Why us?
We’re More Than A Non-Medical Help Provider
We’re a team of dedicated individuals who are passionate about making a difference with a deep commitment to supporting students and apprenticeship learners across the UK. We are influencing knowledge, and shaping models of good practice on how we think, feel and understand lived experiences of Neurodiverse learners in Higher education.
What drives us? Simply put, we love what we do. .. and we are good at it. Our team is empowered, diverse, and inclusive, taking pride in delivering individually tailored support to help students reach their peak. From learning needs assessments to academic and mental health support we’re here to help every step of the way.
We firmly believe that our success lies in the people we work with. We take great care in creating a supportive environment for our staff, knowing that only when they are at their best can they provide the best possible care to our students.
Our approach is founded on over 20 years of evidence-based practice, integrating the best research evidence of clinical expertise and professional knowledge. But our strategy doesn’t stop there. We focus on getting to know our students, understanding their preferences, and using this knowledge to inform our practice.
In addition to our core services, we’re proud to offer personalized wrap-around support services to apprenticeship learners. Taking a holistic approach to learning, we assess course-specific learning needs and deliver targeted academic and wellbeing support mapped to KSBs and EPA requirements. Our focus on individualized support ensures that each apprentice can further develop their unique strengths and talents, enabling them to excel during apprenticeships and in their future careers.
We work collaboratively with apprentices, employers, and training providers to unlock progress through inclusion.
Our consultancy, specialist training, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs upskill and introduce new ways of thinking and working to better support neurodiverse talent to work and thrive.
At the heart of everything we do is a deep passion for learning and personal growth. We’re inspired by experiences, fueled by hard work and dedication, and committed to providing the best possible support to those we believe in.
Your assurance of quality
We adhere to the Quality Assurance Framework for non-medical help (NMH) providers and support workers delivering Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), provided through the English student support package (including DSAs administered by Student Finance England), and funded by the Department for Education (DfE).
Optimum Student Support practitioners are individual members or registrants of BACP/UKCP and work in accordance with the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Profession.
We ensure all the practitioners we choose to work with us, whether Specialist Mentors, Tutors, Counsellors, Psychotherapists or Coaches, share our value and ethos of putting each student’s and client’s requirements and wishes at the centre of everything they do.
Our Optimum Student Support staff members are committed and adhere to these core values:
- All students should expect to receive high quality support to enable them to demonstrate their academic ability.
- All students should expect to receive high quality support that is designed to enable the independence of the student.
- Support should be delivered in an agreed manner that suits the learning needs of the student and is compatible with the education of the student’s course and programme of study.
- A clear structure is in place to ensure services can be measured against each other on a like-for-like basis.
