Fitness to Study: Managing Students with Mental Health Problems

Who should attend

Staff in education institutions who are involved with students with mental heath problems whether in terms of day-to-day dealings or in the preparation and implementation of institutional policies and procedures (eg academic staff, personal tutors, student support staff, student managers and senior management).

Synopsis

Institutions are managing increasing numbers of students with mental health problems and finding themselves having to balance a variety of sometimes competing legal obligations in order to provide support to students and staff. The legal and practical issues which arise can be many and varied particularly in a climate of rising student expectations and a student community shaped by widening participation and equality agendas.



This briefing will identify the key legal issues which arise in this context and assist your institution to deal lawfully, fairly and effectively with student mental health matters.

It will consider the legal framework to student mental health and provide you with practical guidance to help your institution respond effectively and holistically to individual matters.  It will also consider the development and implementation of fitness to study and student mental health policies and procedures.

Issues will be highlighted through the consideration of interactive case scenarios and delegates will have the opportunity to share experiences and discuss good practice.

Issues for discussion will include:

• what are your institution’s obligations to students with mental health problems including those who do not disclose such problems?
• is it lawful to discipline students with mental health problems?
• is it lawful to suspend and exclude students with mental health problems?
• how can your institution ensure it deals lawfully with student data?
• how can your institution carry out fair risk assessments of students with mental health problems?
• what procedures might your institution look to put in place to complement existing procedures (such as discipline and fitness to practise) in order to manage student mental health issues?
• should students be required to be “fit to study”?