Does anyone know about the protocol for NHS-funded undergrads switching to
an LEA-funded postgrad DSA? (Just wondering if I'm going to have to pay for
lots of medical evidence again).
Quoting "Ian F." <[log in to unmask]>:
> Hi, regarding LA-funded Postgrads, according to current (and previous)
> DfES guidance:
>
> quote:
> Once an LA has established that a student is an eligible student under
> the regulations (i.e. eligible to receive support for fees and loans) the
> student becomes eligible at that stage to receive DSA support. An
> assessment of course needs should be arranged as soon as possible after
> it is established that the student is eligible for support and the LA is
> satisfied that they have a disability, specific learning difficulty or a
> mental health problem. This arrangement should mean that appointments for
> assessments are spread over the early summer, and will help to reduce the
> backlog of appointments in September/October time...
>
> see
> http://www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/administrators/doc/DSA Guidance.doc
>
> an html version of this document is available at
> http://www.asasa.org.uk/assessment/LA-DSA-2007.htm
>
> LAs are given specific advice about early DSA assessments by the DfES in
> this document:
>
> The cost of the early DSA assessment should be met from the DSA. ... In
> the case of students not going on to attend a course, they should not be
> asked to repay the fee for the needs assessment. In many cases, they will
> reapply for higher education courses the following year and in such
> cases, the needs assessment already completed for them should be
> sufficient to process their new DSA application. The Department is
> prepared to write off the assessment costs for those students who do not
> enter higher education.
>
> And about students going on to postgraduate studies:
>
> Students who have just graduated and are proceeding directly to
> postgraduate study should be able to use their current DSA assessment as
> a basis for their support. This means that for non-medical helpers, for
> example, the students can continue to receive support without the
> necessity of a new assessment. If the student wishes to undergo a new
> assessment, whether because the disability is now different or the needs
> of the course are substantially different, that can be paid for from the
> DSA. If the student seeks new equipment, the LA will need to take into
> account any equipment the student received as an undergraduate, having
> regard to how recently the equipment was bought and how appropriate it
> now is for the software necessary to support the student’s disability.
> The Department’s view is that the LA could replace equipment provided in
> the first year of an undergraduate course, but would need to look
> carefully at requests for new equipment if it had been provided in the
> final year of an undergraduate course.
>
> Students who might be eligible for research council funding should start
> the application process asap. Research Councils tend to take a sensible
> approach by adopting the undergraduate DSA funding structure as opposed
> to the current postgrad single allowance provided by central government,
> which really needs to be sorted out as it makes no sense that a student
> who might need up to 20k or more worth of assistance as an undergraduate
> only needs around a quarter of this as a postgraduate.
>
> What is the 'protocol system', by the way? It doesn't seem to be
> mentioned in the guidance provided by the DfES.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David Austen
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 4:54 PM
> Subject: Re: Postgraduate DSA Funding
>
>
> Hello Caroline
> Perhaps the situation with post graduate, as well as part time
> students, where the 'protocol system' does not allow LEAs to process a
> DSA application until the student is actually registered at the
> Institution (as last year), can also be addressed. There is also the
> situation where some LEAs are already processing applications for full
> time 07/08 undergrads, where others state that no applications will be
> processed until , again, the student is registered.
> This, as I understand it, is not in line with DFES guidelines.
> Best
> David Asuten
>
> www.cambridgeaccesscentre.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Caroline Davies <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Thursday, 19 April, 2007 4:34:18 PM
> Subject: Re: Postgraduate DSA Funding
>
>
> I will ask for it to be put on the Agenda of the next Skill HE Working
> Party meeting in May. Maybe Skill can take some action on this with the
> funding councils.
>
> Caroline
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Marie Norris
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 2:49 PM
> Subject: Re: Postgraduate DSA Funding
>
>
> Dear all,
>
>
>
> For information:
>
>
>
> This was raised and discussed at the last NE Region Skill/DSA
> meeting. Ellen at Skill was gathering information about the issue as it
> had already caused a number of difficulties at some universities. (Her
> email address is [log in to unmask] )
>
>
>
> Best wishes, Marie
>
>
>
> Marie Norris
>
>
>
> phone: 0845 833 9971
>
> fax: 0845 833 9979
>
> text/mobile: 07702 598408
>
> text only: 07786 204296
>
>
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
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>
>
>
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Emma Price
> Sent: 19 April 2007 12:38
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Postgraduate DSA Funding
>
>
>
> Dear all
>
>
>
> There appears to be a number of research councils who are now
> transferring administrative and financial responsibility for the DSA
> directly to institutions. We are currently aware of the AHRC and the
> ESRC who have taken up this model. The AHRC have decided to transfer the
> required funds to the institution, in order to pay suppliers, non-medical
> helpers etc. The transfer goes directly into a general account (the same
> as used for any block grants) as and when requested. The ESRC work on a
> reimbursement system, with the College claiming back any deficit spent
> throughout the year on ESRC DSA. I’m skipping the details here, however
> this generally means that DSA goes into a wider pool of money, making our
> administrative task of getting our hands on the funds more problematic,
> though this may just be us! I wonder if this is a problem for other
> institutions who have a significant proportion of PG research activity.
>
>
>
> It would be ideal if someone at the research council was responsible
> for notifying the allocated Disability Support Officer at the institution
> when money was being transferred – in the same way that LAs aim to keep
> DOs in the loop. No knowledge that the funds have been transferred
> results in an unnecessary delay for the student. Has anyone else found
> this?
>
>
>
> Best wishes
>
>
>
> Emma
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Emma Price
>
> Disability Co-ordinator
>
> King’s College London
>
>
>
>
>
>
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