1. Child Dependants Allowance and Travel and Dual Accommodation Workshop
Student Services
Learning Support Fund
Child Dependants Allowance and Travel and Dual Accommodation Workshop
30/31 January 2017
NCVO, King’s Cross, London
Louisa Ruman and Michael Durnan
Please note that we are currently in the process of finalising the policies and procedures regarding the new funding arrangements, therefore please be aware that some areas may be subject to change pending final approval

2. Introduction
The Government’s Response to the consultation “Reforming healthcare education funding creating a sustainable workforce” stated the following: “Through the consultation process, the Department has received evidence of the need for supplementary funding to the higher education student loans system in the case of healthcare students. The Department considers that this funding is needed, given the unique case of healthcare students, to prevent a fall in both the number and diversity of these students, and otherwise to ensure there is a continued workforce supply of healthcare workers.”

3. Child Dependants Allowance Overview
A grant of £1,000 is available per year. It is for eligible new students who have parental responsibility for a child who is under 15 years of on the first day of the first academic year, or under 17 years of age if the child is registered with special educational needs. This is to ensure that students are able to continue to study and attend practice placements. The grant does not affect students access to child support and other means of funding support available through the higher education support system or other sources

4. Child Dependants Allowance Overview continued…
Child Dependants Allowance will be administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and will be paid to eligible students in 12 monthly instalments
The NHSBSA will produce full detailed guidance on the rules and process for Child Dependants Allowance under the Learning Support Fund

5. Eligibility Criteria
In order to qualify for Child Dependants Allowance student must meet the following criteria:
Studying on an eligible programme that leads to professional registration:
Nursing
Midwifery
Allied Health Professional (the groups included in the reforms)
Be eligible for, and in receipt of, tuition fees and a maintenance loan from Student Loans Company (SLC), Student Finance England provisions (SFE)
Actively training, whether academic or practice learning
Be ordinarily resident in England

6. Current Considerations
We are currently looking at how we can be notified of the following:
The attendance of eligible students (considering the secondary relationship we are moving to)
When a student withdraws from training, whether permanent or temporarily
If a student transfers to a programme that is not eligible for the elements of the Learning Support Fund

7. Any Questions?

8. Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses overview
Eligible new students starting their studies in 2017/18 will be able to apply for reimbursement of travel and dual accommodation expenses as a result of attending practice placements (this model may not apply for the duration of students studies)
It will cover essential expenses incurred over and above a student’s normal daily travel costs to their HEI
The framework and process will be similar to the current Practice Placement Expenses for current NHS Bursary students
Further work is currently being carried out to determine the appropriate funding model for these expenses for the 2018/19 academic year and beyond

9. Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses overview continued…
The rates payable will be in association with the NHS Bursary Scheme Sixth Edition which is expected to be published in the next few months
The NHSBSA will produce full detailed guidance on the rules and process for Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses under the Learning Support Fund.

10. Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses students must meet the following criteria:
Studying on an eligible programme leading to a professional registration:
Nursing
Midwifery
Allied Health Professional (those groups included in the reforms)
Be eligible for, and in receipt of, tuition fees and a maintenance loan from the Student Loans Company (SLC), Student Finance England provisions (SFE)
Be in active training, whether academic or practice learning
Ordinarily resident in England
This also applies to eligible students attending HEIs in London

11. Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses provisions
Reimbursement of Travel and Dual Accommodation consists of:
Travel to and from the students placement site
Temporary accommodation if the student has to stay away from their normal term-time accommodation whilst attending a placement
The additional cost of being required to travel to visit other practice placement sites or the home of patients where free transport is not provided to the student
Expenses claimed will be assessed, processed and paid in association with the NHS Bursary Scheme Sixth Edition
Students are expected to travel by the cheapest form of transport available where it is reasonable and practical to do so

12. HEI Authorisation
Students should submit their claim form to their HEI for authorisation and the process below should be followed:
The claim is accurate and in accordance with the placement undertaken
All required entries on the form are complete in a clear and legible manner
The student has signed and dated the form
The expenses will be authorised by the university

13. Any questions?