Care Experienced
Support for Care-Experienced Students
What does the term ‘Care Experienced’ mean at Morley? We use the term ‘Care Experienced’ to be inclusive of a range of care settings that a student may have encountered, such as:
- Living with foster carers
- Living in a residential children’s home
- Being looked after at home under a supervision order
- Living with friends or relatives in kinship care – either through a formal arrangement (e.g. Special Guardianship order) or an informal arrangement without local authority support
- Students with earlier or shorter experiences of care
- Students who do not receive ongoing support from the local authority, such as those who left care through adoption
- Students above the age limits for statutory support.
What does Morley offer?
At Morley we want all of our students to feel safe and confident studying with us and that we understand that coming to a new college environment can be an anxious time for some. To help you feel at ease Morley offers a range of support.
Who to contact
Our Care Experienced lead is Hannah Jones. Hannah will work with you to ensure that the academic team are able to support you in relation to succeeding on your course, taking your individual home circumstances into account, e.g. reasonable submission around submission dates and signposting you to other relevant support whether that is inside or outside of the College. You can contact Hannah via Hannah.Jones@staging.morleycollege.ac.uk or 07938 600726
Meeting us during Induction Week
You will get offered a one-to-one support session during induction week with Hannah who can provide you with answers to any questions you may have and check-in with you to see how you are doing.
Bespoke tour of the College
We can arrange for you to have a bespoke tour of the centre you want to study at and meet the course tutor before you come for enrolment day so that you get a feel for the building and can ask your tutor or Student Services any questions you might have about your course or the College. If you’d like to visit the College contact Hannah (details above).
Discovery Day
The pre-enrolment Discovery Day gives you the opportunity to meet with other students who have also experienced living in care. You will get to take part in a mindfulness workshop, meet the Student Services Team who can support you with applying for a bursary and/or additional learning support and go on a trip to a local garden to focus on how nature can support the Five Ways to Wellbeing.
Meet the Care Experienced Lead during Induction Week
You will get offered a one-to-one support session during induction week with Hannah who can provide you with answers to any questions you may have and check-in with you to see how you are doing. She will then check in with you every term.
Financial Support
If you are 16-18 years old before 31st August in the year your course starts and meet government eligibility criteria you may get up to £1,200 for each year you are studying. If you are aged 19 years plus, and meet the government eligibility criteria you could get assistance with your travel and course fees.
One-to-one support sessions
The Careers Information, Advice and Guidance Team can provide you with access to the most up-to-date information, advice and guidance to enable a well informed decision on your future courses and future plans. This can be before you have applied and whilst studying to prepare you for your next steps.
One point of contact
We can liaise directly with your social worker to ensure that they are kept up-to-date with your attendance, progress, and achievements, and we can work with you and them to ensure you get the most out of your time at Morley, and receive the support and guidance you need. If you social worker asks for a point of contact at the College please give them Hannah’s details.
Personal Tutor
Once you have enrolled you will be assigned a Personal Tutor. Their main role is to advise you on academic matters, but you can also discuss non-academic matters with them. If they aren’t able to help you, they will liaise with colleagues to get you the support you need.
Care Experienced Focus Group
You can meet with other students who have had similar experiences to you to have a place to come and express how you are feeling, grow relationships with other students, share your story and raise awareness of what it is like to be care experienced throughout the College. You can have group and individual conversations with Hannah who will be on-hand to offer advice and guidance. You can also use this group to affect change in the College by letting us know about your experience of studying with us.
Student Progress Advisor support
A Student Progress Advisor will monitor your attendance and meet with you to find strategies and solutions should you be missing classes or not being on time. The Student Progress Advisor will work with your tutor to challenge you to do even better to ensure you receive the best qualification possible. They will also liaise with Hannah who in turn will liaise with your social worker.
Further information and support
Become
Become is a charitable organisation who provides support for young people in care and care leavers. www.becomecharity.org.uk
Buttle UK
Buttle UK is a charitable organisation providing grant aid to vulnerable young people to provide the best possible opportunity in meeting their educational needs.
Listening Works
Listening Works is a virtual listening service for care leavers aged 18 – 27 years. Care leavers can contact the service by phone, text message or web chat. A team of trained volunteers responds to calls and messages. Opening hours 6 pm-midnight, 7 days a week, with answer phone available outside of these hours. if callers wish to leave a message. Telephone: 0808 8020222 Live web chat via website Text message: 07860 065169 www.family-action.org.uk/listening-works/
