate the independent status of the Advice Service, and our ability to look objectively at the suitability of the arrangements made. This enables us to support students as they mediate communication between medical particularly when negotiating College rules around Fitness to Study alongside the requirement for HEIs to comply with Disability Legislation. For some students, however, their diagnosis with a chronic condition can follow a period of time during which the impact of their health on their academic achievement has not been recognised: this is particularly problematic when the student has already been placed on academic probation, or has failed to reach required graduate milestones. In these cases, the Student Advice Service can guide the student through the process of informing all relevant parties, and negotiating retrospective recognition of their status as a disabled student. We have also found this role to be of key importance for students whose diagnosis has changed: for example when it transpires that they are suffering from a more rare illness than had been initially understood, and have more complex requirements than those already put in place. THE YEAR SO FAR Long-term Casework: 223 Short-term Information Requests: 178 90% of students said the advice they were given had impact thir decision to stay at Oxford. 90% of students recommended using the service to other students. 95% of students rated the service Good/Very Good. Ultimately, if students feel that the adjustments made for their disability have not resulted in them being 85% of students said that it was very easy to get the advice they were looking for. students, our independent status means that we are able to guide them through any dispute that they wish to raise with the Collegiate University. Time responding to initial enquiry: 98.7% responded within two working days (Service Standard Agreement). This year mental health was a factor in 64% and physical disability a factor in 24% of cases and enquiries seen by the Service. Time taken to see an Advisor: 95.4% seen within four working days (Service Standard Agreement). The Student Advice Service Bulletin Trinity 2015 MASTERS FORUMS This term the Student Advice Service will be working with College Common Room officers and Academic representatives in a programme of events designed to tackle exam stress. Traditionally aimed at Finalists, in a new initiative this year, we will be extending these workshops to include “Masters Forums” for graduate students on courses with an exam component. Working collaboratively with Academic and Administrative staff, Advisors will form part of a panel to give general advice about exam stress and self care. Advisors will also be available take place on Monday of 1st week at St John’s College 530-630 in the Larkin Room). A full programme can be found at www.ousu.org/advice. SEXUAL HEALTH AWARENESS WORKSHOPS In Trinity Term the Student Advice Service will again be co-facilitating a sexual health training/testing workshop together with Sexual Health Oxfordshire. This is the second year the workshops have been offered free of charge to all Oxford University students. With last year’s event attended by over 300 students it is hoped that once again students will proactively engage in a service designed to keep them safe. The Service will once again be working collaboratively with nursing and counselling staff from NHS Oxfordshire Trust GUM clinic, student Common MINDFULNESS Oxford Mindfulness Centre at the Department of Psychiatry has been instrumental in developing the framework and Oxford University Counselling Service has pioneered Mindfulness as an effective approach in helping students deal with the stresses of academic life. WWW.OXFORDMINDFULNESS.ORG Vice President Welfare and Equal Opportunities. This year’s event was hosted by St John’s College on Tuesday 1st week in the Garden Quad Reception Room. The facility is accessible and offers gender neutral toilet facilities. The workshops will offer students information and advice about protecting their sexual health. In addition students will be able to be tested and receive an immediate result for a number of sexually transmitted diseases including chlamydia, and HIV. Throughout the event, trained counsellors will be on hand to support students who have particular concerns. In addition, students will be able to speak with an Advisor from the Student Advice Service who will signpost students to specialist services. CHECK YOURSELF FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS Your student union is working together with Sexual Health Oxfordshire to offer FREE accessible testing for all students. WHERE: GARDEN QUAD RECEPTION ROOM IN ST JOHN’S COLLEGE WHEN:TUESDAY THE 28TH OF APRIL (1ST WEEK) FROM 10:30AM TO 2:30PM STUDENT ADVICE SERVICE www.ousu.org DID YOU KNOW? Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI in the UK. 50% of men and 70% of women infected get no symptoms at all. The Student Advice Service Bulletin April 2015 MENTAL HEALTH CHARTER The Student Advice Service is working on a Mental Health Charter that will set out best practice guidelines for supporting students with mental health problems. The Student Advice Service has been working with the OUSU Vice President for Welfare and Equal Opportunities, Chris Pike, and Georgina Aisbitt, from independent student mental health organisation, Oxford Student Minds, to create a Mental Health Charter for Colleges. The Charter will set out best practice guidelines about how to support students experiencing mental health problems. 64% of students who approached the Student Advice Service in 2014/15 disclosed mental health issues. The Charter has been driven by the experiences of SAS clients and additional student feedback responses drawn from an anonymous consultation. At its core, the Charter’s aim is to make all colleges safe and supportive environments. Students should feel able to be open about any mental and expect to be treated with respect and without discrimination. They should also have access to straightforward information about the processes to follow to get help and support within recommendations around matters such as mental health disclosure, provision of comprehensive and compassionate support, and the need for a distinction between academic disciplinary matters and health problems - in the case of the latter, the two matters are often to students who are experiencing mental illness, making them feel as though they are being punished for their condition. relation to mental health, with many already providing exemplary support. Therefore, it is hoped that the Charter will bring standards at all colleges in line with the best ones, which will make for a better student experience as well as ensure that all colleges are meeting their responsibilities to their students. Students have reported varying levels of knowledge, understanding and acceptance across colleges in STUDENT ADVICE SERVICE We are here for you when you need us! Visit us at: 2 Worcester Street Oxford, OX1 2BX Drop-in Sessions (term-time) Mondays 10−12 Wednesdays 12−2 Fridays 2–4 65% of the Students contacting the Student Advice Service experienced Mental Health Issues. The Student Advice Service is the only advice, information and advocacy service exclusively available to Oxford University students. Part of OUSU, the Student Advice Service is independent of the Colleges or Departments and the Central University, so the services we offer are impartial and objective. Our services are free and confidential. Email: [email protected] Call Us: 01865 288 466 Published: By Oxford University Student Union 2015. Photography: Theo Sundh, and Shutterstock.
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