The annual WOW (Wellbeing Orientation Welcome) Summer School was started in 2015 and it is a 3 day, 2 night stay on campus. It enables students to gain the opportunity to develop coping strategies to deal with the social interaction, modes of study and campus orientation in advance in embarking on a course; helping to reduce the debilitating anxiety levels that unknown environments and new beginnings can create for this group of students which often can be overwhelming and on occasion result in a student withdrawing from University.
Please briefly describe your project, group, team or service.
Through the work of the Student Wellbeing Team at the University of Lincoln, observations have been made over the years in relation to student retention and progression, particularly those students with a diagnosis of a mental health condition, autism or Asperger’s. This along with available data, e.g. exit interviews and other stakeholder feedback i.e. academic tutors highlighted issues detailing the students fear of the academic environment, new physical locations, making effective social connections and networks and financial concerns contributed to a student’s ability and level of success to engage effectively within HE environment.
The annual WOW (Wellbeing Orientation Welcome) Summer School was started in 2015 and it is a 3 day, 2 night stay on campus. It enables students to gain the opportunity to develop coping strategies to deal with the social interaction, modes of study and campus orientation in advance in embarking on a course; helping to reduce the debilitating anxiety levels that unknown environments and new beginnings can create for this group of students which often can be overwhelming and on occasion result in a student withdrawing from University.
Academics, student administration, student union, and other professional services have actively been involved with WOW Summer School, further assisting in easing the transition into Higher Education as they receive a real feel for the student experience.
The main aim of WOW is to enable students to make the transition to the Higher Education environment less stressful through the ability to have a pre experience of University life. As the Summer School has grown the students that have previously been on WOW have returned as ambassadors and have shaped and assisted in the delivery, this has further encouraged them to improve their own student experience.
What makes your service stand out from others?
Based around these known difficulties a specific programme of events to provide students with a pre experience of: academic sessions, tours of the City and campus, a one to one meeting with the students’ academic, meeting and registering with the Health Centre, meeting the Students’ Union, a meal out together, budgeting, funding and finance was created.
Students are provided a room within the University Halls of Residence, living with other students for the duration of the WOW Summer School. This has proven to give them the ability to engage socially with their peers and it is hoped, as in previous years, built strong relationships that would last through to enrolment and beyond.
In addition, a session was created for parents, delivered separately from the students, providing parents with the answers to any queries that they may have about their child, not only for the duration of WOW, but their expectations of University life.
The Student Wellbeing Team work closely with the admissions team at the University of Lincoln and are aware of the increase each year of students applying, who also disclose a mental health condition or autism spectrum diagnosis. The work of the team at Open Days has also highlighted the complexity of issues that this particular group of students face, particularly the transition into the HE environment.
Because of this, the WOW Summer School was developed, to support not only students with mental health difficulties but also those with autism and Asperger’s.This means we are able to provide our innovative Summer School to a diverse group of students with multiple diagnosed conditions. No other summer school, as far as we understand, offers this opportunity to such a broad range of students.
How do you ensure an effective, safe, compassionate and sustainable workforce?
The Student Wellbeing Centre staff has regular peer support supervision once a month. The University of Lincoln also runs Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) will offer staff and their family access to information, advice and
counselling on a variety of topics such as:
o Law & rights
o Work
o Family
o Money
o Relationships
o Health, etc.
The EAP is completely free and confidential service available to all staff 24/7.
Who is in your team?
Head of Student Wellbeing 1 1
Student Wellbeing Manager 1 1
Wellbeing Advisor 5
Mental Health Advisor 4
How do you work with the wider system?
Students are given the opportunity to meet with many other support agencies and external support providers if necessary. We work closely with a number of teams in all the work we do within the Student Wellbeing Team, throughout a students’ study life, from applying, admissions, enrolment and subsequent years of study.
Regularly meeting and working with Chris Packham, who is also a visiting Professor at the University of Lincoln, who has produced for us, a series of short vlogs, sharing his personal experiences around his own Asperger’s diagnosis and attending University.
During WOW, a one to one meeting with the students’ academic is arranged to put students at ease about what is expected during their studies. The Student Wellbeing Team work with school offices within the University, who are fully supportive of the Summer School.
