Student Wellbeing Advisor (Mental Health)

OVERVIEW:

• LOCATION: UA92 CAMPUS - TRAFFORD
• HOURS: 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE) 
• LOCATION: Working across two sites with approx. one working from home day per week; UA92 Campus, Brian Statham Way, Old Trafford, Manchester M16 0PU & UA92 Business School, Baskerville House, Browncross St, Manchester, Salford M3 5FS
• CLOSING DATE: 5.00pm on Friday 5th April 2024
• INTERVIEW DATE: Stage one interview Teams calls (approx. 30 mins) will be arranged with suitable applicants on Wednesday 17th April. Successful applicants will then be invited to a recruitment day at the UA92 Campus, Old Trafford on Tuesday 23rd April 2024

THE ROLE:

This role represents an exciting opportunity to join and help shape the UA92 Student Support Service. UA92 opened its doors in September 2019 when we developed a brand-new student support provision, which we are continuing to grow and develop (UA92 currently has circa 1000 students). The Student Wellbeing Adviser (Mental Health) will play a vital role in the ongoing delivery and development of the UA92 student mental health & wellbeing provision. 

The Student Wellbeing Adviser will provide safe, ethical and high-quality wellbeing support to students presenting with a wide range of wellbeing difficulties within the UA92 Student Support Service. The role involves managing a 1-1 caseload of students presenting with complex wellbeing and mental health difficulties including high levels of risk, as well as liaising with NHS and external services and providing follow-up support. The role also involves developing and delivering wellbeing workshops and group sessions. 

As a key role within the UA92 Student Support Service, the Student Wellbeing Adviser will play an active part in the development of the service, contributing to new initiatives and ways of working to meet changing needs and demands of students. The Student Wellbeing Advisor will actively promote an open culture around wellbeing within the UA92 community by developing and running student-focused wellbeing events, campaigns and activities.

The Student Wellbeing Adviser will report to the Counselling & Mental Health Manager for all day-to-day aspects of the job, including clinical support as appropriate. They will also receive a pro-rata allowance for external clinical supervision. Regular group supervision will be provided with other mental health, wellbeing and counselling professionals within the UA92 Student Support Service.

The Student Well-being Adviser will work within the Student Support team alongside a Disability & Inclusion Adviser, two part-time Student Counsellors, our Counselling and Mental Health Manager and the Head of Student Support. We also have a chaplaincy as part of the student support service.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide appropriate 1-1 mental health and crisis support to UA92 students presenting with mental health difficulties, either alongside or instead of therapeutic intervention provided by Student Counsellors. 
• Hold Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) responsibilities. This includes effectively dealing with student safeguarding matters, ensuring that concerns are efficiently and accurately reported and monitored as appropriate, and contributing to the development and upholding of UA92’s safeguarding policies and culture.
• To report to Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL).  
• Provide 1-1 wellbeing support to UA92 students presenting with a wide range of wellbeing related issues, including circumstantial, financial and relational challenges. 
• Complete one-off student appointments and, where appropriate, regular ongoing support appointments with students within a managed caseload, incorporating regular assessment and review of support provision to ensure that support needs are being met. 
• Assess and manage varying levels risk presented by students, ensuring that correct steps are taken to adequately support student safety, and provide ongoing support where appropriate.
• Hold and manage short drop-in and triage appointments with students, assessing support needs in relation to wellbeing, mental health and disability, then agreeing and following up on next steps to ensure appropriate wellbeing support is provided efficiently.
• Work closely alongside the UA92 Counselling & Mental Health Manager and Student Counsellors to ensure a thorough, efficient and safe mental health & wellbeing support provision for all UA92 students.
• Liaise effectively with external services and agencies regarding student support needs.
• Liaise effectively with internal colleagues, including the Disability & Inclusion Adviser, academic teams, registry team, accommodation and careers officers and student experience team regarding student support needs.
• Support students with practical needs in relation to their wellbeing, such as completing and following up referrals, and managing appointments, prescriptions and other wellbeing needs.
• Prepare, organise and run group workshops in-line with student support needs based on trends and patterns of difficulty identified amongst students.
• Maintain accurate electronic records regarding clinical activity with all students in accordance with UA92 policies and guidance from professional bodies, including clinical assessment with clear identification of difficulties and plan of care.
• Play an active role in the development of the UA92 Student Support Service, working alongside the Counselling & Mental Health Manager to develop the student wellbeing provision including effective service processes and policies.
• Organise and run wellbeing campaigns and events e.g. University Mental Health Day, Month of Hope etc. to improve understanding and reduce stigma.
• Involvement in student induction talks and annual Welcome Festival to promote the Student Support Service.
• Maintain a high level of knowledge and awareness of changes and developments in the fields of Higher
• Education, wellbeing and mental health, and their implications for the organisation and delivery of wellbeing support within the institution.
• Contribute to and deliver relevant wellbeing-based staff development training sessions.
• Provide an informed opinion and/or verify students’ exceptional and mitigating circumstances, taking part in Fitness to Study case conferences where wellbeing and/or mental health difficulties are prominent.
• Work with students to determine when there might be a need to prioritise treatment over current continuation of studies, in accordance with UA92 policies.
• Advise students regarding reasonable adjustments and signpost to disability support, where appropriate.
• Support, when appropriate, the effective coordination of the UA92 chaplaincy, financial hardship fund and other areas of the wider Student Support Service in relation to student wellbeing.
• Work alongside the UA92 chaplaincy to support the effectiveness and efficiency of the wider wellbeing provision.
• Carry out any other duties that are reasonable and relevant to the work of the Student Support Service.

PERSONAL PROFILE:

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

• Relevant experience in a similar role working within Further or Higher Education or experience as a mental health practitioner in the NHS or similar environment (Essential)
• Experience supporting individuals with complex mental health difficulties, including managing mental health related risk, safeguarding and serious incident disclosures (Essential)
• A sound understanding of current legislation and best practice in relation to student mental health and wellbeing

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• A high level of competence in assessing students’ mental health needs, crisis intervention and managing severe emotional difficulties 
• Ability to work efficiently within a fast-paced environment, whilst ensuring that documentation/records are thorough and accurate 
• Strong organisational skills to manage own diary and caseload, make and follow-up on referrals and practical arrangements 
• Ability to build and nurture effective relationships with external agencies 
• Ability to work as part of a team and build effective working relationships with a wide range of colleagues 
• Ability to write clear, professional and thorough clinical notes detailing assessment, presenting issues, risk and outcomes 
• Competence in the use of computerised systems to maintain accurate electronic records 
• Ability and willingness to deliver training sessions to staff/students as required to increase awareness and reduce stigma surrounding mental health 

VALUES & BEHAVIOURS

• Enthusiastic and self-motivated with a commitment to working proactively and using initiative in relation to decision making and role development
• Emotional resilience when working with mentally challenging topics, risk to life and heightened emotions, and the ability to work calmly under pressure
• A clear passion for and a desire to provide emotional support and an outstanding student experience to a diverse student body
• A high level of integrity with a personal style that inspires trust and confidence
  Innovative, creative and resourceful in relation to all aspects of the role
• A commitment to equity and diversity, anti-discriminatory practice and the safeguarding and wellbeing of young people and vulnerable adults
• A willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of the role, as required

This job description is intended as a general guide to the duties attached to the post. It may therefore be altered from time to time, in consultation with the role holder, to reflect the changing needs of UA92. 

HOW TO APPLY

If you wish to discuss the role further, please contact Emma Kidd (Counselling & Mental Health Manager) at [email protected].   

To apply for this role please click the ‘Apply’ button above before the closing date.

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