A diverse range of committed and high-performing professional services staff, managed through integrated College-wide teams, underpin and provide support to the establishment, development and delivery of all aspects of the College's activity. They support academic staff and students and provide core functions and support services in addition to delivering specialist technical services.

Role Summary

The Wellbeing Officer provides wellbeing, pastoral and education support to students of all levels within a School and College, to ensure that a professional and proactive wellbeing support service is provided to all in need.

Within their school or department, the Wellbeing Officer acts as a first point of contact for any wellbeing related queries. They advise on a range of wellbeing and process-based queries and signpost where appropriate, making escalated referrals to partner services and to internal and external agencies. The Wellbeing Officer manages several academic related administrative processes including Extenuating Circumstances, Extensions, and Leaves of Absence.

Main Duties

• Provide appropriate, accurate and expert advice to students of all levels, on a wide range of issues. This includes following up with individuals, ensuring a professional end-to-end wellbeing service is delivered.
• Acting as first point of contact for students with support needs. Providing initial advice and guidance and signposting them to support services internally and externally for more appropriate, complex or longer-term support.
• Provide and schedule regular and accessible opportunities for students to engage with wellbeing services both face to face, and online.
• Manage and prioritise a high volume of wellbeing and / or academic process related emails case notes and follow-ups ensuring students and staff are responded to in order of triaged priority and in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate and timely records and statistics of student interactions to inform and support the department in identifying potential risk and proactive activities.
• Manage a varied student caseload, identifying any risk to individuals or the organisation and escalating where appropriate, including severe mental health crises and under 18 students at safeguarding risk.
• Effectively and accurately manage a range of academic related administrative processes including, but not limited to, the preparation of cases for Extenuating Circumstances Panels, the management of extensions and leaves of absence.
• Provide advice and guidance so that academic process decisions are compliant with any professional or accredited programmes within the department.
• Informing appropriate Academic and Professional Services staff regarding changes and updates in practice and policy relating to student wellbeing / academic processes.
• Support local attendance and reasonable diligence processes, to ensure that wellbeing issues are proactively identified and managed appropriately.
• Provide support to colleagues and students at induction, Welcome Week and other relevant student experience activities.
• Develop and deliver a range of communications to all students, prospective students and staff around student wellbeing and support.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion within the role and the wellbeing practices.
• Any other duties commensurate with the post as directed by the line manager or departmental lead.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Experience of supporting adults or young people in a wellbeing role and/or educational setting
• Knowledge and experience of managing confidential and sensitive situations with discretion and integrity
• Experience of working with confidential data and information, with a working knowledge of data protection policies
• Ability to collate and analyse large volumes of complex data, with an ability to present data in a clear and effective format to a range of audiences
• Ability to manage a high volume of emails and front-line wellbeing queries in a systematic manner
• Knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion and the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, ensuring that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly
• Understanding of the wellbeing needs of our diverse student population in higher education
• Understanding of child protection and safeguarding best practices
• Ability to form positive working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders

Desirable

• Vocational qualification in Mental Health or Wellbeing and related areas
• Significant proven experience of working in Higher Education in a wellbeing related area

DBS required

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Informal enquiries to Hannah Lunney, email: h.n.lunney@bham.ac.uk [h.n.lunney@bham.ac.uk]

View our staff values and behaviours here [https://www.download.bham.ac.uk/vacancies/images/Values%20and%20Behaviours6-9NEW.png]

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website [https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/about/equality/index.aspx].