FOI: bereavement services

The request was successful.

Dear Havant & South Downs College,

I am e-mailing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

If you have any questions or need clarification to complete my request, I would be grateful if you could contact me prior to the deadline of 20 working days from receiving my request.

I’m looking for information regarding the bereavement services which are available in your university or college. Please could you answer the following:

+Do you offer special provisions for counselling services for students specific to bereavement? Y/N
+Do you offer any support or counselling services for students? Y/N
+Do you have an institution wide policy/guidance regarding caring for students following a bereavement? Y/N
+Do your policies or practices exclusively relate to support for students who have lost parents or does your support factor in other forms of bereavement, such as losing a sibling?
+Can you tell me what special provision you have for offering extensions and academic breaks in study after a bereavement?
+How much money did you allocate to counselling and support services for bereavement per year (Jan 2016-Jan 2019)?
+If you feel you would like to offer an opinion, would you say your institution feels you are offered enough from the Government in order to support students who have experienced bereavement while studying?

I understand that under the Act, I should be entitled to a response within 20 working days. I would be grateful if you could confirm via e-mail that you have received this request.

Regards,
Georgia Coan + Poppy Damon
[Number Removed]

Yours faithfully,

Poppy Damon

Freedom Of Information, Havant & South Downs College

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Dear Ms Damon
 
I acknowledge your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. Your request has been passed on to an appropriate
officer and may take up to 20 working days to be processed.
 
Please be advised that if an exemption applies to the information that you
have requested, the statutory period may be exceeded in accordance with
the provisions of that Act.
 
Should you have any queries, please e-mail: [Havant & South Downs College request email].
 
Regards
 
Jacqui Humphreys
PA to Vice Principal Business Services & People and Director of Finance
 
Havant & South Downs College, South Downs Campus, College Road,
Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 8AA
T: 023 9387 9999 (Ext 4552) E: [1][email address]
hsdc.ac.uk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Freedom Of Information, Havant & South Downs College

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Dear Ms Damon
 
Thank you for your enquiry under Freedom of Information and below is our
response to the request that you have made. 
 
Note that HSDC comprises 3 campuses, following South Downs College’s
merger with Havant Sixth Form College (August 2017) and Alton College
(March 2019).   

 1. Do you offer special provisions for counselling services for students
specific to bereavement? No; see responses below.
 1. Do you offer any support or counselling services for students? Yes -
South Downs Campus: Listening Ear Service provided by external
company; Havant Campus: Dedicated part time counsellor 3 days per
week; Alton Campus: Counselling provision managed by a Welfare Manager
who is BACP registered and service provided by a team of volunteer
counsellors. 
 1. Do you have an institution  wide policy/guidance regarding caring for
students following a bereavement? No - bereavement support is provided
along with all aspects of student support and is outlined in our
available services. 
 1. Do your policies or practices exclusively relate to support for
students who have lost parents or does your support factor in other
forms of bereavement, such as losing a sibling? Policies do not refer
specifically to bereavement, but support is offered to all students on
a drop in or appointment basis. 
 1. Can you tell me what special provision you have for offering
extensions and academic breaks in study after a bereavement? These
arrangements are based on an ad-hoc structure working with the student
and a representative of the family. Liaison is made between the
relevant curriculum area for the student and the student is encouraged
to keep in contact as much as possible to ensure adequate support can
be put into place. 
 1. How much money did you allocate to counselling and support services
for bereavement per year (Jan 2016-Jan 2019)?  South Downs Campus
provision is allocated circa £20,000 per annum (Listening Ear Service;
funding provided by the College).
 1. If you feel you would like to offer an opinion, would you say your
institution feels you are offered enough from the Government in order
to support students who have experienced bereavement while
studying? We do not believe the government provides sufficient support
for any welfare services for students in post 16 education. This very
often has to come directly from the College's budget and many FE
Colleges cannot keep up with the support required by our young people.

 
Should you have any further queries, please e-mail:
[1][Havant & South Downs College request email]
 
Regards
 
Jacqui Humphreys
PA to Vice Principal Business Services & People and Director of Finance
 
Havant & South Downs College, South Downs Campus, College Road,
Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 8AA
T: 023 9387 9999 (Ext 4552) E: [2][email address]
hsdc.ac.uk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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