FOI: bereavement services

The request was successful.

Dear North Shropshire 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

NSC Information, North Shropshire College

Thank you for your email, we will get back to you as soon as possible. If
your query is urgent please contact our Reception on 01691 688000.  
This mail box is not used for reporting student absences. Please use the
dedicated email [1][email address] or phone the main Reception on
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Debra Baldwin,

Dear Georgia and Poppy
Thank you for your FOI request.  I will deal with it in the 20 working
days and come back to you
Regards
Debra Baldwin

Herefordshire & Ludlow College

Contact: 0800 032 1986

Email:[email address]

Web:www.hlcollege.ac.uk

NEXT OPEN EVENTS

Hereford Campus:Thursday 14th March 2019 4.30pm - 7.00pm

Holme Lacy Campus: Wednesday 13th March 2019 4.00pm - 7.00pm

Ludlow College: Saturday 9th March 2019, 10.00am - 12.00 noon

This email and any content are confidential and intended solely for the
use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Opinions
expressed are not necessarily those of Herefordshire & Ludlow College.
Herefordshire & Ludlow College, Folly Lane, Hereford.

Debra Baldwin,

Dear Georgia and Poppy
Please find below the answers to the questions that you had.
Do you offer special provisions for counselling services for students
specific to bereavement? Yes 
+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 it is included in the
pastoral support services offered which is multi-faceted.
+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? All aspects of
bereavement can be supported via the colleges mentoring and
counselling service.
+Can you tell me what special provision you have for offering extensions
and academic breaks in study after a bereavement? These are bespoke to
each student assignment extensions are applied as needed and
academic individual 1:1  support is provided to offer focused sessions
for assignments or synoptic completion to secure achievement. 
+How much money did you allocate to counselling and support services for
bereavement per year (Jan 2016-Jan 2019)? The budget is £8k per annum
specifically for formal counselling this is outsourced and currently
meets demand, internal posts with a support element such as mentors cost
circa 40K for coverage of 2 campuses.This is not just bereavement this
covers all student pastoral support, bereavement is not funded as an
isolated support type.
+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 - I feel the financial pressures on further education from the
machinery of government does have a negative impact and adds further
pressure to a colleges ability to provide an effective, encompassing 
and accessible  pastoral support service that can meet demand.

The increasing duties on colleges to provide more formal mental health
services, addressing the KCSIE requirements and early help  offer
without additional ring-fenced funds whilst other support agencies are
reducing services is a sector wide challenge.

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