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UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD / BRADFORD COLLEGE COUNSELLING SERVICE
ANNUAL REPORT2008 / 2009
CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................5
Staffing.......................................................................................................................... 7
Core Team.....................................................................................................................7
Associate Counsellors...................................................................................................7
Trainee Counsellors......................................................................................................7
College.......................................................................................................................... 9
Workshops...................................................................................................................10
Seminars / module input..............................................................................................10
Staff development........................................................................................................10
In house training..........................................................................................................10
Networking:..................................................................................................................11
STATISTICS 2008 / 09..................................................................................................14
GENDER.....................................................................................................................15
EU AND INTERNATIONAL.........................................................................................15
AGE.............................................................................................................................16
FE. UNDERGRADUATE AND POST GRADUATE FIGURES....................................16
DISABILITY SERVICE.................................................................................................16
PRESENTING CONCERNS........................................................................................17
ETHNICITY..................................................................................................................18
NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES – UNIVERSITY (PERCENTAGE)..............................18
NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES – COLLEGE (PERCENTAGE)..................................19
REFERRAL SOURCES (STUDENTS)........................................................................19
REFERRAL SOURCES (STAFF)................................................................................20
STUDENT NUMBERS BY SCHOOL (UNIVERSITY)..................................................21
STAFF NUMBERS BY SCHOOL OR PLANNING UNIT (UNIVERSITY)....................21
TYPE OF POST (UNIVERSITY)..................................................................................22
COMMENTS ON THE STATISTICS..............................................................................23
Usage:.........................................................................................................................23
Attendances.................................................................................................................23
Routes into the service................................................................................................23
Gender.........................................................................................................................23
Ethnicity and domicile..................................................................................................23
FE Students.................................................................................................................24
Disability (university)....................................................................................................24
Presenting Concerns...................................................................................................24
PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS FOR 09 / 10.................................................................24
2
Appendix 1.....................................................................................................................25
Counselling Service.......................................................................................................25
Client Evaluation Database 2008 - 2009...................................................................25
Age Range................................................................................................................ 25
Gender...................................................................................................................... 25
Ethnicity.....................................................................................................................25
Do you have a disability?...........................................................................................25
Q.1 How did you learn about the Counselling Service?............................................25
Q.2 How would you describe your experience of the Counselling Service overall?. .26
Q.3 Drop-In – Did you use the Drop-In Service?.......................................................26
Q.4 Location..............................................................................................................26
Q.5 Reception Service...............................................................................................27
Q.6 Counselling.........................................................................................................27
7. Number of Sessions..............................................................................................29
8. Were you offered information regarding other forms of support by the end of the counselling?...........................................................................................................30
9. Do you feel counselling helped you?.....................................................................30
10. Do you find the website helpful?..........................................................................30
11. Do you find the leaflets helpful?..........................................................................30
12. Please write any other comments or suggestions...............................................30
13. Would you recommend the Counselling Service to a friend?..............................31
Appendix 2.....................................................................................................................32
Counselling Service.......................................................................................................32
Evaluation Week 18th – 22nd February 2009................................................................32
Age Range................................................................................................................ 32
Gender...................................................................................................................... 32
Ethnicity.....................................................................................................................32
Do you have a disability?...........................................................................................32
Q.1 How did you learn about the Counselling Service?............................................32
Q.2 How would you describe your experience of the Counselling Service overall?. .33
Q.3 Drop-In – Did you use the Drop-In Service?.......................................................33
Q.4 Location..............................................................................................................33
Q.5 Reception Service...............................................................................................34
Q.6 Counselling.........................................................................................................34
7. Number of Sessions..............................................................................................36
8. Were you offered information regarding other forms of support by the end of the counselling?...........................................................................................................37
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9. Do you feel counselling helped you?.....................................................................37
10. Do you find the website helpful?.........................................................................37
11. Do you find the leaflets helpful?..........................................................................37
12. Please write any other comments or suggestions...............................................37
13. Would you recommend the Counselling Service to a friend?..............................38
STAFF COUNSELLING DATA 2008 / 2009..................................................................39
Staff Counselling.......................................................................................................39
Presenting Concerns.................................................................................................39
Referral Sources (Staff).............................................................................................40
Disability....................................................................................................................40
Staff Numbers by School / Planning Unit...................................................................41
Type of Post..............................................................................................................41
4
Introduction
We have again had a very busy year with client numbers over 5% up on last year; numbers were up for all groups except for college staff, where there was a 10% decrease in uptake (4 people).
Having as usual lost several Associate and Trainee Counsellors to work, family and other placements, we started the year with some brand new volunteer staff, mainly Trainee Counsellors, and some staff who had already worked in the Service but who were now undertaking new roles as Associate Counsellors.
We reduced the number of Associate Counsellors places this year since we now have an additional 0.6 post for the Core Team but from December 08 until the end of the academic year seven volunteer Counsellors decided to leave the service – this was largely for employment, but also to gain a better work / family life balance or to find a placement nearer to home. There was a 3 month gap in continuity between one Core Team member leaving and their replacement starting in January 09. We offered placements to eight Trainee Counsellors as usual plus a supernumerary who needed to be able to tape sessions for her course; she has now left the service.
As with previous years there was a waiting list from December 08 until the end of the academic years, but yet again our systems worked well and additionally a more structured method of recording waiting times was introduced.
