Job Number
BU03960
School/Department
Student Support and Well-being
Grade
7
Contract Duration
12 months maternity cover (07/04/2027)
Responsible to
Inclusivity Manager
Overview
The Directorate of Student and Academic Services brings together key professional services that support the student journey and enhance the academic experience at Bangor University. The Directorate comprises three main areas:
1. Registry, which oversees student administration and business support, and leads on quality assurance, academic enhancement, and curriculum management.
2. Student Life, which encompasses a wide range of student-facing services including Wellbeing and Inclusivity, Library Collections, Residential Life, Student Success (covering Teaching, Learning and Language Support, Careers, and Student Advice), and the Student Experience team.
3. Campus Services, responsible for the University’s day-to-day operational environment, including Facilities, Catering, Sport, the Nursery, and the Security and Response Team. From August 2025, it will also include the Management and Development Centre.
Together, these services work in close partnership with academic colleagues and other professional service directorates to provide a supportive, inclusive and high-quality environment in which students can thrive.
Purpose of the Job
The Disability Adviser post encompasses wide-ranging responsibilities in the support of disabled applicants and students at Bangor University, including identifying strategies to remove barriers to study and ensuring reasonable adjustments are in place within the teaching and learning environment and across the institution as a whole. There are a team of Disability Advisers who maintain and further develop a professional advisory service for students, advising and working with colleagues across the University to promote inclusive provision. Collaboration with academic schools is a key part of the role in order to develop policy and procedures and support the embedding of inclusive practice relating to disabled students.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
4. Work in line with a model of support that promotes the independence and resilience of our students in order to best prepare them for their future study or career goals.
5. Provide high level case support to disabled students, using specialist professional expertise and experience to assess, formulate, and implement strategies, working closely with academic schools and professional services to co-ordinate the provision of specific support and services to individual students.
6. Act as a central point of contact for prospective and current disabled students. Provide information and guidance on the provision of support services and facilities.
7. Assist applicants during the admissions process; liaise with academic schools, other central University services and external agencies as necessary with regard to the particular needs of individual students and the identification of reasonable adjustments at an early stage. Attend departmental and University Open Days as required (which includes occasional work out of office hours); organise visits for applicants where necessary.
8. Advise individual students on reasonable adjustments and entitlements, and on sources of support; provide information on Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs), referring students other services (internal and external) as appropriate.
9. Lead in at least one specific area relevant to disability support, as agreed with the Inclusivity Manager.
10. Assist in the development of relevant literature, policies and procedures.
11. Raise awareness of disability-related barriers and inclusive strategies by designing and delivering staff development activities for a wide range of colleagues across the institution, including around the recruitment, induction and supervision of Specialist Mentors.
12. Keep and maintain confidential and accurate records in accordance with data protection legislation and the University’s quality assurance processes.
13. Maintain records and databases, prepare and monitor statistics, and undertake monitoring and evaluation of services as required by the Inclusivity Manager.
14. Engage with the supervision of practice as led by the Inclusivity Manager, sharing practice with colleagues and adhering to the requirement of the service’s systems, procedures and quality standards as defined through the line management of the service.
15. Work collaboratively with colleagues as part of a multi-disciplinary team within Student Life, ensuring effective cross-referrals and promoting a holistic approach to student support.
16. Maintain membership of appropriate external bodies, e.g. NADP and undertake continuous professional development as appropriate.
17. Any other duties appropriate to the grade as required by line management.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
18. The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
19. The post holder will be expected to comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Policy and the Welsh Language Standards.
20. The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
21. The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post
Person Specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential
22. Undergraduate degree or equivalent.
Desirable
23. Postgraduate qualification in an area related to disability.
24. Professional qualification in an area related to disability.
25. Teaching qualification.
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
26. Experience of working with disabled students within post-16 education.
27. An understanding of the specific needs of students with a wide range of impairments, including Autism and physical and sensory impairments.
28. A thorough understanding of the barriers faced by disabled people.
29. An understanding of and commitment to a model of student support that promotes the independence and resilience of our students in order to best prepare them for their future study or career goals.
30. A working knowledge of Disabled Students Allowance.
31. An awareness of the provisions with the Equality Act (2010) in respect to disabled students and applicants.
32. Knowledge of curriculum delivery and forms of assessment in order to be able to recommend adjustments taking into account the barriers faced by disabled students.
Desirable
33. Experience of working in a university or HE setting.
34. Be experienced in the provision of training.
Skills/Abilities
Essential
35. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
36. Excellent planning and organisational skills including the ability to work to tight deadlines, prioritise work effectively and keep accurate records.
37. Be adaptable and able to work effectively both independently and co-operatively as part of a practice sharing team within the Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service and across Student Life as a whole.
38. Be able to undertake and prioritise a varied and demanding workload.
39. Excellent IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office packages.
40. Be able to write reports, prepare relevant literature and other resource materials.
41. Have the ability to understand and adhere to service systems, procedures and quality standards as defined through the line management of the service.
42. Have the ability to understand and commit to the social model of disability.
43. Be willing to work some unsocial hours.
Other
Essential
44. This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.
45. The ability to speak Welsh confidently and to perform certain written tasks in Welsh is essential for this post (for example contributing to a bilingual meeting and writing simple emails in Welsh).
General
We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.
All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.
Disclosure & Barring Service
This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.
As Bangor University meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions. DBS checks will be updated every 3 years.