Safeguarding and Wellbeing

Wellbeing and Safeguarding support explained

There may be a time when you need ongoing help, such as emotional support, help with wellbeing/mind health issues or exam-stress whilst you are studying. Please contact us for advice and support.

Feeling safe at University Centre South Essex

The Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team are here to make sure you feel safe at the University Centre. If you have any concerns please contact us. Alternately, you can speak to your tutor or any other staff member, who can then report your concerns for you.

Wellbeing & Mental Health issues

We know that starting a university course can be a stressful time and there may be moments during your degree you need someone to talk to. At the University Centre we have a HE Student Support Team and a dedicated HE Wellbeing Facilitator.

If you are concerned about your emotional or mental health you can access the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team for help and support. The team offer a friendly, welcoming and non-judgemental approach to supporting anyone who needs help or advice about their mental health. We can offer support by helping by making any referrals to mental health teams outside the College.

Lecturer referrals

The Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team are here to make sure everyone feels safe. Sometimes your lecturer may need to refer you to us if they believe you or someone you know is at immediate risk of harm. If you would like, your lecturer can stay with you during these conversations. The Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team are very supportive and will always keep you at the centre of any decisions or referrals that need to be made.

The Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team offers 100% confidentiality, but we would need to say or do something if:

• You ask us to
• We believe your life or someone else’s life is in danger
• You tell us that you're seriously harming another young person
• You're being hurt by someone in a position of trust

Referrals

You don't have to be referred, although some students will be referred by a lecturer or friend. You can make the decision to visit the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team for support yourself.

Safety at home

If you are feeling unsafe at home please speak to a member of the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team who will look to speak with you about your concerns. The team will then work with you to look at what options are available to ensure that you are safe. Depending on the situation and what you feel comfortable with, this may involve supporting you to or us contacting external agencies such as the police, social care, or anyone else that may be able to help and keep you safe. This is a process that will always involve you (our student) to make sure your wishes are heard.

The safety of our students is the most important thing to us as a college, so please let us know if there is anything that causes you to feel unsafe so we can make sure the issue gets resolved.

Help with bullying issues

Speak to your lecturer, partnership manager or HE Student Support initially as they will offer help & support and deal with any bullying issues you may be experiencing under our bullying and harassment policy.

Support for friends/classmates

If you have concerns about the wellbeing or safety of a friend or classmate please contact us or bring your friend along to a drop in.

Counselling

There are qualified counsellors within the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team. You can have up to seven sessions with them to talk through issues you may be facing.

Support if you live on your own

You can contact the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team for help or support if you live alone, for example in supported or shared accommodation, if you are a care leaver, or are living independently for any reason.

We have a dedicated team for students who are Care Experienced (previously looked after) who can advise on funding, accommodation, bursaries/grants and offer support during your time at the University Centre.

If you are experiencing financial difficulty whilst studying contact our HE Student Support Team who will be able to advise you on the Hardship Fund and other sources of funding. The Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team and the HE Student Support Team will work together to ensure you have what you need to be ready to learn.

Homelessness

If you become homeless the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team can signpost, offer help to support and/or refer you to the appropriate agencies.

Support for carers

The Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team can support you if you consider yourself to be a carer. You may need additional support and understanding from your lecturers with regards to your deadlines, attendance, and any other academic concerns.

The team are happy to communicate with your lecturers to ensure you are supported. We can also help point you in the direction of carer’s groups in your local area for specific support.

Help if you are involved with social care

If you are involved with social care for any reason (for example being care experienced, have a child on a social care plan, etc.), please contact the Wellbeing & Safeguarding team so they can ensure that you have extra support in College to get through your course and anything else that may impact on your education, such as finances, emotional/mental health, family or home life, etc.

We can support in keeping in contact with any professionals that you work with, such as a social worker, to ensure that everyone is supporting you together.

Offenders/Probation

If you are known to the Justice or Offending Services it is important that you disclose this to the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Team and inform us of your support worker’s details. Failure to disclose this information may impact your placement at College. We will liaise with your support worker to ensure that you are fully supported.