About us
Capita plc is working with the Student Loans Company (SLC) to carry out Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) study needs assessments and to provide assistive technology equipment and training, supporting disabled students to thrive in higher education.
We take students through the process, from carrying out their study needs assessment and recommending support, to delivering their equipment and providing training.
We are supporting Student Finance England (SFE) and Student Finance Wales (SFW) students in: Wales, the Midlands, London, the East of England and Northern Ireland.
DSA reforms – what is the current landscape?
Under the new framework, students will have a single point of contact for their end-to-end DSA journey, encompassing the study needs assessment, provision of assistive technology (AT) equipment and AT training. (Non-Medical Help and travel have not been included in the reforms and therefore remain unchanged).
Where there is consent to share, the DSA1 letter will be shared with us, enabling us to proactively reach out to students to help them on their DSA journey.
Assessment methods remain unchanged, with Face to Face (in a local assessment space), video or telephone assessments available.
Students who are in any of the below scenarios should be referred to SLC who will direct them to their relevant provider – Capita or Study Tech:
- Received their needs assessment and AT and Training and need further support;
- Received their needs assessment and the DSA2, but have not arranged their AT and training;
- Received their DSA1 but haven’t yet booked their needs assessment;
- Were previously supported by an assessment centre that has closed.
Meet your HEP liaison managers
Claire Spiers - DSA HEP Liaison Manager for London and East of England
Claire has worked within the DSA Sector for 17 years, initially as an AT trainer before embarking on a career as a DSA needs assessor in 2016.
This experience stands Claire in very good stead for working with higher education providers (HEPs). She is dedicated to supporting students with disabilities and in her current role as HEP Liaison Manager will work collaboratively with universities and colleges to ensure that students have an easier route through the DSA process, promoting the benefits of earlier DSA engagement and uptake.
Lisa Williams, DSA HEP Liaison Manager for the Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland
Lisa has worked at Capita since 2021. She has been a DSA needs assessor as well as working on the new DSA Contract. Prior to joining Capita, Lisa was a schoolteacher and a Head of Department in a large secondary school.
How Capita will support HEPs
With DSA funding being considered the 'apex' of support, our needs assessors are committed to building upon a student’s existing strategies and any current support or reasonable adjustments provided by the HEP. This is why, when preparing for a needs assessment, our assessors will initially investigate any reasonable adjustments and support available to the student at their place of study. Collating information on reasonable adjustments and in-house support will be aided going forward by our HEP Liaison Managers. To update us with information on your NMH status and rates you can complete this online form - this will help us be more informed during your students’ needs assessments.
The new role of HEP Liaison Manager has been created with a focus on ensuring students have an easier route through the DSA process. The HEP Liaison Manager can ensure seamless and timely communication between Capita and educational establishments to help ensure students receive the best advice and support at the point of the needs assessment.
Contact your HEP Liaison Manager by emailing DSAHEPManager@capita.com or using the form below.