Last updated: 12 October 2026 · Next review: October 2027
Qualifications and membership
Every support worker meets DfE's mandatory qualifications and professional body membership requirements for the NMH role they deliver, before starting work with any student. We check original certificates and membership, keep copies on file, and provide them to DfE within 10 working days if asked.
| Role | How we meet the requirement |
|---|
| Specialist Mentor – Autism Spectrum Conditions (SM-ASC) | MEd Psychology of Education (a substantial part focused on autism and mental wellbeing); NADP Working Effectively with Autistic University Students; Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society (MBPsS), membership renewed annually |
| Specialist Mentor – Mental Health (SM-MH) | MEd Psychology of Education (a substantial part focused on autism and mental wellbeing); Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society (MBPsS), membership renewed annually |
Checks before starting
- Enhanced DBS check, kept current through the DBS Update Service, which we check online at least once a year.
- Right to work and identity checks.
- Two references (for any support worker other than the provider).
- Induction covering these policies, safeguarding, data protection, and DSA rules on timesheets and invoicing.
Continuing professional development
- CPD includes formal courses and informal learning, such as reading professional journals and BPS publications, researching current guidance, and reflecting in supervision. Every activity is recorded in the CPD log.
- Each support worker completes relevant CPD every year, covering both autism and mental health practice, above the minimum required for each role, and keeps a written log.
- Required refreshers: safeguarding and Prevent (every year), suicide risk awareness (updated every year through courses or structured self-study, such as BPS publications and current guidance, recorded in the CPD log), data protection (every year), equality and diversity (every 2 years).
- Supervision: monthly professional supervision with an experienced colleague from outside Neurodivergent Minds, who is also our safeguarding adviser. Cases are discussed without names. The colleague's name is kept on file and given to DfE or Student Finance England on request. Supervision supports good practice and wellbeing, and we keep a record of the date of each session.
Monitoring
We keep a register of qualifications, memberships, DBS dates, insurance and CPD, and check it every term so nothing lapses. If a requirement lapses, that support worker stops DSA-funded work until it's renewed.
Questions about this policy
Email nmh@neurodivergentminds.com. You can ask for this policy in another format (large print, plain text, or read through together in a session).
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