University Welfare Services release annual reports

The 2023/24 reports from Student Welfare and Support Services (SWSS) were published last week. SWSS are split into four services: University Counselling, Disability Advisory, Sexual Harassment and Violence Support, and Peer Support Services. Support from each service is available to any student in the collegiate university, and SWSS maintains a close working relationship with college welfare teams.

The counselling service reported success in their new appointment prioritisation system: 37% of students referred to the service were seen in less than five working days, up from 30%. Of the 8% of referrals which contained “substantially time-sensitive presentation or personal circumstances”, 81% were assessed in less than five days. 

Women continue to outnumber men in seeking counselling, making up 62% of students accessing central university services. Undergraduates were the most likely to use all services. They were also the only degree classification to use college counselling services more than central services. While post-pandemic “survey fatigue” was blamed for the low completion rate of feedback forms, 92% of respondents rated their experience as “very good”.

Referrals to the Disability Advisory Service (DAS) increased slightly this year. 23.3% of students had interacted with DAS, compared to 22% in the previous year. By the end of the 2023/4 academic year, more than 3,400 Student Support Plans were in place. Students mainly sought help from DAS for examination adjustments, especially for dyslexia and dyspraxia. Citing concerns about NHS waiting times for autism and ADHD assessments, DAS began to accept a wider range of disability evidence. They include a referral to NHS autism or ADHD assessment by a GP, and a support plan from another university, school, or college.  

The Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service saw a 5% increase in referrals, but saw a decrease in referrals to the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor, who provides support for those against whom sexual misconduct has been alleged. Half of those referred did not wish to make a formal report to their college, the university, or the police. The Service saw an increase in cases where the incident was ongoing, and 40% of those that it handled had occurred within the last six months. However, 49% of incidents disclosed took place outside of a University context. Seven more colleges adopted the online ‘Consent for Students’ training, with fifteen providing it in total.

The Peer Support Service continued to train students in supporting each other. 123 students completed peer support training, taking the total number of active Peer Supporters to 354. This is a decrease from last year, where 142 new Peer Supporters were trained. The Service trained 32 new Junior Deans, for a total of 137. This number dropped for the second year running, down from 47 in 21-22 and 40 in 22-23.

According to the Student Union’s latest welfare report, 76% of students have felt anxious during their time at Oxford University. 44% had felt depressed. 38% reported their mental health worsening since coming to the University, with almost three-quarters stating that their course had adversely affected their mental health. 40% of students had never used welfare support, and only 35% were satisfied with it.

An Oxford University spokesperson told Cherwell: “Oxford is committed to ensuring that all of our students have access to an outstanding educational experience and that we fulfil our legal obligations by providing reasonable individual adjustments and study support for disabled students.  We are pleased to offer an environment in which disabled students want to study and can disclose a disability, and the University remains firmly committed to reducing and removing barriers to learning and embedding inclusive teaching and learning practices that benefit all students.”

Jane Harris and Katherine Noren, Co-Directors of Student Welfare and Support Services, said: “We are proud to present this year’s annual reports, with deep gratitude for the daily collaboration between students and our teams. Their collective efforts enhance our understanding of the challenges and opportunities for student wellbeing at Oxford, and shape the services we provide. 

“We remain committed to delivering high-quality services and strengthening partnerships across the University, recognising that effective student welfare is a shared undertaking that draws on the diversity and wisdom of Oxford’s comprehensive welfare ecosystem.”