Resource library

This session, led by Amanda Bloore (Head of Support to Study) and Jimmy Jennings (Senior Academic Coach) from University of Wolverhampton showcased the university's successful endeavour, which has significantly impacted the student experience.

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

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.

Donny McCormick (Director of Student Services Support, University of Roehampton) lead this session on harassment, abuse, victimisation, bullying – broad and significant issues that have been growing in complexity across the UK.

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.

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 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.

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.

Emma Douthwaite (Safeguarding and Welfare Manager, Office for Students) introduced a suite of resources and case studies for higher education providers to use for approaches to joint working with the NHS for student mental health.

Dr Penny Turnbull (Assistant Director of Student Services, Projects and Residential, University of St Andrews) examined the events that led to the service being established, the benefits and challenges of the critical responder role, and how the service has developed over the last three years.

In this interactive, discussion-based workshop, Amy Thompson (Head of the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service) and Heather Williams (Sexual Harassment and Violence Advisor) from the University of Cambridge shared their experience of developing a Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service at the University of Cambridge and of creating the network for Higher Education Sexual Violence Support Services.

Oliver Curran (Vice Chairman, AUCSO - Association of University Chief Security Officers) and Sophie Bimson (Crime Prevention and Personal Safety Advisor, University College London) discussed the challenges that security officers face, how security teams can collaborate effectively with Student Services, and how we can work together to communicate support activity to students.