Charge rates for NMH support
The charge rates for Non-Medical Help (NMH) support can be found below.
Guidance for Non-Medical Help (NMH) providers
Providers of Non-Medical Helper (NMH) support must be registered with the Department for Education (DfE). The must also comply with the membership standards and Guidance for NMH suppliers hosted on the Student Finance England (SFE) webpage.
It is the providers responsibility to ensure that their employees or persons registered with the provider to deliver DSA-funded NMH services (together referred to as Support Workers) and other staff comply with the provisions of these standards and other DSA policies published by DfE.
As per the membership standards providers must act in a timely and professional manner and devote such time, care, attention and skill as may be reasonably necessary to ensure the students’ needs are met.
The University of Lancashire values strong partnerships with external NMH providers to ensure high-quality student support. To help meet students’ needs effectively, we encourage providers to do the following (below).
Communication and Liaison
- Ensure the professional conduct of support workers, workers must act professionally, ensuring students’ needs are met with care and skill.
- Inform the university (with student consent) when supporting a student.
- Provide a named contact for queries.
- Respond promptly to concerns.
- Share university updates with support workers.
- Provide relevant policies upon request.
- Complete the contractor registration form for verified support workers actively working with students studying at the University, this will provide them with:
- A university email/network account and ID card,
- Access to the library building,
- CPD Training opportunities,
- Access to information about all relevant university regulations, policies and procedures.
Support delivery
- Ensure appropriate, confidential meeting spaces.
- Confirm funding before starting sessions.
- Monitor allocated hours to avoid overuse.
- Sign post students to relevant university department for course or service issues.
- Report concerns about engagement or academic progress.
Safeguarding and wellbeing
- Ensure that all staff and support workers are made aware of the university safeguarding procedures and policy.
- Ensure the university Health and safety information for visitors is shared with all staff and support workers.
- Report concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a student:
Urgent referrals:
- Contact the Wellbeing Team at +44 (0)1772 893020 during office hours.
- If it is a safeguarding concern, you may also be asked to complete a safeguarding concern referral.
- During opening hours, attend the student support drop-In. Staffed by trained advisors and support colleagues, the student support drop-in provides an alternative space for staff to discuss and share any student issues or concerns face-to-face, in a confidential, non-judgmental one-to-one setting.
- The drop-in is open from 9am - 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am - 4pm, Friday, and is located on the upper ground floor of the Student Centre (Preston).
- For out-of-hours concerns, contact the security team 24 hours a day on +44 (0)1772 892068.
Non-urgent referrals:
- Support students to attend our student support drop-in on the upper ground floor of the Student Centre (Preston Campus).
- More detailed or sensitive information can be shared via email to wellbeing@uclan.ac.uk.
- For non-urgent safeguarding concerns, complete a safeguarding concern referral form.
Report Misconduct
- The University is committed to fostering a community where everyone can thrive without fear of harassment, bullying, discrimination, sexual misconduct, abuse, coercive behaviour, or other forms of unacceptable behaviour. Information about how providers or support workers can report concerns is included here. Report + Support - Report + Support - University of Lancashire.
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