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Further training, resources, and guidance for Personal Academic Tutors from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê and external providers.Ìý

Along with the workshops and online course offered by the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Arena Centre, there are a range of additional resources for new and experiencedÌýstaff working in personal academic tutoring rolesÌý– including summaries of support provisions, toolkits, case studiesÌýand offerings from external organisations (e.g., UKAT, MHFAÌýEngland, Charlie WallerÌýMemorial Trust).ÌýÌý

This page also provides information about staff support for personal academic tutoring, including wellbeing support.Ìý

Student Triage and Referral Tool (STaRT)

StudentÌýSupport and Wellbeing (SSW) have developed a digital tool, the Student Triage and Referral Tool (STaRT)Ìý[Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê sign-in required], to help Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê staff members worried about the wellbeing of a current Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê student. Ìý

Students come to us with a range of difficulties or personal problems and it's not always clear what the best way to support them is. SSW have developedÌýSTaRT as a guidance tool designed to help you if you're worried about the wellbeing of your students,Ìýto help them address these challenging situations. 

STaRTÌýprovides tailored guidance and signposting, allowing staff to direct students to the most appropriate information and services depending on their individual situation.

Student of Concern form

If you are a member of the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê community, and are concerned about a student's wellbeing or safety, we encourage you to complete the Student of Concern Form to inform Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW), providing as much information as you can. This would enable us to offer support to the student as soon as possible. We will not be able to take an action if the student’s details are kept confidential.
Some of the circumstances in which the Student of Concern Form is most often used include (but are not limited to):

• ÌýA student has stopped engaging meaningfully or completely with their study, and you believe that this may be due to health and wellbeing issues
• A student has shared suicidal feelings with you and you need to ensure they receive the appropriate support.
• A student’s behaviour is disrupting the learning process in class and you believe that this may be due to a health or wellbeing issue.Ìý
• A student is showing signs of risky behaviour which may involve alcohol or drugs.Ìý

The Student of Concern Form and the SSW email accounts and phone number are monitored between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday. Within these hours, we aim to respond to any concerns as soon as possible within a 48-hour timeframe. The form is not monitored during weekends, bank holidays and the university’s closure periods.

Student Study Skills hub

The Student Study skills hub presents the various academic and professional development skills support available across Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê in one place. This was produced as part of a student partnership (ChangeMakers) project.Ìý
Resources are presented for specific student groups. Alternatively, Personal Academic Tutors may find it useful to look at the general study skills or discipline-specific page for help signposting students to the right option for them (e.g., academic writing, presenting, criticality, group work, research).

Mental Health training and staff wellbeing support

LookingÌýafter your own mental health and wellbeingÌý

TheÌýpersonal academic tutoringÌýroleÌýcan, on occasion, feel hard to manage. This can depend as much on you as your students: how easy or hard you find it to remain detached from your tutees' challenges, and whether you might be more prone to sharing your tutees' feelings of distress or frustration.Ìý

In either case, you should try to be mindful of the effects of your work on your health, and of your health on your work: sometimes, aspects of your job can have a negative effect on your health and wellbeing, and poor health can diminish the quality of your work and the pleasure you take in it.Ìý

Wellbeing support options for Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê staff

• Reach out to your Departmental (Graduate) Tutor or Line Manager;
• Speak to your localÌýWellbeing ChampionÌýorÌýMental Health First Aiders;
• Visit theÌýBeing Well at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÌýwebpages for resources for health mind, body and work;
• Access theÌýEmployee Assistance Programme:ÌýStaff Support ServiceÌý(freeÌýconfidential advice and counselling services)
• Online psychoeducational and cognitive behavioural therapy programmes;
• andÌýÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê wellbeing events, courses and campaigns.Ìý

Mental Health First Aid training

If you would like to increase your mental health awareness or to enhance your skills in supporting others with their mental health you might findÌýÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Human Resources’ÌýMental Health First AidÌý(MHFA)ÌýtrainingÌýoptions of interest.ÌýMHFA England offer three courses they can deliver to departments:ÌýÌý

