When you register with the Lancaster University Disability and Inclusive Practice Service, we will ask you to provide information and, if necessary, supporting information in relation to your disability or condition. We will use this information, and if necessary, any supporting statements, to produce an Inclusive Learning and Support Plan (ILSP).

The ILSP will highlight the characteristics of your condition, how these may impact your academic studies and will make recommendations about reasonable adjustments that your Local Authority placement (during year one) and Frontline (during years one and three) should consider putting in place to support your studies towards the PG Diploma in Social Work (year one of Approach Social Work) and MA in Advanced Relationship-Based Social Work Practice with Children and Families (year three of Approach Social Work). .

We will ask you to view and approve your ILSP on your student portal before we share it with the relevant Lancaster University andUniversity and Frontline staff. Your ILSP, which will be available to view on your portal, is a living document and can be amended.

We recommend that all disabled participants have an ILSP, and you can ask us to review or update your ILSP if your circumstances change, or your adjustments are not enabling you to study effectively. It is your responsibility to inform the Lancaster University Disability and Inclusive Practice Service if an update or review of an ILSP is required.

Participants on, or due to start, Approach Social Work have medical evidence of a disability or long-term condition, may be eligible to apply for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) from your funding body in Year 1 and 3 of your studies. DSA is not means tested and does not need to be repaid. The allowance is dependent on your needs and will be paid directly to providers. DSA can pay for things like mentoring support, assistive technology, and additional study costs incurred because of your disability.

You will need to complete an application and send them evidence of your condition.

Evidence required for a DSA application is likely to be different than what Lancaster University can accept in order to implement reasonable adjustments. Please check the information given on evidence requirements with your Funding Body (e.g. Student Finance England (SFE)).

Once the evidence has been checked, and your eligibility approved, you will need to book an appointment for a Study Needs Assessment at an Assessment Centre. Your funding body will tell you how to do this.

It is the participant’s responsibility to complete, send and monitor the progress of their DSA application. As a Postgraduate student you will need to apply in both Year 1 and Year 3.

DSA Eligibility and Residency

Although participants on Approach Social Work complete academic study (during years one and three) in England, the process for applying for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) differs between the four nations of the United Kingdom.

You will need to apply to the UK region in which you have lived for 3 years or more prior to the start of the course. For example, if prior to the course you lived in Wales for 3 years or more, you would apply for DSA through Student Finance Wales (SFW).

Student Assistance Programme (SAP)

While registered as a student at Lancaster University during year 1 and year 3 of Approach Social Work, you will have access to mental health and wellbeing support via the Student Assistance Programme (SAP).

Where you have initial or emerging concerns about your wellbeing or mental health, participants are encouraged to seek advice from SAP, as well as directly from NHS services.

The SAP wellbeing and mental health advice line is run for Lancaster University in partnership with Health Assured. The counsellors on the helpline can provide you with help and advice for a range of issues including:

• Mental health
• Stress and anxiety
• Bereavement
• Relationship advice
• Family issues
• Tenancy and housing concerns
• Alcohol and drug issues.

We know it can be difficult to take those first steps to seek support, the qualified and experienced staff are on hand to give you that help when you feel ready to access it. The mental health and wellbeing line is available 24/7, 365 days, so help is always available at a time that suits you.

Contact details are available in your Programme Handbook.

SilverCloud

Participants also have access to an online self-help programme, SilverCloud which is based on cognitive behavioural therapy techniques. There are different programmes available covering issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, resilience, mindfulness, money worries, alcohol, sleep and body image. To access SilverCloud, please register on their website with your Lancaster University email address and follow SilverCloud’s instructions to create an account and get started

A full educational psychologist assessment will be required for any application for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). If you have an existing report or other documentation relating to your SpLD but are unsure of whether it is suitable then please contact the Disability and Inclusive Practice Service and we will review your evidence for suitability.

Participants wishing to access an Educational Psychologist appointment for an assessment in relation to a Specific Learning Difficulties should email disability@lancaster.ac.uk. Your information will then be shared with Frontline who will contact you with further details.

Participants in year two or three of Approach Social Work who are employed within a Local Authority (LA) and have medical evidence of a disability or long-term condition, may be eligible to apply for Access to Work.

Your employer (the Local Authority) must make certain changes (known as ‘reasonable adjustments’) to make sure you are not substantially disadvantaged when doing your job. These could include changes to your working arrangements or providing equipment to help you do your job. You should talk to your employer about reasonable adjustments before you apply for Access to Work.

If the help you need at work is not covered by your employer (the Local Authority) making reasonable adjustments, you may be able to get help from Access to Work. You will be offered support based on your needs, which may include a grant to help cover the costs of practical support in the workplace. You might not get a grant if you already get certain benefits.

The Learning Development team at Lancaster University supports students in a range of areas, such as academic reading and writing, assessment literacy and effective study approaches. Harriet Newnes is the part-time Learning Developer working specifically with participants studying on Approach Social Work, delivered by Frontline.

Learning development helps all learners to reach their potential, regardless of current or previous attainment level. Harriet will be holding one-to-one tutorials where she can support you with your academic work. Together you can discuss strategies for developing skills in writing, criticality, and analysis. Tutorials can take place remotely via Microsoft Teams, and this includes some evening hours.

If you would like to know more or to book a session with Harriet, then please email learningdevelopmentfl@lancaster.ac.uk.

During your academic studies during years one and three of studying on Approach Social Work, you can access Lancaster’s library online.

Access is available directly from the student portal when logged in.

The Library provides a wide range of resources to support your studies including ebooks, ejournals, databases and streaming video collections. A good place to start exploring the materials available is the subject guide for Social Work with its focused information and content. Use the discovery tool OneSearch to find and access the Library's online collections.

If you need help with finding and using Library resources, get in touch with your Faculty Librarians by email at facultylibrarians@lancaster.ac.uk or book an online appointment. You can also use the Library chat service for general enquiries and consult the guide for distance learners for information about further tailored support.

The LU 'Assistive tools and technologies' page can help with learning, enhance communication, and improve digital access for participants who require support. The tools. which are also beneficial for anyone who may need to access information in alternative formats, covers the following areas:

- Cognitive

- Mobility

- Hearing

- Learning

- Vision

- Device accessibility settings

- Web browser accessibility tools