In addition, we work closely with the NHS Health Centre based on Campus, to offer individual sessions for students to potentially meet a GP and register with their service. This gives not only the student, but also relevant medical teams, both on and off campus, the opportunity to ensure that all needs are known and subsequently met, providing a smooth transition of care for these students.
In addition to our internal partners we work with the local Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust, including but not exhaustive, crisis team, mental health liaison team, recovery teams and other partners such as Addaction, Carers First.
Do you use co-production approaches?
We make relevant changes each year to the WOW Summer School based on the direct feedback we receive via questionnaires completed by those students who attend. This is to ensure that WOW consistently meets the needs of our ever changing prospective students.
Each year we work with and recruit student ambassadors who have all been previous attendees of the WOW Summer School. This means we have direct and relevant student lived experience, to better shape and deliver the Summer School content each year.
Do you share your work with others?
National Autistic Society Autism Professional Awards – 2018 Winner for Inspirational Education Provision, Higher and Further Education following the successful 16/17 WOW Summer School.
Inclusion in HEFCE Innovative Practice Report (Supporting Transition to Higher Education) – April 2017
University of Lincoln – Staff Merit and Achievement Award – Team Achievement Award – Best Achievement in Wellbeing.
Updates and sharing good practice on relevant practitioner forums.
Mental Health Care Concordate
What outcome measures are collected, how do you use them and how do they demonstrate improvement?
The WOW 2016/17 students’ first year attendance average was 78.89% which is above the overall University average of 73.39%.
The WOW Summer School has attracted more students and each year places have increased to meet demands. WOW is open to 40 prospective students for the year 2018. Students have started to choose the University of Lincoln because of the support through the WOW Summer School. In previous years, attendees have changed their choice through UCAS from Insurance to Firm following attendance at the Summer School.
Some of the feedback from students who have attended WOW in the past include: “I feel a lot more comfortable about my ability to cope on my own…..tremendous work by each and every one of you.”
“…I can see myself as a Uni student now.”
“I think this course is a fantastic idea and will more than likely be a huge part of the reason I’ll attend in September. Thank you very much!”
“(Coming to WOW was) One of the best decisions I’ve made, would recommend to all who are unsure about uni”
“(I feel less anxious about coming to university now) considering that I have made new friends and mostly know my way around”
“I feel less anxious and I am looking forward to starting in September but it will be slightly different so I will still have slight anxiety but WOW has helped”
“I think they were supportive and kind, they made me feel so welcome and I wouldn’t have it any other way”
Has your service been evaluated (by peer or academic review)?
Inclusion in HEFCE Innovative Practice Report (Supporting Transition to Higher Education) – April 2017
National Autistic Society Autism Professional Awards – 2018 Winner for Inspirational Education Provision, Higher and Further Education following the successful 16/17 WOW Summer School.
University of Lincoln – Staff Merit and Achievement Award – Team Achievement Award – Best Achievement in Wellbeing
How will you ensure that your service continues to deliver good mental health care?
The University of Lincoln as far as we are aware is the first local Higher Education provider to join the Mental Health Cordate, sitting alongside commissioners of service bringing education onto the agenda. This enables us to be at the forefront of any local or national initiatives.
What aspects of your service would you share with people who want to learn from you?
We would recommend a robust design of content and project management work in the lead up to delivery. It is vital to consider those attending, their individual needs and to ensure that all relevant support is in place, for the short time they are here. Are there any complex needs, are there any under 18 prospective students, and are there any care packages needed for their stay?
Safeguarding, risk assessments and all any other relevant policies and procedures relevant to your organisation need to be adhered to ensure the appropriate care of all your attendees.
Population details
Brief description of population: Fifteen thousand students, this consists of home, international students and E.U., work based distance leaners, military
Size of population and localities covered: Lincoln, Holbeach
Commissioner and providers
Commissioned by (e.g. name of local authority, CCG, NHS England): Not commissioned by work in partnership with Mental Health Care Cordate, NHS Mental Health Services such as IAPT, Recovery Teams, Crisis teams, Police, SARC and non-statutory organisations such as Trust House, SHINE ( service user led support services )
Provided by (e.g. name of NHS trust): Not commissioned but in partnership with Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust, Mental health Care Cordate
