Mental Health Lecturer in Healthcare Education in Aberystwyth

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Mental Health Lecturer in Healthcare Education to join Aberystwyth University. As part of its civic mission, Aberystwyth University is seeking to find ways of supporting the workforce and community needs of Mid-Wales by increasing opportunities for individuals to train and work in healthcare in their local area.

Jointly working with Local Health Boards and other key stakeholders, the aim is to design and deliver several professional health-related courses (at pre- and post-registration levels and Continuing Professional Development), starting with BSc degrees in pre-registration Adult Nursing and Mental Health Nursing - full time and part time, Return to Nursing Practice programme, and Level 4 Certificate in Healthcare Studies.

This vision comes at a timely point with the commencement of new Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) pathways and invitations to tender to all existing and potential new providers of healthcare education by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW). The very first cohort of nursing students commenced their studies in Aberystwyth in September 2022 and graduated September 2025.

The post holder will support the Principal Lead for Healthcare Education and scheme coordinators to design and deliver new provision in Level 4 programmes, pre-registration Adult Nursing, Mental Health Nursing degrees, Return to Practice programmes and CPD modules, and teach clinical skills & simulation. The programmes will be developed through the medium of English and Welsh.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• On-site teaching of a wide range of topics related to healthcare and clinical skills as a Registered Mental Health Nurse in the Healthcare Education teaching team, with a specialism in the mental health field of nursing.
• Previous experience of teaching within a Higher Education Institution (HEI).
• Delivery of clinical skills and simulation to healthcare students supporting the Clinical skills lead & simulation lead.
• Personal tutor for a group of allocated healthcare students.
• Act as ‘field lead’ or module coordinator, manage modules and co-coordinate the work of colleagues where necessary.
• Challenge thinking, foster debate and develop the ability of students to engage in critical discourse and rational thinking.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, service users and academic colleagues on curriculum and module development and changes.
• Actively seek opportunities to collaboratively plan, design and deliver healthcare CPD to a variety of health professionals.
• Ensure own professional knowledge and skills are up to date and meet revalidation requirements and maintain professional registration on the relevant part of the Nursing and Midwifery (NMC) register.
• Act as an academic assessor and provide high-quality support to students and clinical staff in a variety of practice learning environments.
• Actively manage placement learning opportunities and capacity for nursing students.
• Act in line with the NMC Code at all times, ensuring the values and principles are upheld.
• Use the NMC Code to help students understand what it means to be a registered professional and how keeping to the Code helps to achieve that.
• Act as a role model of professional behaviour for students, maintain integrity and leadership for others to aspire to.
• Publish and share evidence of scholarship related to learning and teaching in books, articles and/or papers in academic journals.
• Communicate material of a specialist or highly technical nature.
• Attend and contribute to subject group meetings.
• Identify student learning needs and provide appropriate teaching to meet requirements.
• Liaise with colleagues and students – build internal contacts and participate in internal networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for future collaboration.
• Join external networks to share information and ideas.
• Could be expected to supervise students’ projects, fieldwork and placements.
• Develop appropriate teaching materials, methods and approaches.
• Plan and manage own teaching, scholarship and administrative tasks.
• Provide appropriate assessment and supervision of student work and provide constructive feedback.
• Use listening, interpersonal and pastoral care skills to deal with sensitive issues concerning students and provide support.
• Appreciate the needs of individual students and their circumstances.
• Act as personal tutor, giving first-line support.
• Teach as a member of a teaching team in a developing capacity within an established programme of study, with the assistance of a mentor if required.
• Teach in a developing capacity in a variety of settings from small group tutorials to large lectures.
• Transfer knowledge in the form of practical skills, methods and techniques.
• Reflect on practice and the development of own teaching and learning skills.
• Possess sufficient community breadth or depth of specialist knowledge in the discipline to work within established teaching programmes.
• Carry out induction and provide support to new members of the team.
• To undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• To be committed to the University’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
• To be committed to your own development and that of your staff through the effective use of the University’s Effective Contribution Scheme.
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential:

• Registered Mental Health field nurse with the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council.
• Nursing degree.
• Masters degree in a relevant subject.
• HEA Fellowship.
• Teaching qualification/PGCtHE.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Experience of teaching in a Higher Education Setting within healthcare programmes.
• Extensive Clinical expertise & experience of working in a wide variety of settings as a Registered Mental Health Nurse.
• Experience of teaching, supervising and assessing healthcare students in clinical and education setting.
• Detailed knowledge of the new NMC standards for education & ‘Once for Wales’ 2020.
• Advanced communication skills, and differing approaches to learning in healthcare.
• Excellent presentation, teaching & facilitation skills.
• Coaching skills.
• Must hold a UK current driving licence due to clinical visits.
• An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually.

Desirable:

• PhD or working towards.
• Ability to communicate in Welsh or willingness to work towards.
• Advanced Practice Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B2.

How to apply:

To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements. Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Benefits:

• Flexible working policy.
• Hybrid Working.
• 36.5 hour week for full-time roles.
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days.
• Commitment to Professional Development.
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes.
• Staff recognition and reward schemes.
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free.
• Staff relocation bursary.
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave.
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.

Aberystwyth University generally supports hybrid working, allowing a mix of office-based and remote working for suitable roles to enhance flexibility and productivity. Job descriptions typically detail a primary work location alongside opportunities for flexible, remote, or home-based work, subject to service needs and manager approval. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and those that are currently under-represented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates. We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Employment Visa:

We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route. Under the points-based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.