Accessibility and Wellbeing Manager (Mental Health)

Academic Section

The Academic Section is part of the University's Professional Services and is headed by the Academic Registrar. The Section is responsible for managing all aspects of student and academic administration and plays a central role in delivering the University's commitment to excellence in education across the institution. 

The Student Life Directorate is part of the Academic Section and encompasses the Employability and Careers, Student Engagement, Talent Development and the Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity services. We are committed to innovation and continuous enhancement within our services; and to working collaboratively across all areas of the University, and beyond, for the benefit of our students.

You will be a part of the newly formed Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity service, which is responsible for providing a professional and proactive service for students within a wider safe, healthy and inclusive environment.  We are looking for someone with a creative approach who is able to identify opportunities for collaborative working and can contribute to our vision for proactive and diverse services aimed at supporting students to thrive and get the most out of their time at Essex.   

Duties of the Role

You will lead a professional and proactive service for students to promote a safe, healthy and inclusive environment; a service that supports our students to fulfil their potential as individuals and to enable them to be active participants in their own educational experiences and the transformational opportunities available to them at Essex.

Specific areas of responsibility include; managing student centered information, advice and guidance services and short term interventions for disabled students, students with mental and emotional health difficulties and students from non-traditional backgrounds; working across the University to develop and promote services; supporting the development of an inclusive environment; support to staff supporting students.

Additionally you will be required to undertake and manage complex casework including management of crisis and responding to dissatisfied students, work with local healthcare providers and the voluntary sector in order to make referrals and take responsibility for the fitness to study policy.

Due to the nature of the work, this position has been deemed a Position of Trust. Should you be appointed to this post you will be asked to make an application for a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to get a copy of your criminal record. This is called ‘basic disclosure’. This only asks about unspent convictions.

Qualifications and Skills required

The successful candidate will be educated to degree level standard or equivalent, as well as having obtained a professional qualification relevant to the role.  You will have experience at a management level, developing and implementing plans in a large organisation, translating the vision to clear operational objectives and leading and influencing cultural and organisational change. It is therefore imperative that you have extensive experience of student facing service delivery in this area and supporting staff to deliver excellent services; and of working one-to-one with people with disabilities, ASD and/or mental health difficulties.

We are looking for someone who can successfully develop and implement new processes and systems and who can demonstrate their ability to lead the development of proactive services that realise strategic objectives and provide excellent wellbeing support. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential for this post.

At the University of Essex internationalism is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally-oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries and a university where you can find the world in one place.

Please visit our website (http://www.essex.ac.uk/vacancies/) for a full job description, person specification and more information relating to this post. We recommend you read this information carefully before making an application.  Applications should be made on-line, but if you would like advice or help in making an application, or need information in a different format, please telephone the Resourcing Team (01206 876559).

Closing date: 24 September 2018

Interviews are planned for: W/C 15 October 2018  

Salary: £33,199 - £39,609 per annum