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Original poster

University accommodation application for "vulnerable" student

27 replies

PowerPack · 15/08/2022 19:02

For various complicated reasons DS is a late applicant at Uni.

Anyway he's missed the deadline for guaranteed university accommodation and there's another application round starting this week, but they've warned that there might not be much available.

He has had a terrible struggle with his mental health since watching is father die a long, slow, painful death over more than a year during Covid, including a period when he had to help with his personal care and then struggling to come to terms with the whole thing. He's doing better now, hence the new start at Uni, but he's a long way from "well".

Do you think it's worth trying to talk to the accommodation team to ask for some sort of priority because he's "vulnerable"? I'm not usually one for pulling strings (I don't eve buy fast passes Grin ) and I have left him to sort out everything for himself up to now (as part of proving he's well enough to go), but I do think being in halls would be much better for him in his specific circumstances and it feels like he's due a bit of help after what he's been through.

Do they ever take things like this into account?

OP posts:
Yarnasaurus · 15/08/2022 19:07

Talk to the student disability team and they will liaise with accommodation team.

Flowers
Crinkle77 · 15/08/2022 19:19

Yes do talk to the accommodation team as soon as possible. If places are limited they will prioritise students with disabilities, mental health conditions etc....first.

Original poster
PowerPack · 15/08/2022 19:22

He's on medication, but he doesn't have a "condition" as such. Gp has just called it "bereavement".

OP posts:
PersonaNonGarter · 15/08/2022 19:24

Speak to the accommodation services. Does he have a pal he is going with? Make sure they can locate them near each other.

Crinkle77 · 15/08/2022 19:35

PersonaNonGarter · 15/08/2022 19:24

Speak to the accommodation services. Does he have a pal he is going with? Make sure they can locate them near each other.

Sorry but that's unrealistic. He may be able to put down his preferences for halls but they can't allocate based on wanting to be near a friend. He may be able to get a hall swop to one his friend is in but he'd have to sort that himself.

Original poster
PowerPack · 15/08/2022 19:38

Crinkle77 · 15/08/2022 19:35

Sorry but that's unrealistic. He may be able to put down his preferences for halls but they can't allocate based on wanting to be near a friend. He may be able to get a hall swop to one his friend is in but he'd have to sort that himself.

Show quote history

No friend anyway. I'd like to think he's in halls so he can make some friends, which isn't going to be something that comes easily to him.

OP posts:
Sellie555 · 15/08/2022 19:40

Crinkle77 · 15/08/2022 19:35

Sorry but that's unrealistic. He may be able to put down his preferences for halls but they can't allocate based on wanting to be near a friend. He may be able to get a hall swop to one his friend is in but he'd have to sort that himself.

Show quote history

@Crinkle77 maybe some places but now all .my sons uni said to students they can put down the names of any mates they wanna be in the same halls with, on their accommodation application. So he ended up in the same halls as his best friend

AlloftheTime · 15/08/2022 19:41

Contact student services / student support team or similar

mindutopia · 15/08/2022 20:14

Speaking as someone who lost their dad to cancer around the same age, are you sure uni is the right choice right now? Would he benefit from a gap year or some time off to explore who he is after everything that’s happened?

I really struggled and crashed out first year as a result. Some time off for an internship and some travel did me good. I went on to do two postgraduate degrees and have a great career now (based on what I did for my internship). But personally I really needed time off to heal.

That said, I think it’s absolutely fine to make the case for special consideration. I do some university admissions (not accommodation) and I certainly take these things into account when I think it’s sensible to do so.

Adversity · 15/08/2022 20:32

He needs to contact student support services and make a declaration. The accommodation service always keep some accommodation back for such an issue. I used to be a University housing officer specialising in accommodating the needs of students with disabilities.

Contact the GP and ask for a supporting letter. I feel the GP is trying to not label your DS with a specific condition but it’s actually not so helpful when trying to access assistance. Sounds like the poor lad has anxiety but that’s just my opinion. The University will have a counselling service he can also access. It could also be worth considering deferring his place for a year if possible. I’m sorry your family has had such a terrible time.

People could not ask to be put with friends but this would have been looked at as a special circumstance. It would be down to who assessed the case. Each University is different obviously.

Forconfessingonly · 15/08/2022 20:50

PowerPack · 15/08/2022 19:22

He's on medication, but he doesn't have a "condition" as such. Gp has just called it "bereavement".

Yes definitely get him to talk to the accommodation team.
But not the disability team. As you've said, he's grieving after a really difficult bereavement. But that's not a disability.

I'm sure the accommodation team will be helpful and be able to offer solutions.

Good luck. I hope he enjoys being a student.

Original poster
PowerPack · 15/08/2022 21:17

mindutopia · 15/08/2022 20:14

Speaking as someone who lost their dad to cancer around the same age, are you sure uni is the right choice right now? Would he benefit from a gap year or some time off to explore who he is after everything that’s happened?

