Specialist Mentors - Clear Links

1 Clear Links SupportSpecialist MentorsRole Purpose:To provide strategies to manage the impact of the condition or impairment on the student s academic experience, with reference to the student s Needs Assessment where possible. To assist students to recognise the barriers to learning created by their condition or impairment, and support them in developing strategies to address these barriers. This could include a range of issues, for example, coping with anxiety and stress situations, how to deal with concentration difficulties, time management, prioritising workload and creating a suitable work-life balance, study Activities Specialist Mentors must: Provide individual Specialist support to the student within the terms of Assignment Confirmation provided by Clear Links .

2 Work under the direction of Clear Links , rigorously following support worker guidance and administrative procedures. Demonstrate high standards of professionalism and customer Mentors can: Support the student in the development of practical strategies in relation to managing university life and academic routine. Suggest practical strategies and wellbeing habits to support academic performance and reduce academic anxiety. Explore and identify appropriate solutions to queries and issues affecting academic performance. Signpost the student towards other sources of guidance and support where appropriate. Suggest strategies for the development of skills in relation to the accessing, recognising and understanding of course material, and reinforcement of learning as appropriate.

3 Utilise learning styles to suggest individual strategies for more effective learning. Support the student in the development of practical strategies in relation to study skills. Encourage the student to utilise Assistive Technology and Specialist software packages where Specific Competencies: Degree or equivalent experience Relevant Post Graduate Certificate/Diploma/Qualification In-depth knowledge and experience of working with adults with the relevant condition or impairment, ideally in a Higher Education setting Understanding of when to refer a student to other servicesGeneric Competencies: Ability to work independently Attention to detail Commitment to principles of equality of opportunity Effective communication and interpersonal skills Experience of providing support or working with adults Flexibility and punctuality Good organisational skills Understanding of confidentiality issues Understanding of role boundariesRole Guidance Specialist Mentoring is one of the many forms of support that a disabled or dyslexic student may require in order to facilitate equal access to their studies.

4 Specialist Mentors must take time to read the guidance for Specialist mentor assignments. They contain practical advice and have been developed using the experience of others working in the field. Specialist Mentors may be given the opportunity to provide support to students with a range of conditions and impairments or Specific Learning Differences. This is dependent upon relevant qualifications and experience. First and foremost, the Clear Links Support Supervisor is the first point of contact for all Specialist mentor and work related issues. Below are some conventions that Specialist Mentors must adhere to as part of their role: Specialist Mentors are expected to spend time outside of support sessions, both preparing for sessions and completing online forms about those sessions.

5 The rate of pay offered by Clear Links for every hour of a booked session reflects the time required for pre and post session administrative tasks. Specialist mentor support sessions must be no longer than stated in the Assignment Confirmation unless previously agreed by Clear Links . A maximum of 2 hours of support can be delivered to an individual student in one Mentors must not arrange support sessions flexibly unless this has been agreed. Specialist Mentors can only arrange support sessions flexibly if it is recommended in the student s Assessment of Needs and is approved by the funding body (for example two sessions one week and no sessions the next week). When support can be delivered flexibly, Specialist Mentors must not deliver more than two support sessions to an individual student in a one week Mentors must not arrange and deliver more than six hours of support in total in one day ( six students each with one hour sessions or three students each with two hour sessions).

6 Specialist Mentors are required to take an unpaid break of at least 30 minutes after every hours worked. Clear Links recommends that it is also good practice for a Specialist mentor to take a 15 minute break after each session to allow for preparation for the next session and to minimise any potential confidentiality Links assigns a maximum number of students to each individual Specialist mentor within an academic year. The maximum amount of students assigned to an individual Specialist mentor depends on a number of factors including the number of weekly hours assigned to each student, and whether sessions are being delivered on a regular basis. Clear Links will not usually assign more than 20 students to an individual Specialist mentor . Throughout the academic year Clear Links reviews the workload of each Specialist mentor .

7 We monitor and quality assure the work of each Specialist mentor in relation to both feedback and the Support Worker Expected Standards. Below are some guidelines that Specialist Mentors must adhere to when arranging, delivering and documenting support for Specialist MentorsOn assignment of work: Clear Links will contact a Specialist mentor to discuss the role and check availability for the times that the student requires the support. If a Specialist mentor agrees to take on the work an Assignment Confirmation is sent from a Support Supervisor at Clear Links to the Specialist mentor . Assignment Confirmations state the type of support and the number of hours for which a student has funding available. It is important that Specialist Mentors only provide the support stated in an Assignment Confirmation.

8 Specialist Mentors must read the Crystal guidance and become familiar with the online submission of to Crystal is given to Specialist Mentors when they accept their first assignment. A range of information is located there, including the Clear Links Working Practices and details of online records that must be completed. Specialist Mentors must read all of the guidance documents available to them on Crystal before they meet a student for the first session. Crystal is an invaluable source of information and it is recommended that Specialist Mentors keep referring back to the guidance to ensure that they work within their role. A Sessional Support Record (SSR) must be completed and submitted after each session with a student. An Individual Development Plan (IDP) must be completed when a Specialist mentor first starts working with a student.

9 This must be submitted before the third support session. A Specialist mentor must complete an Individual Development Review (IDR) after 10 hours with the student. Specialist Mentors must maintain a professional relationship at all times, following the role guidance provided by Clear note: Specialist Mentors must contact their Support Supervisor immediately if they are unable to support a student, for any reason. This is so that the Support Supervisor can try to obtain cover for the Specialist mentor if required. In addition to informing their Support Supervisor, the Specialist mentor may also wish to inform their student that they cannot support Students: Specialist Mentors must refer to Crystal and read the relevant information on the condition, impairment or learning difference of a student that they have been assigned to work with.

10 Specialist Mentors may wish to discover the impact that such a condition may have on an individual, but should bear in mind that this may not be relevant to the particular student to which they have been Mentors must consider the individual requirements of their students. For example, students may prefer to be contacted, or to meet, at certain times of the day due to their individual circumstances. Specialist Mentors must make sure they are aware of their students preferred method of Mentors are responsible for contacting students to introduce themselves prior to the first support session and also to make arrangements for the support. Specialist Mentors must ensure that their students are Clear about the time and location of support Mentors must contact students within three days of receiving an Assignment Confirmation.