• What we do
• Where to find us and out of office support
• Who we are
• Learning Support Fund Guide
• Travel to Practice Placement
• Student Wellbeing Officer

Who we are

Matthew Jacobs, Head of Student Services (Teaching & Learning) Support to Study, Student Conduct, Behaviour & Discipline Lead

I’m the Head of Student Services (Teaching and Learning) in the Department of Health Sciences with responsibility for Undergraduate Taught, Postgraduate Taught, Postgraduate Research, Apprenticeships and Specialist Skills Post Registration Development programmes. I provide leadership to the Student & Academic Support Service (SASS), Practice Education Support Team (PEST), Programmes Office (formerly the Students Assessments Office), Quality Assurance Officer and E-Learning Development Lead within the Department.

As a Department we place huge importance on ensuring students have a wonderful and engaging student experience, and we pride ourselves on providing the kind of friendly and supportive environment in which students are most likely to flourish.

My role involves the strategic and operational management for all aspects of Teaching and Learning Professional Support. These include Admissions and Student Recruitment; Student Fees and Finance; Programme Management and Administration, Student Enrollment and Registration; Practice Education Support and Practice Placement Allocations; Student Exams and Assessments; Student Welfare, Guidance and Pastoral Support and Professional Statutory Regulatory Body issues (from the student perspective). I also take a lead on safeguarding issues within the Department, in particular in relation to learners on our apprenticeship programmes. I also coordinate all complaints into the Department.

I am responsible for overseeing the nationally standardised Student Data Collection Tool required by NHS Health Education England (HEE) relating to Starters to training programmes in each academic year; Education Provider retention of learners during training; Outputs (i.e. the number of students and learners that qualify) and Clinical placements undertaken while in training. The collection of this data enables HEE to understand the current and future market, the future projected workforce, Education Provider and Placement Provider capacity and capability, and directly informs financial payments including Non-Medical Education and Training (NMET) Tariff payments (often referred to as the “placement tariff”). I am also on a number of HEE Regional Committees relating to contract, governance and practice placements.
 
I oversee leadership responsibility for the statutory registration of students and learners in my role as Registrar to our Professional Statutory Regulatory Bodies (Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), General Pharmaceutical Council and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)). I work closely with the Students' Union (YUSU) and Graduate Student Association (GSA) on issues and policies which may affect our undergraduate and postgraduate students. I am also a member of the Department's Senior Management Team. I work in collaboration with the Deputy Head of Faculty Operations, Chair of Board of Studies, Director of Teaching & Learning, Director of Postgraduate Programmes, Admissions Tutors (UG and PG) and Governance Committee Leads and Chairs.

I welcome you to our very large Department and I look forward to meeting you at some point during your student journey. I hope your time on our campus will be exciting and challenging in equal measure. Your academic success is our top priority. Good luck and remember to reach out if you need any help or assistance.

Tel: 01904 321862. Email: matthew.jacobs@york.ac.uk

Danielle Simpson, Student Support & Engagement Manager

I'm the manager for the team who are responsible for 'Student Experience and Wellbeing' and 'Admissions and Onboarding''.

My role involves the management of the different roles within the team whilst upholding our core values as a service: admissions and student recruitment, student funding and finance, student records, administration, enrolment and registration, student welfare, guidance, signposting to other services and pastoral support when required.

I work collaboratively with the Students' Union (YUSU), Graduate Student Association (GSA), Open Door Team, university wellbeing officers to enhance the student experience.

I work with central Student and Academic Services staff to lead on the continued improvement of departmental SITS data management and accuracy. I lead on providing previous students of the department with transcripts of theory and practice hours and other relevant programme documentation or registration with overseas professional statutory regulatory bodies.

I also coordinate mental health initiatives and oversee the work of the Mental Health Awareness and Wellbeing Group.

