Overview
Permanent, Full Time (36 hours per week, over 52 weeks per year). Please note that this post is funded for the 2026/27 academic year onwards so the successful candidate would not be expected to commence in post prior to August 2026. Merton College have an exciting opportunity for a Student Support Adviser to provide comprehensive and flexible support, information, advice and guidance to learners to improve their likelihood of successful completion of their programme and progression into further education, training and/or employment. You will work in close liaison with students, staff, and external organisations to safeguard students and support them in achieving their full potential by offering holistic support, which is tailored to their needs. You will provide and support the provision of a range of activities to engage learners within the wider community of college life and the preparation for life in society.
Responsibilities
As our Student Support Adviser, you will be qualified to Level 4 or above in Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) or a relevant discipline (e.g. youth and community work, education, psychology, sociology, or health and social care). You will have proven experience working with vulnerable young people, including successfully re-engaging those who are disengaged or disaffected and supporting them to remain in or return to education or training. You will be experienced in delivering 1:1 interventions, as well as producing risk assessments and support plans. You will bring strong safeguarding experience, with a sound knowledge of safeguarding legislation and practices within an educational setting. A good understanding of post-16 education services is essential, including the challenges faced by young people transitioning from pre- to post-16 education or returning after time out of formal learning. You will also be confident delivering workshops or tutorials to a diverse range of students. Strong IT skills are required to effectively market and record service provision. In addition, you will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with students and external agencies.
Additional information
Following the initial round of interviews, if you are successful for the second interview, there will be a session where you will be asked to engage with the students. Based predominantly at Merton but you may be required to travel to and work from Carshalton College on occasion. The successful candidate will be eligible for any increase in salary as a consequence of the annual cost of living review that will be implemented in the new academic year. Closing date for the return of completed applications is 19th May 2026.
Benefits and equal opportunity
The benefits package includes generous annual leave of 27 days plus up to 8 additional days over Christmas/New Year as well as an additional 5 days Wellbeing leave to enhance employees’ physical and mental health. There is an excellent pension scheme that receives a significant financial contribution from the employer (Teachers Pensions or Local Government Pension Scheme), subsidised sports facilities and professional development and training plus a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. As outlined in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. As part of our due diligence checks on prospective employees, successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, an online search and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.
About the organisation
The South Thames Colleges Group is made up of Carshalton College, Kingston College, Merton College and South Thames College, which merged on 1 August 2017. South Thames Colleges Group is one of London’s largest providers of post-16 education and training and is an ongoing and significant contributor to its local communities. We aim to put students’ success at the heart of everything we do. We are looking for hard-working and collaborative people who can join our team and help challenge our students to progress and achieve.
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