• Adult Mental Health First Aid –Ìýtwo-dayÌýcourse to qualify as a mental health first aider.ÌýÌý
• Mental Health First Aid for Higher Education – intensive one day course to qualify as a Higher Education MHFA champion.ÌýÌý
• Mental Health Aware –Ìýfour-hourÌýsession raising awareness of mental health.Ìý

Mental Health First AidÌýis anÌýonlineÌýversion of the MHFA EnglandÌýcourse,Ìýendorsed by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Royal Society of Public Health. This course is designed to develop mental health awareness and improve knowledge of common mental health conditions so that we can provide the best support to our students.Ìý

Charlie Waller Memorial Trust resourcesÌý

The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust was created in 1997 in response to the loss of son and brother Charlie to suicide after suffering from depression. They are now one of the UK’s most respected mental health charities, which hasÌýoffered high-quality, evidence-based mental health training and adviceÌýfor colleges and universitiesÌýfor many years.ÌýÌý

TheirÌýresouresÌýinclude:Ìý

• Ìýdesigned to give non-specialistÌýHigher EducationÌýstaff the skills, knowledge and confidence to offer first line of support to students who may have mental health issues. The package is composed of six sessions, designed in easy-to-follow 20-minute modules; including signs to look out for, key helping skills, and knowing who else to involve and when.Ìý
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• .ÌýÌýAnimations include ‘You can help’, ‘Keeping calm’, ‘Being prepared’, and ‘Your wellbeing’.ÌýÌý

United Kingdom Advising and Tutoring (UKAT) association events and resourcesÌý

TheÌýÌýis a body of professional practitioners and researchers interested in all aspects of student advising and personal tutoring in Higher Education in the UK.Ìý

UKAT offers a range of , , and to support staff in their tutoring and advising roles. All Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê staff can join UKAT as an (If you click this registration link to join, please put your organisation as 'Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê'). As an Affiliate member of UKAT you can gain direct access to all the member-only resources and information on their website, and you are also entitled to register as a member of any of the UKAT Special Interest Groups.

UKAT offers professional recognition for personal academic tutors, academic advisors and other staff involved in personal academic tutoring in Higher Education. TheÌýÌýis referenced against theÌý. It provides independent recognition of effective practice and a measurable way to evidence the valuable work of tutors and advisors’ in supporting student success and makes them feel valued and recognised for performing this role effectively.Ìý

Student guide and Things to talk about

Student facing summary of personal tutoring at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê. Summarises the role and use of a Personal Academic Tutor with two useful documents.Ìý

‘What you need to succeed’ – personal academicÌýtutoring student guide.Ìý ‘Things to talk about…’ – guide to conversations with your tutor (suggested topics/questions for tutors and tutees at different times in their academic journey at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê).ÌýÌý

Student support and wellbeing webpages for studentsÌý– signposts the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê team of expert wellbeing, disability and mental health staff who provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space in which students can discuss any issues that may be affecting their ability to study. All support services are free of charge and open to all Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê students of all levels.Ìý

Teaching Toolkits

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê TeachingÌýToolkitsÌýthat might be of interest to staff in personal tutoring roles include:Ìý

• Creating safe spaces for students in the classroomÌý
• Creating a sense of community online (coming soon).Ìý
• Discussing feedbackÌý
• Supporting student mental health and wellbeingÌý
• Academic integrityÌý
• Academic writingÌý

Personal academic tutoring case studies

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Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Access and Success Guide

The Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Access and Success Guide aims to help academic and departmental colleagues support prospectiveÌýand current students from underrepresented/widening participation (WP) backgrounds.Ìý

Find spotlights of the different student profilesÌý– and the barriers they face within higher educationÌý–Ìýas well as contextual information, advice and resources. The guide provides you with the information you need to help supportÌýstudents in your department.ÌýThere is also a briefing sheet to provide further information.