for DSA Students (24 hours)

Life happens. So do executive functioning breakdowns. Timeliness is not the strong suit of many neurodivergent individuals. But showing up on time is important. Here are the ground rules, in plain-ish English.

Scope

This policy applies only to students receiving DSA-funded NMH support directly from me. You never pay me personally. Funding is provided through Student Finance England (SFE), subject to their rules.

How to cancel or reschedule

You may cancel or reschedule by notifying me in person, via email, phone, or SMS/WhatsApp. The timestamp of the email or message is the official time of your request. If you need to switch between in-person and online, you will need to make that change in advance as a normal reschedule. I do not offer last-minute mode switches.

The 24-hour rule

If you cancel or reschedule a session 24 hours or more before the start time, we will simply reschedule. If you cancel within 24 hours, it will be recorded as a late cancellation. If you do not attend or arrive more than 15 minutes late without prior notice, it will be recorded as a no-show.

Free passes (DSA leniency)

You are entitled to two free passes per academic term (Autumn, Spring, Summer). Each late cancellation or no-show uses one pass. Free passes do not roll over to the next term.

Lateness

If you arrive within 15 minutes of the start time, we will continue and finish at the original end time. You are still expected to sign for the full scheduled duration.

If you are more than 15 minutes late without communicating with me (e.g. letting me know you’re on your way), the session may be treated as a no-show.

Time-shift option (at my discretion)

If you’re late and I have availability immediately after, I may—when it is a viable option—offer to reschedule your session for later the same day (e.g., a 1-2 pm session becomes 1:15-2:15 pm). This is not guaranteed. If we time-shift, you must sign an updated timesheet showing the actual start and end times; where SFE rules allow, the session is recorded and claimed as delivered. If I do not offer a time shift, or you decline it, the standard rule applies: if you are less than 15 minutes late, we finish at the original end time. If you are more than 15 minutes late, it will be considered a no-show, and you will use a free pass.

After the free passes are used

I may review the case with you or temporarily pause sessions until the next academic term.

In cases of persistent non-attendence, I may discharge you back to your Needs-Assessor for re-allocation if I feel like the working relationship is not viable. This will usually only happen after discussing it with you.

Timesheets

I am required to maintain an auditable record of attendance, cancellations, and no-shows, signed by students in the form of a timesheet. Without this auditable record, SFE cannot release payments for session-work.

For every session, whether it was completed, was a late-cancellation, or a no-show, students are required to sign a timesheet stating the scheduled times, and the session status.

Where there is a backlog of unsigned timesheets, I am not obligated to book new sessions, and may withhold support until timesheets are signed.

If I cancel

You are not disadvantaged. I will offer you a priority reschedule.

Effective date. 17 December 2025 • Time zone: Europe/London • Version: 1.1