I really struggled and crashed out first year as a result. Some time off for an internship and some travel did me good. I went on to do two postgraduate degrees and have a great career now (based on what I did for my internship). But personally I really needed time off to heal.

That said, I think it’s absolutely fine to make the case for special consideration. I do some university admissions (not accommodation) and I certainly take these things into account when I think it’s sensible to do so.

No, I'm not sure at all, but he's already had a year off and he's determined that this is what he wants. DH died a year ago, just as DS turned 18.

OP posts:
Yarnasaurus · 15/08/2022 21:21

If he's medicated for his mental health/well-being that would almost certainly count as a disability under the EA2010.

Original poster
PowerPack · 15/08/2022 21:27

Adversity · 15/08/2022 20:32

He needs to contact student support services and make a declaration. The accommodation service always keep some accommodation back for such an issue. I used to be a University housing officer specialising in accommodating the needs of students with disabilities.

Contact the GP and ask for a supporting letter. I feel the GP is trying to not label your DS with a specific condition but it’s actually not so helpful when trying to access assistance. Sounds like the poor lad has anxiety but that’s just my opinion. The University will have a counselling service he can also access. It could also be worth considering deferring his place for a year if possible. I’m sorry your family has had such a terrible time.

People could not ask to be put with friends but this would have been looked at as a special circumstance. It would be down to who assessed the case. Each University is different obviously.

Yes that's definitely what GP is doing. He said it wouldn't be "fair" to label it as depression because it has a known cause and DS will recover given time.

OP posts:
Tickledtrout · 15/08/2022 21:30

Yarnasaurus · 15/08/2022 21:21

If he's medicated for his mental health/well-being that would almost certainly count as a disability under the EA2010.

This.

Original poster
PowerPack · 15/08/2022 21:34

Tickledtrout · 15/08/2022 21:30

This.

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Really? Everyone taking antidepressants, even short term, counts as disabled? I didn't realise that.

OP posts:
Yarnasaurus · 15/08/2022 21:36

PowerPack · 15/08/2022 21:34

Really? Everyone taking antidepressants, even short term, counts as disabled? I didn't realise that.

Show quote history

Not everyone, but OP's ds has been struggling for over a year, so almost certainly, yes.

Yarnasaurus · 15/08/2022 21:37

Sorry @PowerPack didn't spot that I was replying to you. So should be 'your ds'.

Original poster
PowerPack · 15/08/2022 21:38

Yarnasaurus · 15/08/2022 21:36

Not everyone, but OP's ds has been struggling for over a year, so almost certainly, yes.

Show quote history

He's only had medication for about 3 months. Was definitely struggling before that, but he only admitted the extent of it fairly recently.

OP posts:
Yarnasaurus · 15/08/2022 21:45

PowerPack · 15/08/2022 21:38

He's only had medication for about 3 months. Was definitely struggling before that, but he only admitted the extent of it fairly recently.

Show quote history

It's definitely worth asking disability support at the uni if he would fall under their remit.

HecatePecate · 15/08/2022 21:55

Well done to your DS for getting himself to this stage, it’s a huge step forward for him.

In addition to all the great advice about contacting student support and the disabled student services, I would recommend asking your DS to consider giving both those organisations, and maybe his GP too, written permission to speak to you on his behalf. Just in case you need to do this in the future if he doesn’t feel able to. Easier to have it in place ahead of time even if you end up not needing it.

If he has ongoing anxiety, that will absolutely come under the disabled student support remit. Don’t forget that he will have a different GP while he is at university too. (Student health services at my DSs university were fantastic.)

TigerRag · 16/08/2022 07:26

Yarnasaurus · 15/08/2022 21:21

If he's medicated for his mental health/well-being that would almost certainly count as a disability under the EA2010.

Only if it's lasted for 12 months

AnnaMagnani · 16/08/2022 12:18

Does your DS want to be in halls? And why do you think it will be better?

I was in halls in a similar situation to your DS and honestly found it bloody miserable. Everyone else was having a party and the time of their lives, I had nothing in common with anyone.

The year I moved out to a house was far better as genuine friendships were made and having to cook, clean etc made us all a bit more adult.

Would it be better for him to defer a year until he is on a more solid footing?

ZandathePanda · 16/08/2022 12:55

You could ask for ‘quiet’ accommodation too.

I would strongly recommend university owned accommodation as they have a huge variety and stock.

Universities sometimes offer private-company owned accommodation they are affiliated with. This isn’t so good as you are stuck in a less negotiable contract and if you don’t like it, you’re stuck.

There is lots of movement in university owned stuff and so if you really don’t get on with your flatmates, you can do a swap or move.

BasiliskStare · 16/08/2022 13:01

Just to add to speak to the university disability service - in DS's case they were so helpful. I do realise you want him to cope by himself but perhaps if he needs some support you could phone and put the call on speaker. But I would definitely phone them . It might be helpful to make a list of his medication / reasons etc before the call. I am sure you have thought of this but in my experience the University disability / special needs teams are more than helpful

Good luck and best wishes to him