To provide specialist advice, guidance and information to students and staff with mental health difficulties.
The role is part of the wider Wellbeing Team, which comprises support for students with mental health
problems, specific learning difficulties, sensory and mobility impairments, communication impairments and
...
medical conditions, which is itself part of Student Support Services.
The post holder will be responsible for the provision of specialist advice, guidance and support to students
(both prospective and current students) and staff who have disclosed mental health as a disability or who
have mental health difficulties more generally which may or may not be in addition to another disability. In
addition, the post holder will advise to University staff on compliance with legal obligations to disabled
students.
Key duties and responsibilities:
1. Communication:
Undertake face-to-face and online sessions with students and staff.
Provide advice to non-specialist staff working throughout the university who are working with
students and staff with mental health difficulties.
Provide advice on compliance with legal obligations to disabled students and staff under the
Equality Act 2010 and the risks of non-compliance.
Advise students on the range of support available within the University.
Maintain confidential and accurate case notes.
Compile student support profiles accurately and share those with colleagues as appropriate.
2. Teamwork and Motivation:
Contribute to and attend in-service training and team meetings.
Work collaboratively with other members of the Wellbeing Service particularly in cases where
students have more than one declared disability.
3. Liaison and Networking:
Work and liaise with other staff within the wellbeing team and the wider Student Support
Services team to provide an integrated service.
Provide appropriate information to internal stakeholders on the legal requirements in the
support of disabled students and staff.
Attend working groups and advisory groups where appropriate.
Liaise with colleagues in the wider Wellbeing team to ensure appropriate referral of students.
Promote the activities of the Student Wellbeing Service by liaising with professional bodies
3
and agencies outside the University.
Liaise with external agencies about support for students as required.
Liaise with colleagues in the university about support arrangements, exam arrangements etc.
4. Service Delivery:
Provide comprehensive, confidential, impartial advice and support to students and staff on the
provision of support and facilities within the University to enable them to participate fully in
their study/work.
Contribute to the development of the Mental Health Support Service by taking responsibility
for projects, initiatives and in-service trainings as appropriate.
Provide ongoing support to those students that may have mental health difficulties but who do
not have a formal diagnosis or those that are not eligible for Disabled Students Allowance.
Support students through the Fitness to Study Regulation as appropriate.
Provide mentoring support to students as required (if one has the professional membership to
do so).
Maintain accurate case notes.
5. Decision Making Processes and Outcomes:
Make recommendations regarding reasonable adjustments for disabled students and staff
for those with diagnosed mental health conditions.
Make independent decisions on the best support for students and staff and refer to the
Inclusive Support Manager when needed.
6. Planning and Organising Resources:
Organise, plan and prioritise own work activities to contribute to the achievement of
service objectives and professional standards.
Respond to enquiries about the service and to new referrals.
Lead projects with other departments to foster greater resilience among students.
Understand client and stakeholder requirements and take responsibility for team-delivered
outcomes.
7. Initiative and Problem Solving:
Respond to cases in which a student needs to see a practitioner from the team urgently, and
to urgent requests from colleagues who may be concerned about a student, by making risk
assessments as appropriate.
Assist in cases of crisis management.
8. Analysis and Research:
Contribute to reports for the service.
Evaluate the mentoring service.
9. Sensory and Physical Demands:
Work in an office environment.
10. Work Environment:
Follow health and safety guidelines when carrying out sessions with staff and students.
11. Pastoral Care and Welfare:
Maintain professional boundaries and take proper account of the need for confidentiality at all
times when working with students and when discussing cases with staff.
12. Team Development:
Offer induction and ongoing support to new members of the team.
Recruit mentors as required.
13. Teaching and Learning Support:
Contribute to staff development training in area of specialism.
3
14. Knowledge and Experience:
Keep up-to-date with best practice in relation to disabled students in Higher Education.
Effective Behaviours
Timeliness
Meeting Deadlines
Communication and Networking
Networking group across colleges
Ability to negotiate and influence
Ability to plan and organise own workload
Ability to adapt to a flexible approach to the demands of a busy college/department in order
to accommodate changes in priorities when required
Cover for colleagues in their absence as appropriate
Participate in meetings and attend training events as necessary, supporting the department/
college with any introduction to new technologies, enhancements to process or changes to
day to day management of administration