Resource library

This session, led by Kim Patrick (Head of Student Support and Residential Life, University of Westminster) and Kristy Robinson (Assistant Head of Student Services - Wellbeing, University of Sunderland in London) explored the importance of clinical thinking beyond conventional clinical contexts, especially given the heightened attention to workplace wellbeing during the pandemic. Incorporating clinical expertise into leadership teams is advantageous for both staff and students.

This session, led by Sara Murcott (Student Services Manager - Development and Operations) and Gwyn Eanor (Student Support Co-ordinator) from Nottingham Trent University explored the successes and pitfalls in developing, leading, and launching the new service at Nottingham Trent University.

This session, led by Nicole Holt (Director, Student Experience and Support) and Victoria Owen (CRM Student Product Owner) from University of Salford explored strategies for effectively managing such transformative change, aiming to enhance the experiences of both students and staff.

Anne Marie Graham (Chief Executive, UKCISA - UK Council for International Student Affairs) gave insights about the diversity of the international student body and these students’ expectations of their universities.

Paul Rossi (AMOSSHE Executive Member and Head of Student Advice & Safeguarding Support, University of the Arts London) discussed how the University of the Arts London used user data to interrogate Student Services’ offer for international students, what they learned from this and how these insights have led to changes in services design.

This workshop covered the remodelling of the out of hours service offer at Bath Spa University.

This session outlines the successes, challenges and lessons learned from the Mental Health University Liaison Service pilot in Cardiff.

This interactive workshop led by Sarah Sweeney (Lancaster University) explored how to work with students' trusted contacts effectively, setting boundaries and expectations.

Claire Thompson (Associate Director, Student Wellbeing, University of Nottingham) and Paula Dalziel (Associate Consultant, SUMS Consulting) talked about the transition, and importantly, the benefits and challenges of using the emergency contact protocol.

This session led by Tatjana Damjanovic (Research Officer, TASO - Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education) discussed a new sector toolkit for evaluating the impact of student mental health and wellbeing interventions, drawing on case studies and examples of practice.

Sara Baldwin and Gary McGladdery highlighted recent work involving the development of a Trusted Emergency Contact (TEC) option at enrolment to support interventions with students who have disengaged from their studies or are presenting to academic staff / support services at risk.

Rebecca Hughes (Student Advice and Guidance Officer) and Rachel Jones (Operational Support Manager) from Wrexham University discussed their accessible gateway and the lessons learnt from creating an accessible gateway for students to access a variety of different support mechanisms.

This session led by Kirsty Hutchinson (Manager, Welfare and Counselling Services, University of Newcastle) focused on a whole institution approach to wellbeing, tackling the challenge of size, scale and visibility by way of inclusion and empowerment for all students, colleagues and stakeholders.

This session looked at the work in Wales to develop and launch an all of society trauma-informed framework for Wales. The talk covered how this was co-produced, and how a set of principles, practice levels and Wales definition was agreed – and how the framework is being implemented in higher education in Wales through the collaboration of ACE Hub Wales, hosted by Public Health Wales, and the Universities of Wrexham and Aberystwyth.

Assistant Director Clare Nield gave an overview of the training and resources Worcester has developed to address this issue, and provided examples of how you might engage your academic colleagues to play their part in effective, boundaried student support. This interactive session included opportunities to share experiences and ideas, as well as providing a taster of the activities Worcester has developed to engage their academic audience and embed this important message.

Our keynote speaker Hazel Russo explored the theme of personal and professional boundaries.

This professional development webinar, presented in partnership with TASO (Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education), helped participants build awareness and knowledge of the Student Mental Health Evidence Hub, including its evidence-based toolkit, examples of practice and evaluation guidance.

Hayley Borrett (Head of Wellbeing Services) and Joana da Silva (Interim Head of Student Services) from Harper Adams University discussed the implications for staff colleagues involved in fitness / support to study processes, including setting boundaries, offering support, developing confidence to use processes, managing the expectations of academic colleagues, and communications / training for personal tutors.

Here is the organisational chart for the University of Edinburgh's Support and Wellbeing Services. 

Here is the organisational chart for the Newcastle University's Support and Wellbeing Services. 

Here is the organisational chart for the Liverpool John Moores University's Support and Wellbeing Services. 

Here is the organisational chart for the Lancaster University's Counselling and Mental Health Services. 

Here is the organisational chart for the Bath Spa University's Wellbeing Services. 

Here is the organisational chart for the Bangor University's Support and Wellbeing Services. 

Here is the organisational chart for Newcastle University's Student Health & Wellbeing Services.

Gareth Hughes (Charter Content Development Lead and Psychoeducation Lead) and Rosie Tressler (CEO) from Students Minds focused on your relationship with staff wellbeing. The last few years have been challenging for leaders of Student Services and new pressures continue to arise, so it’s critical that we discuss the cultures we’re in and shape.

Alison Golden (Director of Student Health and Inclusion) and Jess Winkler (Head of Complex Student Casework and Safeguarding) at the University of Bristol explored and shared the tools and processes that we use at our institutions to support students and colleagues.

This presentation by Sarah Littlejohn (Director of Campus Life, The University of Manchester) explored The University of Manchester’s step model of wellbeing support.

In this session Tatjana Damjanovic (Research Officer) and Helen Lawson (Research Programmes Manager) from TASO discussed the initial phase of the project and the toolkit, and created the chance to contribute feedback on what is most useful for the sector’s work on mental health and how the toolkit might fit into current practice.

This presentation by John de Pury (Assistant Director of Policy, Universities UK) reviewed recent Universities UK guidance on trusted contacts in the context of sector efforts to prevent student suicides.

Katie Laverty (Director of Student Services and Success) and Alison Felton (Head of Student Wellbeing) from Keele University discussed the context of a service re-design at Keele University: where they were, where they are now, how they got there, and honest reflections on the challenges.

Geraldine Swanton (Legal Director, Shakespeare Martineau) analysed a case study to explore the challenges that addressing student welfare poses, including legal obligations and risks.

Emma Rowsell (Director of Student and Campus Life), Laura Sanderson (Senior Manager for Safeguarding) and Charley Baker (Associate Professor of Mental Health / Academic Lead for Safeguarding) from the University of Nottingham discussed their work to date and created a chance to discuss some of the areas that cause us all the biggest headaches.

This session by Roshan Israni (Deputy Chief Executive, UCEA - Universities and Colleges Employers Association) focused on the importance of integrating employee experience as part of the overall people strategy, and highlighted some of the work that higher education providers are undertaking to ensure that staff wellbeing is central to their work in this area.

Marion English (Senior Practitioner, Mental health) and Michelle Lewis (Head of Student Support) from Falmouth Exeter Plus discussed a multidisciplinary approach to working with NHS colleagues, which aims to mitigate the impact of under-resourced NHS provision in a rural area.