FOI: bereavement services

The request was successful.

Dear Ashton-under-Lyne Sixth Form 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

Carolyn Wright, Ashton-under-Lyne Sixth Form College

Dear Poppy

 

Thank you for your request for information dated 3rd July.  You have
requested the following information:

 

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

 

1.       Do you offer special provisions for counselling services for
students specific to bereavement? Y/N

2.       Do you offer any support or counselling services for students?
Y/N

3.       Do you have an institution  wide policy/guidance regarding caring
for students following a bereavement? Y/N

4.       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?

5.       Can you tell me what special provision you have for offering
extensions and academic breaks in study after a bereavement?

6.       How much money did you allocate to counselling and support
services for bereavement per year (Jan 2016-Jan 2019)?

7.       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 am pleased to advise that the College can provide some of the
information that you have requested.  For ease, I will respond to each of
your questions in turn:

 

1)      The college offers counselling services to students.  This
includes in any area of difficulty a student is experiencing, including
but not limited to bereavement.

 

2)      Section 21: information accessible to applicant by other means

 

Under section 21 of the Act, the College is not required to provide
information in response to a request if it is already reasonably
accessible to you.  You may access the information that you have requested
from [1]https://www.asfc.ac.uk/student-life/supp....

 

3)      No.  The Student Handbook and website outline details of the
college counselling service and how to refer.

4)      No.

5)      We do not hold any information regarding this.  Students will be
supported as appropriate on a case by case basis.

6)      We cannot provide information regarding this.  The cost of our
counselling and support services would include all support offered, not
just cases of bereavement.

7)      Not applicable.

 

If you have any queries about this email, please do not hesitate to
contact me.

 

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint, or request a review of the College's
decision, please write to Principal.

 

If you are not content with the outcome your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Commissioner
cannot normally make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by the College. The Information Commissioner can be
contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water
Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF and at www.ico.org.uk.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Carolyn Wright | Business Support Manager / Data Protection Officer
Ashton Sixth Form College, Darnton Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 9RL
t: 0161 330 2330
e: [2][email address] w: [3]www.asfc.ac.uk

[4]ashton image banner

 

 

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