Queen’s Register of Support Providers

Queen’s is committed to maximising the learning experience for all of its students, including those with disabilities.  

The University aims to widen participation and learning opportunities for disabled students by matching students with suitably qualified and experienced individuals (Support Providers) to assist with specific academic challenges.  Queen's Register of Support Providers recruits, maintains and trains a pool of suitable Support Providers who can carry out a number of specialist roles to support disabled students on a one-to-one basis. They are enlisted from a variety of backgrounds for a range of posts, from the highly specific such as Dyslexia or Asperger’s Mentor roles that require relevant training/experience, to the more general such as note takers, readers and library assistants where good interpersonal skills are key.  

Support Providers, although recruited by the Queen’s Register, work on a freelance basis and are not employees of the University.  Therefore, as it is the student primarily employing the Support Provider, Support Providers are seen by the Inland Revenue as 'Self-Employed'.  If you are a Support Provider you should register with the Inland Revenue and explain the type of work that you are involved in - please see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/index.shtml for more information on how to register, tax rates, tax bands, necessary forms and guidance on how to complete these forms.  For information on important dates and penalties please see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/complete-self-emp.htm.

Many Support Providers are self-employed in their spare time and in any tax year they may receive small amounts which is better known as 'Small Earnings' by the Inland Revenue. Please see  http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/working/intro/class2.htm for more information.

Payment of Support Providers

The majority of students who access Queen's Register of Support Providers receive funding for personal support through Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) which is awarded through their Education and Library Board, Business Services Organisation, the University or their Local Education Authority.  However, no money changes hands between the student and Support Provider as Support Providers are paid directly by the funding body through BACS (Banks Automated Clearing System) on submission of monthly work records. 

It is very important that Support Providers keep a record of the payments received as this information will need to be supplied to the Inland Revenue at the end of the tax year.  It is advised that copies of all work records for the year are kept and marked once payment has been received. 

Applications

If you would be interested in helping disabled students and earning between £10 and £25 per hour (see Rates of Pay for further information), you will need to complete an Application Form.  In your application form, you should clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria for the role(s) you are interested in, as outlined in the Job Descriptions and Personnel Specifications .  You may apply for as many Support Provider roles as you wish using the one application form. 

Please note that although applications are accepted throughout the year, only a number of interview sessions will be scheduled annually, or as the need for particular Support Provider roles arises.  Your application will be held on file until the next interview session and you will be contacted again nearer the time to arrange an interview. 

We particularly welcome applications for the Dyslexia Tutor role as there is a high demand for this support.  We are also very keen to recruit Note Takers familiar with engineering, medical, scientific and mathematical subjects. 

Completed applications should be posted, emailed or dropped into the Register of Support Providers, Disability Services, Student Guidance Centre, Queen’s University, BT7 1NN, Tel: 028 90 972727, Email: supportprovider@qub.ac.uk.

Short Listing

Applications will be short listed for interview based on merit and the criteria for individual posts as outlined in the Job Descriptions and Personnel Specifications .

Interview and Selection

If you have been successfully short listed, you will be called for interview and asked to provide evidence of your qualifications where applicable. 

Following interview, you will be notified of the outcome in writing as soon as possible.  If you have been successful, Queen’s Register will request references (if these have not already been secured).  You will also be asked to read, sign and return to Queen’s Register, the Code of Conduct for Support Providers.

On receipt of the aforementioned documentation Support Providers may then be considered for allocation to students.

Supporting Students

Once you become part of the Queen’s Register, we will endeavour to match you up with individual students when their needs have been assessed by a Disability Officer and Referral has been made. 

When you have been matched with a student, you will be informed in writing and you should arrange to meet up and agree a schedule of support.  Each month, you will need to complete and return a word processed/ typed or clearly handwritten and signed Work Record to ensure that you get paid.  This should be completed in conjunction with the Work Record Guidance Notes and must be forwarded to the Register by a specific date each month (see Work Record Payment Schedule 2013 – 2014 ) to ensure that your work record is processed on time.

Please note that because all Support Providers are self-employed and are engaged on a freelance basis, Queen’s Register cannot guarantee an amount of support work.  Similarly, you are under no obligation to accept any of the support work offered by Queen’s Register.

Further Queries

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us (see below).

Contact Details

Queen’s Register of Support Providers

Disability Services

Student Guidance Centre

Queen’s University

Belfast , BT7 1NN

Tel: 028 90 972727

Email: supportprovider@qub.ac.uk