Intervention policy for students causing significant concern

1. Introduction

1.1 There is a growing awareness among professional bodies and groups working in the field of student support of the need for higher education institutions to respond appropriately to situations where visible signs of illness, mental health difficulties, psychological, personality or emotional disorders may have a profoundly disturbing impact on the functioning of individual students and on the wellbeing of others around them.

1.2 This Policy takes the opportunity to address these issues and to promote positive attitudes towards students with impairments. The University is committed to maintaining students’ wellbeing and the Policy indicates the procedure and support available to both students and staff when a student becomes unwell and/or presents a risk to self and/or others.

1.3 The University has a duty of care to respond appropriately to situations where there are substantial concerns relating to a student’s mental and/or physical functioning and the impact upon the individual and/or other members of the University community.

1.4 It is important to establish that the causation of such concerns may relate to the manifestation of a diagnosed illness or with behaviours deemed to be consistent with illness or disability.

1.5 Concerns relate to institutional, educational and social domains by evaluating: i. Where aptitude to study is deemed by the University to be neither manageable nor achievable in relation to specific tasks and/or activities, ii. Where behaviours are disruptive to the self and/or others, i.e. students and staff, and represent risk to the self and/or others.

1.6 This policy is not intended to give guidance on wider matters relating to students with mental health problems (other policies and processes will address these matters) but is intended to ensure a consistent and sensitive approach to managing situations which become problematic.

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