The biggest factor in the life of the Counselling Service was the planned move to Kirkstone Halls in order that the Communal Building could undergo a complete refurbishment. After a number of anxious weeks, the move finally took place in late June 09, and we are now safely installed in our new home for the academic year 2009 / 10.
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The work of the Counselling Service
6
Counselling
“The help offered to me by my counsellor and the service has been invaluable helping me through a difficult time and helping me cope with both my studies and my personal problems.”
Staffing
The following staff made up the Counselling Service Team in 2008 / 2009:
Core Team
Mary Dailey Head of Service
Chris Rolfe-Moore Full time Counsellor
Nina Wright Half time Counsellor – started Jan 09
Richard Wilson Half time Counsellor – left Oct 08
Peter Wakefield Half time Counsellor
Diana Charters 0.6 Counsellor - started Sept 08
Gillian Butcher Receptionist / Secretary
Cathie Raw Receptionist / Secretary – started September 08
Maureen Cooper Receptionist / Secretary – left August 08
Associate Counsellors
Sikhu Sibanda Left July 09
Daniel Dumitru In post
Heather Bradley In post
John Peet Left June 09
Patsy Flannigan In post
Fran Webb Left July 09
Wendy Hesselgrove In post
Hazel Martin Left July 09
Mandy Lucas Left July 09
Paula Cumberworth Left Dec 08Aaron Sefi Left June 09
Carol Brookes In post
Ann Trusson In post
Angie Pedley In post
Trainee Counsellors
Alison Hull In post
Jo Oates In post
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Liz Milner Qualified July 09/ appointed Associate
Sue Manning Qualified July 09 / appointed Associate
Sara Wright Qualified July 09 / appointed Associate
Adele Wateiz In post
June Apps Left July 09
Kelly Young Qualified July 09 / appointed Associate
Larraine Reaney In post
“Quick allocation of appointment. Excellent admin and counselling staff.”
It is a credit to our Associate Counsellors that so many of them have obtained paid work over the year and demonstrates how effective our Associate placement scheme is in preparing Counsellors for employment in a very competitive market. We are grateful to the time and effort they have contributed to the service and wish them well in the future.
Five Trainee Counsellors completed and passed their courses in July 2009 and we appointed four of them to Associate places, as they demonstrated their ability to meet the criteria for working at the service through the selection and recruitment process. One Trainee Counsellor stayed on to complete the practice hours required by her course and one left the service.
The service had to undertake a massive recruitment programme over the summer of 2009 and interviewed many candidates for both Associate and Trainee Counsellor places. We also had to recruit a replacement for Richard Wilson who decided to retire this year. We have been very lucky to appoint a very experienced Counsellor, Supervisor and Trainer, Nina Wright, who started in January 09.
Maureen Cooper, our Appointment / Secretary left in August 2008 and was replaced by Cathie Raw in September 2008 – she has been a great benefit to the Administrative team.
The service operated a waiting list from December 09 until the end of the academic year. We introduced a more refined tracking procedure and discovered that of the 234 people who were on the waiting list all were seen for an initial assessment within 5 working days and thereafter 82% were offered ongoing appointments within 20 working days. Waiting times varied from 1 to 39 working days, largely dependent on the availability of the client; some clients were waiting to see a specific counsellor, and those with very limited availability usually had to wait longer.
The issue of clients who do not attend appointments (DNAs) or who re-schedule or cancel (R / S, C / N) on a persistent basis is a constant cause for concern in the service; we are aware that counsellors are left with no client to see and that often we have people on the waiting list who could have been seen.
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Of the 136 clients who made initial appointments that they did not attend, 34 (25%) went on to re- book appointments and embark upon ongoing counselling; 27 cancelled.
All clients who failed to attend their initial appointments from October to December 08 were contacted: of the 24 people on the list, 4 had no contact details; 10 people did not answer their phone and so were emailed. Of these, two replied – one had decided to take time out of university until next year, the other totally forgot, wasn’t in Bradford on the day and had resolved her issues with the course. The remainder were phoned, one to answer machine. The reasons given are listed below:
Had GP appointment at the time of the appointment. Outcome - booked into Drop-In.
Timetable change. Had something else on, now seeing another counsellor (not sure where) Things got better, not sure why missed the appointment (and wasn’t this a bit
late to be contacting!) Something else turned up, not really sure Changed mind, not really sure. Son was sick and now back in own country Had a good reason but not able to say over the phone Not in on the day of the appointment. Outcome – booked in for next day
As a result of this it was decided that further follow up was probably not time or effort effective and instead we are trying to tighten up on our procedures so that diary slots are designated “free” if clients do not respond to prompting letters. Counsellors will be supported in finding ways to have a dialogue with clients who persistently miss appointments (even when they inform us).
Finally we will be offering training throughout the year to help counsellors to work effectively with clients and to enter into realistic contracts.
“I am a new person thanks to the service you provide here and my counsellor felt how I felt and the trust was exceptional”
College
The counselling work at the College largely centres on the Drop-In sessions run at lunch time. However there are many more activities that take place, see below. The service was given a new Counselling room during the year, but unfortunately this was needed at the end of the year as a staff room. We are hopeful that we will eventually be located in or near the Healthy College Centre on A Floor
The Counselling Service was involved in various activities at the College including the Mental Health Awareness Week.
