Support for independent living

Support for Independent living

Accessing support for Independent living and personal care at University

Students who require daily personal care or assistance to live independently and who are based in the UK, should contact the Social Services team from their local authority to discuss the options available to them. It is likely that your Social Services team will carry out an assessment of your care needs.

While you are participating in the assessment please ensure that it is based on living independently in a university hall of residence or rented accommodation without parental support. Once Social Services have conducted the assessment they will prepare a report recommending the type of support or care package that you will require, the cost of this support and how it will be funded.

It is extremely important to note that organising a support package can take between 6 and 12 months. It is vital therefore that you contact your local Social Services team as early as possible to allow the funding to be organised and the appropriate support package to be in place from your first day at University.

You must also let the Disability Advisory Service and Accommodation Office (UPP) know if your home social services have agreed funding for additional accommodation for a carer and you therefore need an additional room in Halls of Residence.

Further Information:

It is important to note that funding for care and support from your local Social Services is not guaranteed.

International students should make sure that they have funding in place if they require care before starting university.

Please note that the University does not fund or provide personal care. However, you should provide the Disability Advisory Service with as much information as possible about your needs before you arrive.

Things to consider

If you are unable to live independently without help with daily living tasks or personal care, it will be especially important for you to arrange support through your home Social Services department well in advance of coming to University (as soon as you apply to University). When considering whether you need to contact Social Services to discuss a care package, please consider help currently received from family members or friends, no matter how small. Whilst the University will make reasonable adjustments to access to study, we are unable to provide either funding or support for independent living or residential or personal care.

If you experience difficulties on setting up your social care package

If you have any concerns that support may not be in place for the start of your studies, please contact The Disability Advisory Service as soon as possible, and we can advise you about how you may be able to speed up the process or, if necessary, support you to defer your course until the care package is in place, so that you can fully enjoy and participate in your student experience.

Please note - If you do not make arrangements to put an independent living/personal care package in place before you join the University, the University will not be able to put in place a social care package for you. The University will make reasonable adjustments to accommodate your access to educational and other services but this cannot extend to the care your social services department will be able to arrange. If necessary social care is not in place and/or you have not provided the Disability Advice Service with relevant information when you commence your course and/or it is not possible or reasonable for the University to provide such assistance as you need, it may not be possible for you to move into or remain in halls of residence or to commence your programme. In these circumstances we will endeavour to discuss all options with you before a decision is made and provide such support as is appropriate.