Health, Welfare & Advice
The College aims to provide a supportive, caring environment for both staff and students. Whatever your needs - childcare, concerns about your health or personal issues - we have a team of qualified staff available to support you.
Child Care Centre
Starting Point Childcare Centre has brand new premises on our Dane Bank Avenue site. Offering quality childcare to staff and students' children aged 6 weeks to 4 years, the childcare centre also has out-of-hours facilities with a Breakfast Club, After School and Holiday Club services for primary school children. All staff are fully qualified and the warm, secure and happy environment encourages all aspects of the children's development.
Visit the Starting Point Nursery website.
Health Advice
The College employs a Health, Safety and Welfare Manager (HS&WM) who has a nursing qualification, to offer support and advice to students or staff on any personal matters.
The HS&WM is available on Monday - Friday, usually between the hours of 11.00am and 1.00pm, and is able to offer support to individuals who have either physical, psychological, emotional or learning disabilities, to enable them to manage whilst at college.
If a student highlights a health-related issue on their application or enrolment form, the Physical Disability Co-ordinator will follow this up with a phone call to the prospective student prior to entry to establish what reasonable adjustments within the College environment need to be made.
There is a range of health promotion materials in the Wellbeing Centre and the facilities to have basic health checks and advice as the need arises.
The HS&WM can be contacted on the following numbers:
- +44 (0)1270 654680
- Mobile number - accessible via the College Welcome Desk
Alternatively, staff and students can drop in to the Wellbeing Centre in room W016 of the West Building to arrange an appointment.
Counselling
Our two qualified counsellors offer one-to-one, confidential counselling to all enrolled students on any personal concerns or difficulties, whether they involve life in college or outside. We have an appointment system and students are welcome to book themselves in by initialling the Counselling Appointment Diary outside the Counselling room. We also offer open-door, drop-in sessions every day for a shorter, informal chat.
If you would like to know more about the Counselling Service or make an appointment, please call in to the Counselling area in room W016, the Wellbeing Centre, on the ground floor of the West Building. You can also contact us at counsellors@s-cheshire.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0)1270 654654 (ext. 506).
The counsellors are available throughout the week (during term time only):
Monday: 9.00am-5.00pm
Tuesday: 9.00am-5.00pm
Wednesday: 9.00am-3.00pm
Thursday: 9.00am-5.00pm
Every Friday a dedicated Health Promotion Practitioner is available between 9.00am and 3.00pm.
For availability during vacations please see hours posted outside the Counselling Room in the Wellbeing Centre or contact the counsellors by phone or email.
We also have a number of information sheets available on counselling-related issues (Adobe Acrobat files) and contact details for other helplines and helping agencies:
- Depression (29kb)
- Loss and grief (94kb)
- Self-harm (171kb)
- Eating problems (131 kb)
- Performing under pressure (exam stress) (117kb)
- After a traumatic experience (101kb)
- Panic attacks (182kb)
- Keeping your cool - understanding and dealing with anger (85kb)
- Getting to grips with anxiety & stress (148kb)
- Self-Help Booklist (94kb)
Other helplines and helping agencies
Student Advisors
The advice team is available to help staff and students with many issues such as benefits, housing, employment rights and money matters. You can drop in to the Wellbeing Centre for an informal chat, or make an appointment for a more in-depth meeting and get professional and confidential advice from trained staff.
For students with financial concerns limited funds are available such as the Learner Support Fund for help with course equipment and books, childcare and a meal allowance. The team can also help you explore issues such as financial planning for HE and will help you claim your student loan and explore any grants you may be entitled to.
If you would like to know more about the Advice Service or make an appointment, please call in to the Counselling and Welfare area in room W016, the Wellbeing Centre, within South Cheshire College. You can also contact us at studentadvice@s-cheshire.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0)1270 654654 (ext. 501 or 502).
The advisers are available throughout the week:
Monday 9.00am-5.00pm
Tuesday 9.00am-5.00pm
Wednesday 9.00am-5.00pm
Thursday 9.00am-5.00pm
Friday 9.00am-5.00pm
Faith
The College believes in the importance of enabling every member of staff and student to practise his or her faith in an atmosphere of acceptance and respect. Students are welcome to use the faith room, which is W026, on the ground floor of the West Building.