Discussions were held with Occupational Health regarding staff access to the service; Jayne Marshall to support the Healthy College initiative; Kevin Frost to support staff induction; Richard Layden to publicise the service through Moodle. The latter is now up and running and managed by our administrative team, along with the Counselling Service webpage.
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There was a comprehensive review of the Drop-In service at Macmillan Building, and, through discussion with managers, and based on the lack of uptake, it was decided to withdraw the service and to focus on student induction and information sessions. This will include making inputs into the tutorial system.
A DVD about the Counselling Service was made for new staff induction sessions
“I’m glad I came, it has helped me so much, I feel it is something I should have done earlier. Feel like I am finally getting somewhere.”
Workshops and Training
The service has continued to develop its workshop provision for students and has also run larger seminars for students within their modules.
Workshops
Exam stress x 2 Assertiveness Group x 2 Dyslexia Support Group
Seminars / module input
Stress awareness – Graduate School Dealing with difficult situations x 2 – Pharmacy Assertiveness seminar – OTs Stress Management – SOH Bereavement – SOH Information regarding Counselling as a Career to SPA (SU Society) and
Teaching Studies (College)
Staff development
Opportunities comprised of:-
Counselling 1, a one day course for staff. Wardens Training. Harassment Training input. Managing Difficult Conversations input. TQEG – Managing Boundaries x 2 sessions
In house training
In house training for Counselling Service volunteers continued to be held on a monthly basis and included:
Sexuality and Mental Health Eating Disorders Support Services for Students Cross Cultural Counselling (whole day) Managing Contracts part 2
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Counselling the Physically Disabled Client Working with Stress and Anxiety Induction
The Counselling Service was invited by the College to participate in a DVD that could be used at New Staff Induction. As a result, two members of the Core Team also used the College facilities to develop training DVDs for the Counselling Team
Networking:
Core Team staff continued to attend various network meeting around the country including:
NSGCHE (Northern Support Group for Counsellors in H.E.) FE Counsellors Network Staff Counselling Special Interest Group Committee – for AUCC HUCS (Heads of University Counselling Services) National and Regional – for
AUCC
and have contributed to discussions on the following mail bases: AUCC, NSGCHE, Counsellors-in-FE, AMOSSHE, HUCS, Staff Counselling SIG
The University of Bradford Counselling Service hosted:
Regional HUCS meeting in January 2009 FE Counsellors Training Meeting - Forced Marriage, by West Yorkshire police Administrators Training Day (assisted by colleagues from LSS)
The Head of Service attended the AUCC Conference in June 2009 and assisted at a workshop on “Different Hats – the various roles we all undertake”
The Head of Service also met with a group of Deaf Interpreters at Morley Street Resource Centre to raise and discuss some of the issues that arise when working in a Counselling setting. The co-ordinator will be coming to this service to provide deaf Awareness training for the team next academic year; this will increase our confidence in working with Deaf students.
Information and Resources
The website is being constantly updated to provide current information and self help resources and the new email information service “Something on your mind?” was launched this year. This allows people to make enquiries of a psychological or emotional nature, without entering into a counselling relationship. It has only been used on two occasions so far but we are hopeful that with greater prominence on other web pages it will be used more.
The Counselling Service contributed towards a student retention activity, Kapoww! where the new email information service was launched (see above). The Head of Service and a member of the Core Team also took part in a live phone-in programme on RamAir to launch the service and offer tips for students. From this the idea of a monthly online “Top Tip” was conceived
11
The Head of Service is a member of the Stress Management Steering Group which has directed the University’s Stress Audit and is developing actions for the future. She is also part of the Ecoversity Wellbeing Task Group which is currently providing an audit of wellbeing activities throughout the University.
The service has contributed to the Open Days, Freshers’ and Refreshers’ Fayres, International Student Information Point, National Stress Awareness Day, and World Mental Health Day
In line with the University the service has developed an enhanced Equality Monitoring form which all clients are asked to complete anonymously. This will then be used to monitor usage by minority groups - we are asking about faith / belief and sexual orientation for the first time. It will be helpful to know if, particularly, people from non- heterosexual groups are over or under represented at the service as there is evidence to show that gay people often experience poor mental health.
Consultation
Work with staff, offering support and consultation, has continued. Examples of this include: discussing concerns about students who are expressing suicidal thoughts; supporting a class of students where a sudden death has occurred; providing information about who to contact in the case of domestic violence; exploring the pros and cons of visiting someone who has experienced an assault.
Parents also continue to contact the service with queries and worries about their offspring. Examples of this include: wanting someone from the Counselling Service to check that their son / daughter is ok; discussing how to manage homesickness.
Worried friends are another group who contact the Counselling Service, often when a flatmate is experiencing suicidal thoughts or whose behaviour has changed in some way. We are very happy to provide this support.
Staff training and development programmes are listed above, and provide staff with the skills and resources to deal more confidently with many of the situations they encounter.
A webpage for staff is currently under development: this will include some of the training materials used by the service.
A “snap shot” week to evaluate the service was again undertaken in February 09 – each client was asked to complete a form and a summary of the findings can be found at the end of this report. This is accompanied by the findings from the evaluation forms that are given or sent to clients when they finish counselling. This data is useful as it informs us regarding developments that may be needed. The quotes in this report come from these questionnaires.
