Specialist Mentoring Service
Specialist one to one mentoring support at Teesside University can be arranged for students who, as a result of a diagnosed condition including Mental Health and Autistic Spectrum Conditions, would benefit from additional support to enhance their student experience.
What is Specialist Mentoring?
Specialist mentoring support aims to enhance the student experience and aid retention and success by supporting students to:
- Manage the higher education environment and university life.
- Develop strategies and resources to manage anxiety.
- Develop organisation & time-management skills
- Develop presentation skills
- Develop skills for managing academic stress
- Enhance social skills and confidence.
- Increase assertiveness
- Develop Strategies to reduce procrastination
Specialist Mentor support can help students to become more confident and independent learners, so that they are able to use their enhanced skills, not only at university, but also to take with them into the workplace.
What Specialist Mentoring is not?
A Specialist Mentor is not a specialist in a student’s chosen field of study and therefore will not provide subject specific help. Additionally a mentor will not provide therapeutic interventions or act as an advocate for a student.
What happens in Specialist Mentoring sessions?
Specialist mentoring sessions are delivered one-to-one on campus, in an office or campus space which is confidential and comfortable. In the initial session the student will establish their perceived impact levelsin different areas. From this information, and through discussion, the Specialist Mentor and student will decide the target area to be progressed in the mentoring sessions. This target will form the basis of support sessions moving forward. The targets are reviewed, as a minimum, every 3 months, allowing the student to review their progress. Sessions are tailored to suit specific individual needs and all targets will be reflective of the student’s needs at the current time.
How often do students attend Specialist Mentoring?
During a Needs Assessment or a Student Support Plan appointment, a specialist assessor or advisor will discusswith the student their course requirements and what would work best for them before submitting the application to the relevant funding body.This process will inform the number of hours to be funded and receipt of final allocation will be sent to both the student and the Mentoring Service. The decision regarding the total number of hours funded will be made by the students funding body. At an initial session, the student will decide their main target for the progression of mentoring support and sessions will be allocated in accordance with this information.
Who are the mentors?
Specialist Mentors are professionally qualified members of staff, specialising in supporting students with either Mental Health or Autistic Spectrum Conditions, with experience of supporting students in Higher Education. Alongsideprofessionalqualifications, accreditation and membership, they undergo comprehensive in-house training in areas related to mental health and autism and receive ongoing clinical supervision from a qualified and experienced practitioner.
How can students access Specialist Mentoring?
Before Specialist Mentoring can be put in place students will need to provide appropriate medical evidence of their condition that confirms they meet the definition of Disability under the Equality Act 2010, have applied for Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) if eligible and have confirmation from their funding body to undergo a needs assessmentto secure funding to pay for this support.Once the assessment is conducted, theNeeds Assessor will provide two quotes to the funding body, and this might include Teesside’s services if the student wishes to use them, the funding body willchoose the supplier who will deliver the support. The current cost of the Specialist Mentoring service can be found on the Teesside University website or by sending a request directly to the Specialist Mentoring Service.
Feedback: What do current and past students say about Specialist Mentoring support at Teesside University.
Teesside University Student Union Star Nomination 2016
"Throughout this year of having my mentor, they have been ahead of the game in giving me exceptional support and proper reinforcement. They make you feel hope when you feel all hope in doing things has gone. They strive in making sure students stay committed to university work as well as making sure they are keeping good health. Giving students the opportunity to learn skills they want to learn to feel better. Throughout this year, my mentor has been someone who has had faith in me as a person and helped me stay positive and reassured me that I can do it. They make sure students know their strengths and achievements, even if they're small, and keep you focused on your goals. My mentor inspires me to be a better, more helpful and successful person."
“It gave me life skills and enabling me to be pro-active in doing my assignments and progressing in university or any university difficulties I had. They would always try to help and point me in the right direction”
“I find it hard to put into words how much my mentor has helped me because they have helped me with so many things. Every time I leave a session I feel relieved from the stress, pressures and my anxieties, having a mentor has allowed me to talk through my problems and stay on track with things.”
“The mentor helped me keep on track with all my ongoing assignments as we planned out the steps that would be taken each week to progress further on each piece of work, by breaking them down into smaller manageable tasks.”
“Mentor has helped me to achieve my targets by helping me to break down work each week and set new targets each week to manage my workload better. She has helped build my confidence regarding certain pieces of work which has boosted my motivation. During difficult times coming to see my mentor made it easier on what to do regarding work and have to manage it”
Contact Details
For more information about the definition of disability and/or how to apply for DSAs, including obtaining medical evidence:
Email:
Phone: 01642 342277.
For more information about the Specialist Mentoring service, including current cost:
Email: .
Phone: 01642 738576
Updated July 17 1