are supporting them in their educational progression APPLICATION, AND INDUCTION Area Current provision for improvement / development -Actions (AY 2017-18 and beyond) Responsibility Deadline Identify a designated team of to act as a key points of contact for care experienced young people Three members of the Student Services Team are the main contacts for all vulnerable groups. However, there are also key personnel in Finance, Student Records, Admissions and Course Leaders who all have an active role as initial points of contact. The Student Support Services Manager is the contact for care experienced young people. Ensure all staff have an increased awareness of issues facing students and improved ability to respond appropriately. development session for support staff and teaching staff to ensure that they are care aware. We aim to deliver this for all staff by the end of 2017-18. An online training package is being produced by UHI which is suitable for all staff. This will form part of the mandatory training for all new staff. Regular support staff meeting to share information as appropriate. Student Services Team/All Staff June 2018 Have in methods of identifying applicants from care-experienced backgrounds. Care experienced individuals are one of many vulnerable groups identified as potentially requiring support and are identified through questions on the application and enrolment forms, both online and paper based. notifications come directly to Student Services who contact the student. Subsequently, a Personal Learning Support Plan (PLSP) may be created detailing their individual support needs, if appropriate. Permission is obtained from the student to share specific details with tutors and other appropriate parties. Improve our disclosure environment and opportunities at induction and interview stages. Improve liaison between Admissions and Student Services to ensure young people applicants are identified and this information is passed on effectively and efficiently, whilst observing all the necessary protocols. Identify an appropriate timescale to make initial contact with the student following notification of disclosure within the college procedure for managing student support. Admissions/Registry/Student Services Initial changes implemented for August 2017, further work during year.
assist care–leavers in securing accommodation. The same support is currently given to HE students. Where appropriate offer flexible application arrangements e.g. compacts, interview guarantees. The college makes every effort to ensure special arrangements are made to meet specific individual needs, where required, e.g. flexible timing for interviews where travel is an issue, possibly telephone interviews where the student lives on the mainland (HE mainly). There is a need to re-iterate the requirement to be flexible across all staff undertaking interviews. The college should also consider interview guarantees for all care leavers. Incorporate this expectation within dedicated development for programme leaders. Senior Management Team to consider interview guarantees for all care leaver applications. Student Services/Admissions June 2018 ON-GOING SUPPORT Area Current provision Areas for improvement / development Actions (AY 2017-18 and beyond) Responsible Deadline A designated member of staff to act as a key point of contact and supporter for care-experienced students throughout the duration of the student’s course. The named contact is the Student Support Services Manager. However, it may be delegated to the Student Services Officer as appropriate for each individual. This person will meet with each student and aims to develop a professional supportive role. In addition, the student will have a programme leader (Personal Academic Tutor), as a main contact on their programme. This tutor will liaise with the named contact regarding support needs and to monitor progress. There is a need to raise awareness of the college procedure for managing student support for care-experienced young people across all college campuses, particularly the responsibilities of key members of staff. Provide staff development sessions for programme leaders regarding college processes for supporting vulnerable students. Student Services Manager and Staff Development Officer August 2018 Ensure that the individual’s circumstances are reflected in the support offered and accommodated within Using the care-experienced support plan profile, the college tailors the support we provide to any student with identified support needs, Improve the awareness of how relevant college processes have been adapted to meet the specific needs of Provide staff development sessions for key college staff regarding college processes Student Services Manager and Staff Development Officer Spring 2018
MONITORING THE COMMITMENT Area Current provision Areas for improvement / development Actions (AY 2017-18) and beyond) Responsible Deadline Nominate a senior member of to ensure the implementation of the Commitment across the institution and specify how it will be monitored and evaluated. The Head of Quality and Regulation has line management responsibility for the Student Services and Front of House functions has been appointed to this role. The monitoring process will be reported to the Excellence in Teaching and Learning Committee and in the Quality Committee where it will be part of the KPIs. Assess progress on operational plan objectives at review meetings with all Managers. Provide a training opportunity for all Board Members to better understand the key responsibilities and the college’s response to their statutory duty. Senior Management Team Autumn 2017 Ensure application, enrolment and progression data for the various groups identified by the Scottish Funding council are captured. All application, enrolment and progression data is captured on the college management information system, SITS. Reports have been developed across all partner colleges in UHI. Enrolment, retention and attainment data is monitored during annual course monitoring processes and actions for improvement identified where appropriate. This includes equalities data. Student representatives are involved in this process. The Quality Monitoring report needs to be developed to ensure it includes the requirements of statutory reporting. Review current reporting format to assess suitability for annual reporting requirements Review college course monitoring template to include all required data as well as equalities data Head of Quality and Regulation Autumn 2017 Ensure care-experienced student views are taken into account and are used to help improve support. None. Gather feedback from students and use it to revise and improve policy and practice. Get feedback from students and Who Cares Scotland locally to take forward. This to be through regular, meetings with students and Who Cares Scotland locally. Student Support Services Manager Summer 2018 Assess and promote the needs of care-experienced young people at college. No specific measures in place. Ensure the care-experienced student is considered explicitly when implementing new policies and practices and when revising existing ones. The Student Support Services Manager is part of the UHI Care Leavers Group – which meets twice per year to discuss specific areas of concern or the impact of legislation and procedural changes. This person will keep relevant staff informed of changes and developments in this area. Student Support Services Manager Summer 2018