Dear Poppy

With reference to your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

I am writing back in relation to your request for information, dated 3
July 2019, for information in relation to bereavement support.

Information requested

Do you offer special provisions for counselling services for students
specific to bereavement? The College offers counselling services which can
include support for bereavement

Do you offer any support or counselling services for students? Yes

Do you have an institution wide policy/guidance regarding caring for
students following a bereavement? No the College does not have a policy
that is specific to bereavement.

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 cover all potential
bereavement

Can you tell me what special provision you have for offering extensions
and academic breaks in study after a bereavement? The College does not
have a single policy in relation to this due to the number of
qualifications and exam boards the College works with. Each case therefore
has to be taken on a case by case basis taken into account externally set
guidance by exam boards.

How much money did you allocate to counselling and support services for
bereavement per year (Jan 2016-Jan 2019)? We do not track the specific
cost of our counselling service by the type of counselling provided.

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? No. The
College’s counselling services are provide at a cost to the College with
no recourse to claim such funding back via the government.

Appeal / Complaints Process

If you believe that we have not dealt with your request appropriately
Middlesbrough College has an appeal and complaints process. Appeals and
complaints must be received within 10 working days of the date you receive
the written response to your request and must be made through the
College’s complaints officer who is Paul Stone who can be contacted at the
following email address; [email address]

If you are unhappy with the outcome of the appeal or complaint, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contact at:

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

Paul Moody

Director of Finance & Registry

Finance & Registry

Middlesbrough College

(01642) 33(3595)

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