Difficult situations arise for everybody from time to time, e.g. personal, family, or money problems, as well as problems with studying, exams and welfare issues. There are many ways of coping with these difficulties, but it often helps to talk things through with someone you can trust, such as a friend or personal tutor.  The Student Services Team provide a fantastic service in delivering a professional service for students at Palmer's College.

Student Counselling Support

However, sometimes students face a problem with a personal situation which they do not wish to discuss with their personal tutor. In a situation like this, you can always make an appointment with Pauline Johnson, Senior Counsellor, in her office, or Nicola Hillebrandt, Counsellor, in Study Plus. If students have any problems or enquiries, they are there to talk to them and to help resolve the difficulty.

Counselling is a special relationship in which you have someone to talk to who you can trust, who does not make judgements and who will try to understand your feelings and experience. Some agencies hold clinics in College. Information about these services will be advertised in the student bulletin, “In Print.”

You are free to contact the Counsellors yourself or by asking your tutor to refer you. They will see students informally, during “drop-in” sessions, or through appointments. Further details of this service will be posted in each tutor group room.

A very useful website, recommended by one of our experienced on campus counsellors: www.studentdepression.org/

 

Medical Officer

The College's Medical Officer provides advice and guidance on various matters including Swine Flu, Sexual Health, pregnancy etc.  If you are not feeling well or have an accident in College, you must visit the Medical Room.

First aiders are also available to help with any medical/health related problem that you wish to discuss.

Diversity Officer 
 

Palmer’s College offers superb support for students with a range of difficulties. For many who have under-achieved at school, the College provides a fresh start. Also, our team of experts can provide individual support to help students achieve their potential.

One key figure is the Diversity Co-ordinator. As an Occupational Therapist she has had a very wide-ranging experience in identifying and tackling various ‘barriers to learning.’ She has success with students whose particular difficulties have not always been recognised in their secondary schools. This is not just the well-known physical and learning difficulties. Often, she finds students who have been moderately successful at school but yet seem to ‘under-perform’. Reasons for this could include:

• Difficulties concentrating in classes;
• Concerns about developing social skills and making new friends;
• Hearing difficulties;
• Finding it hard to express themselves briefly and succinctly;
• Problems following instructions in a sequence;
• Problems following group discussions;
• Being known as very forgetful, not just in class work, but in many aspects of life;
• Significant difficulties with organisational skills such as planning and completing work, working to deadlines and prioritising;
• Handwriting and coordination difficulties;
• Needs for equipment to support writing, postural control, mobility;
• Problems with joint pains and fatigue.

Of course, this list could be a lot longer. However, the Diversity Officer can help to identify the nature of the difficulty and provide solutions for both students and their teachers. She can also arrange practical support, such as individual support with a Study Plus learning adviser, joining a group to develop social skills, providing advice to maximise hearing, giving a key to the lift , or providing a laptop.

She identifies students with physical, environmental and/or emotional difficulties via information received from home and school, individual, informal interviews and if needed, a range of tests, such as:

• the Attention and Concentration Screening test,
• Hand function assessment,
• Assessment of sensory difficulties or
• Referrals to the Dyslexia and Irlen screener.

The evidence of her success is this: students who are helped with these individual difficulties achieve exactly the same results overall as students without these individual needs. This does not often happen at many other schools and colleges.

Student Testimonial

Jamie Sibley, 18 is currently in his final year studying Physics, Maths and Chemistry.

Jamie has been receiving support from the College's Student Support Services including the Diversity Officer. He uses the service on a regular basis and had the following to say:

"I started to receive support shortly after starting College and it has been invaluable. The support and motivation from the team has been essential for improving my confidence levels, especially Pat, who really helped me with my organisation and motivation levels, helping me to get things done, listening to my academic and personal problems. She has been a fantastic mentor.

College has been my lifeline and provided me with continuous support and helped me see what education can do for you. I would not have got this far if it hadn't been for the all-round support I received at Palmer's College."