About the Role
Student Welfare is part of the wider Accessibility team at The Open University, and comprises Safeguarding, Mental Health Casework and Advice, suicide-safer strategy, and other welfare related support services.
The Student Welfare team takes an intersectional approach to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work when supporting students who are dealing with challenging life issues, or who are at risk, in crisis, or living with enduring mental health conditions.
The Student Welfare Adviser role is responsible for providing support to students who are living with or have experienced:
- Harassment or sexual misconduct
- Domestic Abuse
- Gender-based violence
- Safeguarding issues
Some students will also present with mental health needs and suicidality.
Key Responsibilities
As a Student Welfare Adviser, you will:
- Use a casework approach to provide impartial support and guidance to students relating to welfare needs
- Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to help support students manage welfare issues and improve their study and personal outcomes
- Provide personal support to students who are going through fitness to study, student conduct issues, student complaints or disciplinary issues, or investigations relating to harassment or sexual misconduct.
- Ensure students accessing welfare support are supported compassionately, working with them and relevant internal and external agencies to identify the main support needs, and signpost the individual to appropriate services, as required.
- Deliver training and guidance in relation to student welfare and harassment and sexual misconduct issues.
- Contribute to the development of the welfare service for all Open University distance and research students.
- Engage in group and individual supervision to inform professional development, standards and quality of support.
Skills and Experience
Essential Criteria:
- Knowledge and understanding of Prevent, The Children Act, The Mental Health Act, The Domestic Abuse Act and the Office for Students Conditions of Registration Condition (E6), and associated legal responsibilities
- Experience of working inclusively with diverse populations.
- Experience of supporting individuals in a professional context, who are in distress or affected by complex life issues (including mental health related issues, and the provision of Safeguarding support and interventions)
- Experience and ability to collect, work with, manage and share highly sensitive and confidential information, adhering to defined protocols
- Ability to take a trauma informed approach to practice
- Understanding of the principles of needs assessment and support planning
- Ability to manage caseload and work priorities
- Ability to work independently, and deal with unforeseen problems and circumstances, using initiative to analyse complex information and support resolutions.
- Ability to build professional and collegiate relationships at all levels within the University and with external services and agencies.
- Willingness and ability to work with individuals whose beliefs, behaviours or actions might conflict with others, and/or those of the University.
Essential Requirements
Work location /Flexible working: We are open to discussions about flexible working. This role is available on a full time or part time basis of 18.5 hours per week and above. We are currently recruiting up to 2 FTE.
It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. 1 FTE will be contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes Office with the expectation that you will attend the office 3 days per month and in response to business need. 1 FTE is negotiable and can be based in any one of the OU offices in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland with a requirement to be on-site 2 days per month and in response to business need.
DBS Check: Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check or equivalent for their nation of residency.
How to apply: To apply for this role please submit the following as separate documents:
- CV
- Supporting statement, up to 1,000 words, you should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job and person specification.
You will also be prompted to answer the following question:
The Student Welfare Adviser role is responsible for providing support to students who are living with or have experienced:
• Harassment or sexual misconduct
• Domestic Abuse
• Gender-based violence
• Safeguarding issues
Please can you describe how your skillset would be able to meet the needs of students experiencing one or more of those issues and how you would support their continuation as a student. (Max 250 words)
Early closing date: We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.
