Accommodation Providers

Student Accommodation Providers

Our Student Living: collaborating to support mental health in university accommodation report recognised that accommodation providers have a key role to play in creating a higher education community that promotes positive wellbeing. It can often be accommodation staff: a cleaner, the night porter or security staff that pick up on students in distress or experiencing mental health difficulties. The report also involved developing a training scheme for front-line staff, informed by a focused research project.

The Supporting Student Mental Health in Accommodation Settings training programme is designed for those accommodation staff who work with students. For more information on this and how to book, please see below.

Supporting Student Mental Health in Accommodation Settings Training Programme

What does the training programme cover?
Student Minds’ interactive and engaging training covers the following:

An overview of student mental health and the challenges that university life can bring
Understanding when someone may be struggling
Communication skills and how to start difficult conversations
Boundaries for staff and managing conversations with students
Self-care and looking after yourself
Action planning

Our training is specific to higher education, using case studies and scenarios to empower staff to be able to notice and recognise signs and symptoms of mental health difficulties and provide the knowledge and confidence to know how to engage in a conversation about mental health difficulties, in order to signpost students to further support.

There are 2 options available for delivery of our training programme:

Online training
Our online training takes place over 3 modules:

Introduction to student mental health and the role of the student accommodation sector
Key skills in supporting student mental health, ideas and action planning
Reflective session and Q&A

Modules 1 and 2 will take place within the same week (where possible). With module 3 taking place a few weeks later, as a reflective workshop.

In-person training
Alternatively, our in-person training takes place on one day (10am-5pm) and covers the same topics over 2 modules rather than the 3 above.

Introduction to student mental health and the role of the student accommodation sector (morning session)
Key skills in supporting student mental health, ideas and action planning session (afternoon session)

"The training provided a great overview of mental health issues facing students, and the ways in which we can effectively signpost students to get the help they need."

“A really informative and well presented day. Really enjoyed the case studies and the practical engagement with other learners.”

Working with us

Taking part in Student Minds’ accommodation provider training is just one way in which you can better support your students’ mental health and wellbeing.

Is your organisation interested in establishing a bespoke corporate partnership with us? Are you looking to run a wellbeing week - why not include fundraising for Student Minds as an activity?

Contact: corporate@studentminds.org.uk to find out more.

Cost and how to book
Our training can be delivered either in-person or online to suit your needs. The training costs are from £2695 per group, sessions are for 10 staff members at a time, if you are looking at training more than 10 we can discuss this and discounts available. If you would like to book our training or discuss the programme please email training@studentminds.org.uk for more details.

Want to talk through how our training programme may benefit your staff? Email us to organise a video call to talk this through!

FAQs

Who can attend?

The training is open to all accommodation staff who interact with students. This can include:
- Hall Wardens/ Residential Assistants
- Customer Service Assistants
- Security staff
- Managers
- Cleaners
- Receptionists

Unfortunately we are unable to train students who are currently studying, and this includes students with part-time welfare related roles.

How long is the training? And what is involved?

The online training takes place over three live modules of varying length, these take place via Zoom:
1. Introductions to student mental health and the role of the student accommodation sector (2-3 hours)
2. Key skills in supporting student mental health. Ideas and Action planning (2-3 hours)
3. Reflective session and Q&A (30mins)

The in-person training covers the same content, just over 2 modules instead of 3. We can come to your accommodation to deliver this option.

How do I pay?

Please contact training@studentminds.org.uk to arrange the training and talk through payment details. All payments will be made via invoice.