Student 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. 
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The “Introduction to Student Mental Health in Accommodation Settings” is a training programme designed for those accommodation staff who work with students. For more information on this, please see below. 

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. 

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Introduction to 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 empowers staff to recognise problems and signpost a student to relevant support. The training does not equip staff to diagnose specific mental health difficulties, but rather to notice signs and symptoms and provide knowledge 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:

1. Introduction to student mental health and the role of the student accommodation sector
2. Key skills in supporting student mental health, ideas and action planning
3. 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. 

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

Cost
Online training: The cost for the online training would be £3250 per group (groups of up to 10 staff members).

In-person training: We are able to deliver this training at your accommodation or offices, at a cost of £3500 per group (groups of up to 10 staff members).
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If you are looking at training more than 10 people please email training@studentminds.org.uk to discuss this and possible discounts available.
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How to book
If you would like to book our training or discuss the programme please email training@studentminds.org.uk for more details. 
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“A really informative and well presented day. Really enjoyed the case studies and the practical engagement with other learners.”

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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 modules of varying length:
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)
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How do I pay?

The training costs £3500 for up to 10 members of staff, please contact training@studentminds.org.uk to arrange the training and talk through details.