2324-12-SLS-JB Disabled Student Support Worker Services

The University is required under the Equality Act to provide reasonable adjustments to support disabled students in reaching their potential. The Disabled Student Support Team comprises of an advisory, assistive technology and administration team. It is part of the Student Support Services team based within the Student and Academic Support directorate. Working as part of a wider network, we offer timely, accurate, and confidential information, along with advice, guidance, and resources to remove barriers to learning. We are seeking to establish an agreement with a suitable preferred supplier who can provide a high-quality, fully managed service for Disabled Student Support Workers for students studying at Sheffield Hallam University for the academic year 2024-25 onwards.

We have existing suppliers in place for the delivery of disabled student support workers for students with support needs identified and funded by Sheffield Hallam University. These current arrangements are with Clear Links Support and Cosmic People and expire end of July 2024.

Our current suppliers have confirmed that in their view none of their employees will be subject to TUPE. However, it is recommended tenderers should make their own enquires as Sheffield Hallam University cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies.

Suppliers must be listed on the Student Finance England list of Non-Medical Helpers Suppliers and meet the Auditing and Quality Assurance Arrangements set by Student Finance England (SFE). They should also be members of The Association of Non-Medical Help Providers and follow their Membership Charter.

Support covers students with a wide range of difficulties including specific learning

difficulties such as dyslexia and dyspraxia; autism spectrum conditions; sensory difficulties

such as vision and hearing loss, physical and mobility difficulties, mental health, and long-term health conditions. Support workers are expected to work within the role descriptors and meet requirements of the Department for Education mandatory qualification and professional body membership requirements to deliver Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) fundable Non-Medical Help (NMH) roles .

Recruitment & Training

Support workers should undergo an appropriate recruitment process including induction and DBS checks (where required). The supplier must ensure that support workers have relevant qualifications as set out in the Non-Medical Help (NMH) - DfE qualification and professional body membership requirements document.

The supplier will be responsible for ensuring support workers have training on:

• Their Management System
• Confidentiality and data protection
• Disability Awareness
• Role specific training where needed
• Safeguarding and risk management

Types of support

The successful supplier will be able to provide support across the following areas:

Band 1 - Support Assistants

Support Workers that carry out these roles must have the skills and competence to provide support in the following areas:

• Providing practical support around the campus
• Reading aloud
• Scribing

Roles which might provide this support include:

• Practical Support Assistant
• Reader
• Scribe
• Sighted Guide
• Exam Support Worker - reader, scribe or prompt

Band 2 - Enhanced Support Assistants

These are support activities which require an enhanced level of skill, knowledge and training to

Band 1 activities. The role of an enhanced support assistant is generally to support students to develop their independence and autonomy in HE, for example by providing support with issues such as time keeping, organisational skills etc. and can be supplemented by practical support for example library support, workshop support etc. Roles which might provide this support include:

• Study Assistant
• Notetaker

Bands 3 & 4 - Specialist Support

These roles require specialist qualifications and extensive previous experience. They broadly require support workers to help students to develop effective skills and strategies to work in a higher education context in the presence of their condition.

Roles which might provide this support include:

• Specialist Mentor (MH or ASC)
• Specialist one-to-one Study Skills and Strategy Support (ASC or SpLD)
• Specialist Support Professional (Deaf or VI)