52 clients completed an evaluation questionnaire when they had finished counselling – this is a relatively low return (approximately 8%) and we are considering introducing an online survey via survey monkey. Feedback from both reports was consistent with other surveys, indicating that the most common way people find out about the service is word of mouth via tutors, friends and colleagues; the webpage, leaflets and posters are
12
the next most common way. The aspects of the service that we survey (see appendix) all have a high satisfaction rate with clients and critical feedback is limited. It is possible that the clients who left early and did not complete forms may have been less satisfied with the service but it is very hard to obtain this feedback.
“It (Drop In) helped me to realise how helpful Counselling is and how beneficial it is for me”
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STATISTICS 2008 / 09
NUMBER OF
UNI 08 / 09
UNI 07 / 08
COLL 08 / 09
COLL 07 / 08
TOTAL 08 / 09
TOTAL 07 / 08
Clients 502 480 150 145 652 625
Students full-time
413 400 87 78 500 478
Students part-time
16 10 27 27 43 37
Students Total
429 410 114 105 543 515
Staff full-time 57 48 29 26 86 74
Staff part-time
14 22 7 14 21 36
Staff Total 73 70 36 40 109 110
Appointments 2674 2929 947 927 3621 3856
DNAs 388 268 111 95 499 363
C / N or R / S 416 352 159 109 575 461
Drop-in appointments
251 99 350
Unsigned forms
6
Group work participants
13 13 11
Total clients 515 150 665 642
Appts made, DNA or C / N
134 120
Total contacts
799 762
14
GENDER
GENDER UNI
08 / 09
UNI
07 / 08
COLL
08 / 09
COLL
07 / 08
TOTAL
08 / 09
TOTAL
07 / 08
Male students
178 154 43 36 221 190
Male staff 21 17 10 12 31 29
Total males
199 171 53 48 252 219
Female students
251 256 71 69 322 325
Female staff
52 53 26 28 78 81
Total females
303 309 97 97 400 406
EU AND INTERNATIONAL
NUMBER OF
UNI
08 / 09
UNI
07 / 08
COLL
08 / 09
COLL
07 / 08
TOTAL
08 / 09
TOTAL
07 / 08
EU students
29 24 3 2 32 26
EU staff 5 2 1 0 6 2
Int students
79 80 5 4 84 84
Int staff 5 2 0 1 5 3
15
AGE
AGE UNI
08 / 09
UNI
07 / 08
COLL
08 / 09
COLL
07 / 08
TOTAL
08 / 09
TOTAL
07 / 08
Under 18 14 3 30 27 44 30
19 – 25 students
253 252 47 35 300 287
25+ students
173 154 42 43 215 197
FE. UNDERGRADUATE AND POST GRADUATE FIGURES
NUMBER OF
UNI
08 / 09
UNI
07 / 08
COLL
08 / 09
COLL
07 / 08
TOTAL
08 / 09
TOTAL
07 / 08
FE 0 0 72 67 72 67
UG 337 327 25 25 362 352
PG 91 79 7 4 98 83
DISABILITY SERVICE
DISABILITY
UNI
08 / 09
UNI
07 / 08
COLL
08 / 09
COLL
07 / 08
TOTAL
08 / 09
TOTAL
07 / 08
Yes students
53 64 19 24 72 88
Yes staff 7 10 1 0 8 10
Yes Total 60 74 20 24 80 98
No students 363 349 83 81 446 430
No staff 64 57 33 40 97 97
No Total 427 406 116 121 543 527
16
PRESENTING CONCERNS
PRESENTING CONCERN
UNI
08 / 09
UNI
07 / 08
COLL
08 / 09
COLL
07 / 08
TOTAL
08 / 09
TOTAL
07 / 08
Abuse 12 12 6 11 18 23
Academic 55 50 12 5 67 55
Anxiety 123 104 25 18 148 122
Addictive behaviours
5 4 1 2 6 6
Depression & mood change or disorder
73 88 29 20 102 108
Loss 41 37 11 10 52 47
Other mental health conditions
7 4 2 4 9 8
Physical health
10 6 3 0 13 6
Eating disorders
16 15 1 2 17 17
Relationship 74 99 36 39 110 138
Self & identity 37 39 9 11 46 50
Sexual issues 3 2 2 4 5 6
Transition 11 8 1 1 12 9
Welfare & employment
21 15 7 9 28 24
Self harm 5 4 2 5 7 9
17
ETHNICITY
ETHNICITY UNI
08 / 09
UNI
07 / 08
COLL
08 / 09
COLL
07 / 08
TOTAL
08 / 09
TOTAL
07 / 08
Asian Bangladeshi
6 1 1 1 7 2
Asian Chinese
9 8 1 0 10 8
Asian Indian 21 24 6 7 27 31
Asian Pakistani
94 44 22 18 116 62
Asian other 18 24 3 3 21 27
Black African
43 40 5 2 48 42
Black Caribbean
10 8 4 1 14 9
Black other 1 6 2 1 3 7
White 266 265 100 105 366 370
Other 33 22 6 6 39 28
NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES – UNIVERSITY (PERCENTAGE)
NO OF SESSIONS
UNI STUDENTS
08 / 09
UNI STUDENTS
07 / 08
UNI STAFF
08 / 09
UNI STAFF
07 / 08
1 – 3 57 55.5 48 48.5
4 – 7 23 20.5 20 28.5
8 – 15 12 16 25 17
16 8 8 7 6
18
NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES – COLLEGE (PERCENTAGE)
NO OF SESSIONS
COLL STUDENTS
08 / 09
COLL STUDENTS
07 / 08
COLL STAFF
08 / 09
COLL STAFF
07 / 08
1 – 3 57 49.5 33 61
4 – 7 21 16.5 40 17
8 – 15 15 22 20 19
16+ 7 12 7 3
REFERRAL SOURCES (STUDENTS)
REFERRAL SOURCE
UNI STUDENTS
08 / 09
UNI STUDENTS
07 / 08
COLL STUDENTS
08 / 09
COLL STUDENTS
07 / 08
Dept / tutor 92 101 54 51
HC 40 45 5 1
Personnel 0 9 0 3
DO 16 13 5 0
GP 5 4 1 1
Chaplaincy 1 1 0 0
SU 36 36 5 5
