The Health, Wellbeing and Support for Study Policy sets out how the University may respond to instances where there is serious cause for concern about a student’s health or wellbeing or where a student's health, wellbeing and/or behaviour are having a detrimental impact on their ability to progress academically and function effectively at the University.
UAL’s Health & Wellbeing Risk Assessment Procedure
This is in place to respond to serious cases around students’ health.
It may involve just revising the existing support that the University provides you with or it might result in more serious courses of action, including suspension and temporary withdrawals of registration.
UAL’s Health & Wellbeing Risk Assessment Procedure
Who initiates the health and wellbeing risk assessment procedure?
The procedure will be initiated by your College Dean in consultation with the Dean of Students.
Why will it be initiated?
There is evidence that:
- You pose a risk to your own health.
- You are not currently capable of making decisions in line with your health and wellbeing.
- There is significant non-engagement with your academic studies.
- Your behaviour is negatively impacting the teaching of other students or your course.
- Your behaviour poses a risk to other students.
It will not be initiated if:
- You are subject to disciplinary action as a result of breaching UAL’s disciplinary code.
- You are just pursuing routine university procedures, such as extenuating circumstances, time out, complaints, or appeals.
- Other support arrangements have not yet been sufficiently explored, including Individual Support Agreements for disabled students and case conferences.
What does the health and wellbeing risk assessment procedure involve?
The process usually involves a meeting with your College Dean, a report from the College Dean into your circumstances, additional case conferences, a health and wellbeing risk assessment panel, and the possibility of a temporary ‘protective suspension’.
The procedure also allows the University to contact your emergency contact. This should be done with your consent but, in some circumstances, may require breaking confidentiality.
What support can I get during the procedure?
The SU Advice Service can help you to write and structure appeals letters to the Vice-Chancellor or University Secretary and Registrar.
An SU Adviser can accompany you to your meeting with the College Dean, case conferences, and the health and wellbeing risk assessment panel.
If the University recommends a medical report or assessment, it will be their responsibility to organise this for you.
What is protective suspension?
This allows the University to temporarily suspend your studies or exclude you from premises or activities, if they believe you pose a threat to yourself, to others, or to University property. It is part of the health and wellbeing risk assessment procedure.
- Within three working days, you should be informed of your suspension.
- Within three weeks, you should be informed of the next stages of the process.
- After two weeks or more of continual protective suspension, you can appeal the suspension, if no further information has been provided to you. You will submit your appeal to the Vice-Chancellor.
Meeting with the College Dean
As part of the health and wellbeing procedure, you should meet with the college dean. You can be accompanied by a SU Student Adviser.
- Your case may then be referred to a further ‘case conference’, organised by Student Services. This will allow you to communicate your needs to your Course Team and Student Services.
- Your case may be referred to different University regulations and services.
- Your case may progress to the next stage of the health and wellbeing risk assessment procedure, usually a health and wellbeing risk assessment panel.
Health and wellbeing risk assessment panel
Why will a panel be convened?
A panel will be convened if:
- There are ongoing concerns about your health and your ability to undertake academic study.
- Support arrangements have been put in place that you have not engaged with.
- Suspension, exclusion, or withdrawal are being considered by the University.
- The College Dean has recommended a panel in their report and the decision is upheld by the University Registrar and Secretary.
Who will attend the panel?
- Dean of School from a different College.
- Senior representative from the Counselling and Health Advice Service.
- Senior representative from the Disability Service.
- Students’ Union Sabbatical Officer.
- Senior member of University Services (acting as chair)
- Nominated representative of the University Secretary and Registrar (acting as Clerk).
An Adviser from the SU Advice Service can accompany you.
When will I find out if a panel has been called?
You will be told 7 working days in advance of the meeting.
Potential outcomes of the panel
Revised support arrangements and a new action plan:
You will continue your studies with additional support or agreements in place.
Further action paused until more evidence has been gathered:
This is often the decision if there is potential disability discrimination.
The panel will communicate to you whether you will remain registered during this time or if you will be suspended.
Short-term suspension:
This might be because the University is preparing a medical report. They will then decide whether to lift the suspension or to move to temporary withdrawal of registration.
Withdrawal from studies for up to 12 months:
The panel will require that you take temporary time out, setting out the requirements for your return.
Termination of enrolment:
This is the outcome in only the most serious cases.
You will find out within 15 working days of the panel meeting if this is the decision.
Appeals
You can appeal the decision by writing to the University Secretary and Registrar within 10 days of the decision. We encourage you to reach out to us if you are planning to do this.
What can the Arts SU Advice Service do for me during the UAL Health and Wellbeing Risk Assessment?
- Advise you on the process.
- Help you to structure any appeals.
- Accompany you to any meetings and panels.