Job Title: ASSIST Disability Support Advisor
Grade: 5
Responsible to: Disability Advisory Team Leader
Overall Purpose
To work within ASSIST (Additional Support & Inclusion Services Team) in Student Services, providing information, advice, guidance and support to students with a variety of additional needs, medical conditions, specific learning difficulties and disabilities, as well as other university staff and external stakeholders. To support ASSIST in the provision of effective, efficient and high‑quality customer‑focused services to disabled students to enable them to manage their own educational, personal and vocational choices and progression, and to deliver an excellent student experience. The post holder will also always ensure effective and accurate records are kept, enabling a cohesive and responsive student‑centred service, and facilitating accurate monitoring of the impact of the team.
Responsibilities
* To be the first point of contact for students with disabilities, medical conditions, specific learning difficulties and mental health issues; providing specialist information, advice, guidance and support via individual appointments, phone calls and emails to prospective and current students.
* Undertaking initial individual assessments of students with a range of disabilities, including writing Academic Inclusion Reports, detailing recommendations to the student and the institution, such as reasonable adjustments and exam arrangements.
* Advise prospective disabled students and their families on the support available to students at The University of Northampton, and undertake applicant visit meetings in conjunction with the course team and members of Faculty staff.
* Liaison with colleagues in the team, academic and other professional services staff regarding the implementation of support provisions, reasonable adjustments and special examination requirements.
* To maintain case records and logs associated with student support interactions with students and to ensure these records and logs are accurate, can be used to support the continuous improvement of the service, and to provide effective data for internal and external purposes.
* To arrange and implement support for students, including: non‑medical helper provision; taxis, parking and transport; accommodation needs and adaptations; Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) and other aspects of support as necessary, in consultation with the Support Team Leaders, as appropriate.
* Effectively undertake all administrative tasks associated with supporting students with additional needs, to include developing and maintaining electronic systems, preparing and monitoring statistics, and keeping accurate and auditable student records.
* Support the team in developing streamlined and automated processes for ensuring income generation to fund services; including invoicing for support via the Disabled Students Allowances (DSA).
* Liaison with external agencies such as Student Finance England, NHS, medical professionals, DSA Needs Assessors, Social Services and other 3rd party stakeholders.
* Obtaining quotations for services, raising purchase orders and establishing contracts with suppliers, service providers, agencies and other third parties.
* Represent ASSIST and the University at open days, applicant events, and during enrolment to speak to students, parents and guests about the support on offer at The University of Northampton.
* To provide additional administrative support to the Disability Advisory Team Leader and Support Team Leaders, including managing appointments, calendars and booking rooms, as required.
* To work independently using initiative, monitor own workload and be able to make well‑informed judgements, while knowing when to refer issues to the Disability Advisor Team Leader.
* Generic Duties and Responsibilities: Commitment to enhancing the student experience, excellent customer service and the University’s values and behaviours.
* Work in a way that empowers students to become independent learners and demonstrate their full potential.
* Participation in staff‑development and training (taught and self‑directed), as required in order to develop knowledge, expertise and skills.
* Working in compliance with Disability legislation, DSA guidelines and the Equality Act 2010, and to ensure confidentiality of a student’s personal information in accordance with GDPR and Data Protection regulations and the University confidentiality policy.
* Additional evenings and weekend duties will be required from time to time, including during enrolment periods and to cover peak times of the year.
* The post holder will be expected to undertake other responsibilities and tasks as reasonably requested by the Disability Advisory Team Leader, or the Additional Needs Manager.
* The post holder will be responsible and accountable for ensuring all employment legislative requirements are adhered to including equality and diversity and health and safety issues.
* The job description may be altered at any time in the future in line with the level of the post to meet changing institutional requirements, but only in full consultation with the post holder.
* The post holder may be required to participate in Open Days, Welcome Weekend and other key University events that may be outside the working week.
Qualifications
1 Honours degree, or relevant equivalent Essential Application, Demonstrable experience of providing disability‑related advice Application 6 and information and/or a knowledge of disability‑related support Essential Interview provisions in an education setting, ideally gained in a higher Test education context Enhanced skills and experience to support working with disabled Interview 7 adults and an evident understanding of the barriers which Essential Test disabled students may have in accessing learning 8 A sound understanding of the Disabled Students Allowances Essential Interview (DSAs) Test Proven ability to work with sensitive personal data with clear and Application 9 demonstrable understanding of issues of confidentiality and data Essential Interview protection Test Excellent written and verbal communication skills which Application10 demonstrate an ability to deal with a wide range of people with Essential Interview varying needs and levels of understanding Test, Ability to be creative and solve problems, with experience of Application11 contributing to the development and improvement of systems Essential Interview and procedures Test Excellent computer skills, with experience of using IT systems, Application12 Microsoft Office and video conferencing platforms, such as MS Essential Test Teams, with a willingness to attend further training if needed13 Previous experience of providing mentoring or advocacy Desirable Application Interview14 Experience of keeping electronic records, databases and Desirable Application scanning Interview Experience of paperless working and agile working across a Application15 variety of locations, including remote working, to meet business Desirable Interview needs as required16 Willingness to undertake further education and/or training and Desirable Interview developmentPersonal Qualities17 Willingness to undertake further education and/or training and Essential Interview development Test18 Demonstrable understanding/awareness of empathy and non- Essential Interview verbal communication skills Test19 Ability to work with discretion and sensitivity, including with Essential Interview people in distress or in challenging situations Test Proven ability to use organisational, administrative and record Application20 keeping systems effectively and prioritise a variety of work Essential Interview activities in a busy environment Test21 Commitment to attaining excellent standards in a professional Essential Interview support department Test A proactive nature and committed team player with the ability to Interview22 support colleagues and to contribute to team activities and Essential Test objectives23 Friendly, motivated, and able to work well under pressure Essential Interview Test24 Adaptable, with a readiness to learn and ability to cope with Essential Interview organisational and ongoing change Test25 Ability to work flexible hours as and when required Essential Interview, 26 Ability to adapt to technological advances in delivering inclusive Essential Interview student support Test27 Ability to adapt to organisational change Essential Interview Integrity and professionalism, demonstrating a commitment to Application28 ethical standards, confidentiality, and the University’s values of Essential Interview inclusivity, trust, sustainability and aspiration
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