Other 51 44 20 17
Self 89 72 16 18
Occ Health 0 0 0 2
Int Office 5 4 2 0
HUB 18 16 0 0
Website 76 64 7 7
19
20
REFERRAL SOURCES (STAFF)
REFERRAL SOURCES STAFF
UNI STAFF
08 / 09
UNI STAFF
07 / 08
COLL STAFF
08 / 09
COLL STAFF
07 / 08
Dept / tutor 11 15 5 9
HC 1 0 0 0
Personnel 8 5 1 1
DO 0 0 0 0
GP 3 0 0 0
Chaplaincy 0 0 0 0
Self 29 31 12 12
Staff Union 0 0 0 0
Occ Health 8 5 4 4
Int Office 0 0 0 0
HUB / LS 0 0 0 0
Other 8 11 12 12
Website 5 1 2 2
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STUDENT NUMBERS BY SCHOOL (UNIVERSITY)
SCHOOL NO OF STUDENTS
08 / 09
NO OF STUDENTS
07 / 08
% OF TOTAL
08 / 09
% OF TOTAL
07 / 08
SOM 57 30 3.00 2.4
SOH 45 25 4.3 1.8
SSIS 128 117 7.0 7.3
SEDT 32 9 2.5 1.2
SCIM 37 32 3.5 4
SLED 12 12 2.0 1.3
SLS 118 68 4.2 4.7
STAFF NUMBERS BY SCHOOL OR PLANNING UNIT (UNIVERSITY)
SCHOOL / PU
NO OF STAFF
08 / 09
NO OF STAFF
07 / 08
SLED 5 4
SOH 3 6
SOM 2 2
EDT 4 1
SLS 8 6
SSIS 8 9
SCIM 5 3
CS 38 39
22
TYPE OF POST (UNIVERSITY)
TYPE OF POST NO OF STAFF
08 / 09
NO OF STAFF
07 / 08
ACEDEMIC 18 14
ACADEMIC RELATED
23 22
ADMINISTRATIVE 21 20
ANCILLIARY 3 3
OTHER 0 5
23
COMMENTS ON THE STATISTICS
Usage:
The overall number of people contacting the service has increased by 5% The number of students using the service has increased by 4.3%. 5% increase in students from the University 9% increase in students from the College. 4% increase in staff from the University. 10% decrease in staff from the College. There has been a decrease in the number of sessions offered to clients giving an
overall average number of sessions offered to clients of 4.5.
Attendances
Cancelled and Rescheduled Appointments (where the client contacts the service) represent about 18.5% of all sessions, with DNAs (where there is no contact) running at around 14%. This is an increase on last year – the steep increase may be due to more efficient recording. This year we are working even harder to reduce this figure which, whilst not unusual within the sector, does not demonstrate a good use of resources.
80% of University students offered 1-7 appointments 68% of University staff offered 1-7 appointments
This compares to:
78% of College students offered 1-7 appointments 73% of College staff offered 1-7 appointments
Routes into the service
279 clients attended Drop-In (20 mins) 96 clients had assessment appointments (half hour) 93 clients booked via our online form
Gender
The ratio of males: females (students) using the service at the University: 41.5: 58.5. (institution = approx 50 : 50)
The ratio of males: females (students) using the service at the College: 38 : 62 These ratios are a marked improvement in terms of balance on last year, and
may be a variable that has influenced the change in attendance.
Ethnicity and domicile
An overall increase in the number of EU and International Students and Staff from both institutions accessing the service again.
There has been a marked increase in the number of Asian Pakistani students at both institutions – 114% at the University and 22% at the College.
24
Students of Asian Indian origin continue to be on the decrease whilst there has been a slight increase in numbers from the Asian Chinese communities
FE Students
A continuing upward trend in the number of FE students accessing the service. This may well be due to the close relationship built up with Connexions Pas, the
Healthy Living worker, Well-Being Worker and staff in Learner Services in general
Disability (university)
13% of student clients declared a disability 10.6% staff clients declared a disability (institution = 4.6%)
Presenting Concerns
There has again been an overall increase in the number of people presenting with Anxiety and a correlating decrease in the numbers presenting with Depression and Relationship difficulties. The category “Relationships” covers all relationships including colleagues, marital or other partnerships, parental, tutors etc.
There has been an increase in the number of people presenting with Loss issues and Employment and Welfare at the University.
At the College there has been an increase in Anxiety and Depression but a decrease in Relationship difficulties.
Both institutions show an increase in clients presenting with Academic problems.
These categories are to some extent arbitrary and depend on what the Counsellor decides is the most pressing concern at intake. However they provide a picture of what users of the Counselling Service present with over the years.
PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS FOR 09 / 10
To continue to develop the group work programme through internal referral, via the LSS workshop booking system and with individual schools.
To pursue research into areas of interest or concern – e.g. DNAs etc. To implement measures to improve attendance patterns To develop staff specific interventions in line with the University stress
management policy. To support the distance learning pilot with SOH To explore and gather information on a variety of new systems – texting from
PCs; using Survey Monkey for client feedback returns; using a new custom made data base for collection and collation of client data.
Mary DaileyFeb 2010
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Appendix 1
Counselling Service
Client Evaluation Database 2008 - 2009
Total forms handed in: 52 Students: 37 Staff: 14
(1 client didn’t disclose staff / student)
Age Range
Under 16 016-18 219-25 2525+ 21
Gender
Male 6Female 32
Ethnicity
White 32Blk-Carribean 0Blk-African 1Blk-Other 0Indian 3Pakistani 6Bangladeshi 1Chinese 0Asian / other 2Other 3
Do you have a disability?
8 clients said YES
Q.1 How did you learn about the Counselling Service?
Induction week 2Other students / staff 20Health Centre 7Department 5
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Leaflet / Poster 9Website 11
Other please state:
Staff email. Past knowledge. Occupational Health. International Centre. HR & the help of xxxx.
Q.2 How would you describe your experience of the Counselling Service overall?
Excellent 32Good 18Satisfactory 2Unsatisfactory 0Extremely unsatisfactory 0
Q.3 Drop-In – Did you use the Drop-In Service?
13 clients said YES
Drop-In comments:
Helpful. Had a session and it was decided I should see someone. Brilliant. Useful. Comfortable – informative. It was my first time, I enjoyed the experience. Absolutely life-changing. Good – gave me insight to counselling. Brief, informative & friendly. Drop-In was very good.
Q.4 Location
I thought the general environment of the Counselling Service was conducive to counselling:
Strongly agree 22Agree 21Somewhat agree 7Disagree 0Strongly disagree 0
27
28
Q.5 Reception Service
The receptions were pleasant & helpful:
Strongly agree 39Agree 11Somewhat agree 1Disagree 0Strongly disagree 0
Found that making appointments was straightforward:
Strongly agree 36Agree 14Somewhat agree 2Disagree 0Strongly disagree 0
I obtained an appointment within a reasonable time:
Strongly agree 34Agree 14Somewhat agree 3Disagree 1Strongly disagree 0
Q.6 Counselling
(6a) My ability to cope has improved:
Strongly agree 24Agree 18Somewhat agree 8Disagree 0Strongly disagree 0
My understanding of myself has improved:
Strongly agree 26Agree 16Somewhat agree 6Disagree 2Strongly disagree 0
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My self-esteem has improved:
Strongly agree 15Agree 23Somewhat agree 5Disagree 4Strongly disagree 0
I felt able to work with my Counsellor:
Strongly agree 34Agree 16Somewhat agree 0Disagree 0Strongly disagree 0
(6b) Do you have any comments regarding your counsellor or the counselling process?
Outstanding & very compassionate. Absolutely excellent. Very helpful & knowledgeable. xxxx was excellent. Very helpful, easy to talk to. Very good listeners. Ms xxx is very helpful lady. Registered as disabled student. I feel I may need to return, however ill health
prevents this at present. She was very helpful & kind. Excellent Service would recommend to staff / students. Really helpful – thank you so much! My counsellor was excellent. Excellent –more than I ever expected. The process was managed well by the c’llr who was supportive yet appropriately
challenging throughout enabling me to work through the presenting & other issues.
Excellent – without pressure or too much intervention helped me discover my own ability to help myself.
My counsellor has been wonderfully supportive. Counsellor was lovely. Very supportive. Very pleasant. I found it useful just to talk things over. She helped me through a difficult time. xxxx is a wonderful caring & considerate c’llr. She helped me overcome my
problems with ease. Thank you!! Very understanding, very friendly, excellent communication. My counsellor was excellent, I felt I built up a really good rapport with her & was
able to open up.
30
She was very helpful at the counselling. xxxx was extremely helpful, very calming. My counsellor was very professional and always available to meet. She has
helped me incredibly.
7. Number of Sessions
NO OF SESSIONS CLIENTS NO OF SESSION CLIENTS
1 5 10 1
2 11 11 1
3 4 12 1
4 6 13 0
5 11 14 0
6 4 15 1
7 1 23 1
8 0 24 1
9 0 30 1
7(a) Was the number of sessions offered to you enough to deal with your concern?
41 clients said YES
7(b) Have you any comments regarding the number of sessions?
My fault as been too lazy to book more. Helped me to cope with initial situation – may seek further help depending on
development of situation. I was offered a 2nd session which I initially took, but then decided it wasn’t
necessary as I was much happier. I ended the session because at the moment nothing can be changed. I had to cancel several sessions due to work but this was not difficult or
detrimental. No – left as my situation improved. Pleasure to come “out of work”. Glad that number of sessions was not limited. No. It was not the Counselling Service fault I left it too late to book sessions. Would have carried on but c’llr leaving. Probably come back in September. A good amount of support was needed, which I got.