Tel: 01904 321928. Email: danielle.simpson@york.ac.uk

Sophie Godfrey, Office Coordinator

I’m responsible for supervising the team alongside the Student Support & Engagement Manager, Danielle Simpson.

I assist Danielle with our team’s collaborative working with other departmental teams to enhance the student experience. These include the Programme and Assessments Team with regards to student support, student movements and record management. In addition, our team works closely with wider teams across the University, such as the Student’s Union, Graduate Student Association (GSA), the Open Door Team and the University’s Student Wellbeing Officers in the provision of student support and advice.

I act as the first point of contact for the department’s undergraduate and postgraduate Student Representatives - to include the Department Representatives, Course Representatives and Department Community Coordinators. I support the recruitment, induction and ongoing support for our student representatives. I also support the quality assurance processing and authorisation of Travel & Dual Accommodation Expenses forms.

I am the co-lead for the department’s Mental Health Awareness and Wellbeing Group with Danielle Simpson. The activities of this staff and student-led group involve promoting positive mental health and wellbeing to staff and students, and supporting local and national related events, campaigns and initiatives.

Tel: 01904 321230. Email: sophie.godfrey@york.ac.uk   

Morgan Clarke, Student and Academic Support Administrator

I work within the Student Services team. 

I am responsible for supporting and administering the department’s recruitment and admissions cycle for our undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes. This includes the Pre-Registration Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate programmes, the Nursing Associate (Foundation Degree) programme, and the MSc Nursing programmes.

In addition, I support the wider team and respond to enquiries from students and staff. I work full time (Monday - Friday 08:30 - 16:30).

Tel: 01904 325195. Email: morgan.clarke@york.ac.uk 

Karen Downes, Student and Academic Support Administrator

I work in the Student Services team. My main responsibility is to monitor student mandatory training records and I also support the recruitment and admissions cycle for the department’s undergraduate programmes.

In addition, I support the wider team and respond to enquiries from students and staff. I am a part-time member of staff and work 3 days a week.

Tel: 01904 321928. Email: karen.downes@york.ac.uk 

Paula Harvey, Timetabling and Space Management Administrator

I  work within the central University’s Timetabling Services team, however I am also based within the Student Services Team for one day per fortnight.

I am responsible for the development and maintenance of all timetables for the Department of Health Sciences. I lead the construction of the teaching timetables for all of the department’s programmes (including BSc (Hons), Nursing, MNursing, BA (Hons) Midwifery Practice, Postgraduate, SSPRD, PG Diploma in Nursing and the Nursing Associate (Foundation Degree) programme.

I work full time (Monday - Friday, 08:30 - 16:30) on a hybrid working pattern.

Tel: 01904 321390. Email: paula.harvey@york.ac.uk  

Sarah Parkinson, Student and Academic Support Administrator

I work within the Student Services team. 

I am responsible for administering the department’s postgraduate taught (PGT) programmes from induction through to completion.

I process and amend student records and departmental documents in relation to student movements.

In addition, I support the wider team and respond to enquiries from students and staff.  I work part-time (Tuesday - Friday 11:00 - 16:30).

Tel: 01904 321321. Email: sarah.parkinson@york.ac.uk 

Hilary Seavers, Student and Academic Support Administrator

I work within the Student Services team.

I am responsible for providing administrative support for monitoring and updating student records on the NHS BSA Learning Support Fund portal. 

I also support the wider team and respond to enquiries from students and staff. I work weekdays on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tel: 01904 326814. Email: hilary.seavers@york.ac.uk   

Sarah Thompson, Student Services Administrator

I work in the Student Services team. My main responsibility is supporting the Fitness to Practise committee. This role involves working with the Department's Occupational Health service OHWorks. 

In addition, I support the wider team and respond to enquiries from students and staff. I am a full-time member of staff and have a hybrid working pattern (Mon to Fri, 9:00 to 17:00).

Tel: 01904 321623. Email: sarah.l.thompson@york.ac.uk