Number of mental health counsellors employed for 2017/18

Request 

Hello,

I would like to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act. 

1) Please could you tell me how many mental health counsellors your university had in employment across all of its colleges and campuses at the start of each semester for the 2017-2018 academic year, and for the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year - broken down by:

The total number of mental health counsellors in employment each semester

The number of mental health counsellors in employment on a full-time basis (working 35 hours or more per week) each semester

The number of mental health counsellors in employment to work two working days or fewer per week each semester

2) For the 2017-2018 academic year, and for the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year, please could you tell me how many students across all of your colleges and campuses formally requested an appointment for mental health counselling at your university at least once - broken down by:

The number of student requests each semester of each academic year
 
3) For the 2017-2018 academic year, and for the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year, please could you tell me how many students across all of your colleges and campuses were treated by your university's mental health counsellors at least once - broken down by:

The number of students each semester of each academic year

If available, the number of students counselled for depression

If available, the number of students counselled for anxiety

4) Of the students who have been treated by your university's mental health counselors, please could you specify for each semester of the 2017-2018 academic year, and for the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year:

How many students have been treated by your university's mental health counsellors with 20 or more appointments.

5) For the 2017-2018 academic year, and the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year, please could you tell me how many students were referred to external services (such as local NHS services) for mental health treatment, specifying:

The number of referrals in each semester of each academic year.
 
Clarifications:

For the purpose of this request, I would be referring to a mental health counsellor as anyone who is employed by the university with a mental health remit to provide professional face-to-face counselling to students. 

If the answer to question 1 is zero, please specify whether or not your mental health services are outsourced.

Should this request exceed the designated time in which you are obliged to respond, please prioritise my questions in the following order 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Preferred format: Excel Spreadsheet / Machine Readable

Thank you in advance for any information that you can provide,

Response

Dear Mr..,
 
I write further to your request for information dated 30 January 2019.  This request has been handled by the University in accordance with its duties and obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("FOIA"). 
 
You requested details of:
 
1) Please could you tell me how many mental health counsellors your university had in employment across all of its colleges and campuses at the start of each semester for the 2017-2018 academic year, and for the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year - broken down by:

The total number of mental health counsellors in employment each semester
15 (five paid staff and 10 volunteers)  

The number of mental health counsellors in employment on a full-time basis (working 35 hours or more per week) each semester
1  

The number of mental health counsellors in employment to work two working days or fewer per week each semester
Only volunteers work 1 day a week 
 
2) For the 2017-2018 academic year, and for the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year, please could you tell me how many students across all of your colleges and campuses formally requested an appointment for mental health counselling at your university at least once - broken down by:

The number of student requests each semester of each academic year
Year 2017-18  
Semester 1: 107
Semester 2: 121
Semester 3: 79
Summer: 38
Total: 345
 
Year 2018-19
Semester 1: 152
 
3) For the 2017-2018 academic year, and for the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year, please could you tell me how many students across all of your colleges and campuses were treated by your university's mental health counsellors at least once - broken down by:

The number of students each semester of each academic year
Year 2017-18  
Semester 1: 98
Semester 2: 102
Semester 3: 70
Summer: 35
Total: 305
 
Year 2018-19
Semester 1: 132

If available, the number of students counselled for depression
Information not held.

If available, the number of students counselled for anxiety
Information not held.

4) Of the students who have been treated by your university's mental health counselors, please could you specify for each semester of the 2017-2018 academic year, and for the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year:

How many students have been treated by your university's mental health counsellors with 20 or more appointments.
The maximum number of sessions we offer is 12. 
 
5) For the 2017-2018 academic year, and the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year, please could you tell me how many students were referred to external services (such as local NHS services) for mental health treatment, specifying:

The number of referrals in each semester of each academic year.  
Information not held.
 
 
If you are not satisfied with the handling of your request, you may request an internal review.  Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter by writing to:

Chris Ince
University Secretary
London Metropolitan University
166-220 Holloway Road
London
N7 8DB
 
Email: c.ince@londonmet.ac.uk
 
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
 
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
 
Telephone:  0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745
Website:  www.ico.org.uk
 
There is no charge for making an appeal.
 
Kind regards,

Tracy Brathwaite
Information Compliance Officer
University Secretary's Office
London Metropolitan University
166-220 Holloway Road
London N7 8DB
Switchboard: 020 7423 0000