31
Difficult to make regular weekly sessions due to counsellor’s diary. It may have been better to work on every other week basis towards the end. Possibly a couple more over time. I would have liked to see the c’llr again but my timetable & available time slots
did not coincide. The possibility of re-iterating subjects too frequently. I had to end the sessions due to work placement. May have been useful to have
another optional day (other than Mon) but this couldn’t really be helped. The two sessions was helpful she listened to me. Could have done with having a few more sessions. Grateful for the extra time I was given to come for sessions after graduation.
8. Were you offered information regarding other forms of support by the end of the counselling?
34 clients said YES
9. Do you feel counselling helped you?
YES NO DON’T KNOW
Remain at the Univ / College 33 3 4Return to work 20 5 7Complete your studies 32 4 3Perform better at your studies / work
34 3 6
In your life in general 43 1 7
10. Do you find the website helpful?
YES NO DON’T KNOW
19 1 27
11. Do you find the leaflets helpful?
YES NO DON’T KNOW
30 1 19
12. Please write any other comments or suggestions
This is an excellent service – very helpful. Just to say Thank You for lending a listening ear, I’ve not thought about the issue
since.
32
Even though the c’llr was friendly and calm & tried to understand what I was feeling, she never really talked back or suggested a lot. We just talked a lot about feelings, not many solutions.
I am extremely grateful for all the support I received. I try to believe that counselling helps many individuals like myself.
Thank you for providing this excellent service. Thank you once again – you’ve given me my life back! I feel that I would not have completed my degree or moved into voluntary paid
work without this support. Phenomenal support – and has helped beyond belief. All the leaflets from different problems (pinned on walls) were off putting. Counsellor excellent, just couldn’t make weekly sessions due to her diary. Reducing times to get a counsellor – more evening times as students are usually
at univ during the day. I didn’t know about the website. In the future if I had any further problems then I would contact the Counselling
Service for help! I think that this is a really great service & that more students should be made
aware of it. I found that counselling was really good it’s helped me to get on with things. Found my counselling experience extremely helpful & valuable – xxxx was great. Generally the Counselling Service works really well. All the c’llrs are friendly &
always willing to help.
13. Would you recommend the Counselling Service to a friend?
49 clients said YES0 clients said NO
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Appendix 2
Counselling Service
Evaluation Week 18th – 22nd February 2009
Total forms handed in: 50 Students: 39 Staff: 10
(1 client didn’t disclose staff / student)
Age Range
Under 16 116-18 119-25 1525+ 33
Gender
Male 10Female 32
Ethnicity
White 35Blk-Carribean 0Blk-African 0Blk-Other 0Indian 1Pakistani 3Bangladeshi 0Chinese 1Asian / other 4Other 3
Do you have a disability?
2 clients said YES
Q.1 How did you learn about the Counselling Service?
Induction week 2Other students / staff 12Health Centre 6Department 6
34
Leaflet / poster 12Website 6
Q.2 How would you describe your experience of the Counselling Service overall?
Excellent 33Good 10Satisfactory 5Unsatisfactory
0
Extremely unsatisfactory
0
Q.3 Drop-In – Did you use the Drop-In Service?
14 clients said YES
Drop-In Comments:
Considering the immediacy of an individual attending drop-in, a greater time allocation would be appropriate.
It was ok, however was very brief. I feel a lot better by the time I left. Easy to contact, quick appointment. Quick allocation of appointment. Excellent admin and counselling staff. I used it during exam time as I had fear of exams it was very good. It was ok as a start. Had appointment booked at earliest possible time. I find it really useful to talk things through with my counsellor. Staff are friendly, easy to talk to and understanding. It helped me to realise how useful counselling really is and how beneficial it is for
me. Brief. Good. It was a really good to talk to someone for a change. Excellent – I recommend counselling to everyone.
Q.4 Location
I thought the general environment of the Counselling Service was conducive to counselling:
Strongly agree 24Agree 22Somewhat agree 2Disagree 0Strongly disagree 1
35
36
Q.5 Reception Service
The receptions were pleasant & helpful:
Strongly agree 38Agree 10Somewhat agree 0Disagree 0Strongly disagree 1
I found that making appointments was straightforward:
Strongly agree 39Agree 9Somewhat agree 0Disagree 0Strongly disagree 1
I obtained an appointment within a reasonable time:
Strongly agree 36Agree 10Somewhat agree 1Disagree 0Strongly disagree 1
Q.6 Counselling
(6a) My ability to cope has improved:
Strongly agree 17Agree 15Somewhat agree 11Disagree 1Strongly disagree 0
My understanding of myself has improved:
Strongly agree 15Agree 15Somewhat agree 12Disagree 1Strongly disagree 0
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My self-esteem has improved:
Strongly agree 10Agree 12Somewhat agree 20Disagree 2Strongly disagree 0
I felt able to work with my Counsellor:
Strongly agree 30Agree 12Somewhat agree 4Disagree 1Strongly disagree 0
(6b) Do you have any comments regarding your counsellor or the counselling process?
xxx has been very helpful and I am relieved not to have to change to another counsellor. Understanding of faith and prayer and their importance to me particularly helpful.
My counsellor xxxx is amazing and has helped me to give me more power and confidence in my life.
I’m glad I feel free to talk to my counsellor. I have only had 5 sessions so far. I think the approach in the counselling process not really helpful. Unsure of number had so far – still ongoing. She has been a real cornerstone for a long time. My counsellor went out of his way to fit me in by taking on an extra session
which I have very much appreciated, it has been a great help to me. We seem to have forged a good working bond. The time element, particularly
stated, is pertinent here. She listens with full concentration and believes what ever I say. xxxx has been VERY helpful. Only first appointment – no. She has been great. I’m starting to understand myself more, my problems, and
she is helping me deal with them, also helped me cope with my granddad’s death, feel able to talk to her about anything.
