Purpose of Role
1. To provide advice, guidance and support to students from Widening Participation (WP) backgrounds and students identified as at risk of leaving university or contacting the Thinking of Leaving Service.
2. To develop and upgrade our support provision for specific groups of students including in particular: postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students, asylum seekers and refugees, students who are pregnant and armed forces veterans and reservists, and students from armed forces families.
3. To assist in the development and delivery of personal tutor training and guidance for academic staff.
4. To contribute to the development and delivery of Get Ready for Success and Kick-Start Your Success, and play a key role in the development and delivery of pre-entry, induction and transition, and retention support activities.
A key element of the role is providing information, advice, guidance and support to students, including students with particular vulnerabilities, in an effective and timely way, and to excellent standards. Students can present with multiple and complex issues which may require detailed casework and also immediate crisis support. Laision and joint work with other colleagues across the University as well as referral to other appropriate sources of support will be required where appropriate. In developing support for students, and in individual casework, liaison with networks and services outside the University could be required.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
5. To provide advice, guidance and support to students accessing the Thinking of Leaving Service; providing information, advice and guidance to “At Risk” students i.e. those who are identified as being at risk of leaving the university early.
6. To provide advice, guidance and support for students from Widening Participation backgrounds – particulary students who are care experienced, carers or estranged – students who are or become asylum seekers and refugees, and students who are pregnant.
7. To support the specific groups of students in the postholder’s remit with practical advice to help them maximise their income by accessing internal and external financial support (e.g. through the Discretionary Hardship Fund, SAAS etc.). Referral to and liaison with the University’s Finance and Scholarships teams will be required and the postholder will help ensure that students are able to make financially informed decisions about their studies.
8. To organise and deliver activities/workshops as well as dedicated one to one support for Postgraduate Research students.
9. To contribute to the organisation and delivery of new student induction programmes.
10. To contribute to the development and management of the Get Ready for Success and Kick-Start Your Success programmes.
11. To contribute to the recruitment process of and co-facilitate training sessions for student helpers for work in induction programmes, Get Ready for Success, peer mentoring, Kick-Start Your Success and other support and transition activities. To supervise and organise the work of student ambassadors during these programmes.
12. To work with the Student Experience Manager in the co-ordination and management of induction and transition at the institutional level.
13. To work with the Student Experience Manager in the development, promotion and delivery of a training programme for personal tutors.
14. To contribute to the development of programmes of student peer mentoring.
15. To contribute to the development of online and other resources and information to support student transition and retention, and the student experience generally. Information and resources may be generally applicable or targeted at specific groups of students.
16. Co-ordinating and facilitating pre-entry activities and one to one support for students from Widening Participation backgrounds to ensure their successful transition to the University.
17. To work with the Student Success Advisors on more complex at risk cases referred to the postholder, particularly as a result of the development of learning analytics.
18. To contribute to the professional development of the Student Success Advisors.
19. To deputise for the Student Experience Manager in their absence, including providing line management to the Student Success Advisors.
Essential & Desirable Criteria
Essential
20. Educated to first degree level or equivalent or equivalent practical experience in the workplace
21. Experience of working within a similar environment as outlined above
22. Competent in the use of relevant IT packages
23. Proven relevant experience in advice, guidance and support, and assessing support needs of young people or vulnerable adults, which will have been acquired over a number of years.
24. Experience in delivering training or group work programmes
25. Good knowledge and understanding of relevant legal, statutory and governance applications and turning them into good practice
26. Excellent interpersonal, influencing and presentation skills, able to understand and communicate complex issues effectively
27. Demonstrable excellent customer service
28. Demonstrable ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and pressured environment
29. Experience of working closely with stakeholders across all levels of the organisation
30. Ability to research, analyse and present complex information effectively with good attention to detail
31. High level organisational skills with the ability to prioritise major developments and to function effectively in a pressured environment
32. Demonstrable professional and proactive approach
33. Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
Desirable
34. Experience and understanding of access and inclusion issues in higher education.
35. Knowledge and understanding of student funding.