Without the service and xxxx help I may not be the person I am now. Very pleasant and easy to talk to. xxxx - my counsellor is brilliant. I’ve had a couple of counsellors elsewhere
before but xxxx has helped me the most. xxxx is very good. She took special interest in my problems and helped me
make a lot of improvements. Excellent – xxxx. I feel really free to talk to my counsellor who seems lovely and very helpful I feel
supported. Excellent.
38
Excellent. My counsellor has helped me open up and helped me to handle my stress in an
appropriate way. Ongoing. My first appointment went very well. It has helped me get through a difficult time in my life.
7. Number of Sessions
NO OF SESSIONS CLIENTS NO OF SESSION CLIENTS
1 6 10 2
2 3 11 0
3 0 12 0
4 4 13 0
5 3 14 0
6 1 15 2
7 0 20 1
8 0 30 0
9 0 40 0
7(a) Was the number of sessions offered to you enough to deal with your concern?
27 clients said YES
7(b) Have you any comments regarding the number of sessions?
It was helpful to see my counsellor more than just one per week. I have been assured that the sessions are not limited. Less number of sessions would be better when someone doesn’t benefit much
from it. I can’t remember how many I have had but my counsellor has made them
flexible as I need and which has been very reassuring and helpful. I am continuing sessions. None. I’m still trying to find out the solution. Still having the counselling sessions, it hasn’t been a problem for me. Need a regular appointment. I think it is helpful that the number of sessions is not limited. Ongoing.
39
I think it’s good that students can come for as long as they need to. I’m having more sessions. Sessions are continuing. Further session(s) to be arranged. Great as I don’t feel stopped / limited by time, I can take as long as I need. Ongoing. Couldn’t get enough time to discuss further. Have never felt pushed to resolve problems in a set amount of time. I am glad that I am able to continue. Still need a few more sessions.
8. Were you offered information regarding other forms of support by the end of the counselling?
22 clients said YES
9. Do you feel counselling helped you?
YES NO DON’T KNOW
Remain at the Univ / College 27 3 5Return to work 16 1 7Complete your studies 22 2 6Perform better at your studies / work
30 2 7
In your life in general 34 1 5
10. Do you find the website helpful?
YES NO DON’T KNOW
15 1 29
11. Do you find the leaflets helpful?
YES NO DON’T KNOW
24 3 17
12. Please write any other comments or suggestions
My counselling experience is still ongoing but I have to say that it is an excellent service.
The approach was to listen to the problem, not helping or guiding to solve it. Somehow it left me confused. I thought the service would help people to tackle problems when they are so down and helpless.
I’m really going to miss her.
40
The help offered to me by my counsellor and the service has been invaluable helping me through a difficult time and helping me cope with both my studies and my personal problems.
My answers to Q.7 onwards are due to the fact that I’ve only just started sessions. So far I’ve found xxxx to be supportive and easy to talk to.
Greater care needs to be taken when codifying “dee Eeengleesh”! An example is given in Q.9.
Not sure, still figuring out myself – can’t say anything about counselling. This was only my first appointment – too early to comment on much of the
above. I’m glad I came, it has helped me so much, I feel it is something I should have
done earlier. Feel like I am finally getting somewhere. I am a new person thanks to the service you provide here and xxxx felt how I felt
and the trust was exceptional. Thank you. You are a life-saver.
13. Would you recommend the Counselling Service to a friend?
46 clients said YES0 clients said NO
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STAFF COUNSELLING DATA 2008 / 2009
The number of staff using the Counselling Service has remained relatively static with an increase of 3 staff attending during 2008 / 09. The gender split has remained approximately the same but there has been an increase in the number of staff non-British countries. Referrals from Personnel and Occupational Health have increased this year although the bulk of staff still self refer. Usage by school or planning unit has also remained largely the same.
For the year 08 / 09 we only have outline data on the issues staff have presented with. However this current year we have improved our data collection so that we will have more detail about whether or not staff are presenting with work related issues.
Mary Dailey Nov 09
Staff Counselling
No of staff 73
Female 52
Male 21
Full time 57
Part time 14
Presenting Concerns
Employment / Welfare 15 Eating Disorder 3
Anxiety 14 Relationships 16
Addictive Behaviour 1 Self 6
Depression 7 Transitions 1
Loss / Bereavement 8 Self Harm 1
Physical Health 1
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Referral Sources (Staff)
REFERRAL SOURCE UNI STAFF 08 / 09
Dept / Tutor 11
HC 1
Personnel 8
DO 0
GP 3
Chaplaincy 0
Self 29
Staff Union 0
Occ Health 8
Int Office 0
HUB / LS 0
Other 8
Website 5
Disability
Disability 7
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Staff Numbers by School / Planning Unit
SCHOOL / PU NO OF STAFF 08 / 09
SLED 5
SOH 3
SOM 2
EDT 4
SLS 8
SSIS 8
SCIM 5
CS 38
Type of Post
TYPE OF POST NO OF STAFF 08 / 09
Academic 18
Academic Related 23
Administrative 21
Ancillary 3
Other 0
44
