Mental Health Mentor in Aberystwyth

The Role

You’ll meet students regularly, usually in-person, and provide them with support to help them reach their potential regardless of their difficulties. This flexible role will mostly be carried out on-campus, between the hours of 9am and 5pm, during university term-time, which spans up to 30 weeks across the year between mid-September and the end of May. It may, however, require you to provide support for a smaller caseload of post-graduate students and resitting undergraduates during summer break.

The SM-MH role is mostly funded by Student Finance, and they set out the purpose of the role as one that supports students in accessing their higher education studies by:

• supporting students in understanding what is required of them academically in higher education.
• identifying barriers to the student’s learning.
• helping students to develop effective organisation and time management skills and strategies to manage their workload and deadlines in the presence of their mental health condition.
• helping students with prioritisation and realistic goal setting, including producing plans of work and targets.
• developing a support programme to facilitate the growth of the student’s independence, reducing the need for support in the longer term.

To make an informal enquiry, please contact Sara Childs on sac97@aber.ac.uk. Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date. This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the university, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

What you’ll do

You’ll be alert to and follow up on concerns relating to the students you support. For example:

• the student is showing signs of disengagement or growing vulnerability (e.g. lack of attendance, late submission or non-submission of work, disciplinary issues, etc.).
• indicators of significant risk (e.g. suicidal ideation, self-harm, or other safeguarding concerns requiring escalation).

You’ll be aware of and make appropriate referrals to Aberystwyth University’s student support services, especially where you have urgent concerns about a student’s wellbeing. These services include the Mental Health and Wellbeing team, the Accessibility and Inclusion team, the Student Support and Community Life team and the Careers Service as well as external agencies.

You’ll have responsibility for a minimum caseload of 8 students; however minimum work hours are not guaranteed and will vary according to individual students; these correspond to individual student support plans and work around individual timetable scheduling. On average, an eligible student may be allocated between 1-2 hours mentoring per week during term time. Students will be allocated to you by your line manager taking into consideration availability and established competences.

Undertake other duties as assigned by your line manager, commensurate with the role's grade. Engage in university-level projects and initiatives as directed, and undertake any additional duties commensurate with the role, as assigned by the line manager. Demonstrate flexibility by supporting colleagues during periods of high demand, including attendance at key university events such as open days and graduation ceremonies which may include weekend work. Promote equality of opportunity, and to support and uphold the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work. To support the university strategy and underlining plans, engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities to develop yourself and support the development of others. Fulfil health and safety responsibilities appropriate to the role, while actively promoting the personal health, safety, and wellbeing of staff and students as a member of the Aberystwyth community. Additionally, support the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability through responsible practices and engagement.

The above does not represent an exhaustive list of duties associated with this role.

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

You’ll be a registered mental health professional and draw on your understanding of different mental health conditions and the impact they may have on the student accessing their studies. This can include, for example, personality disorders, eating disorders, phobias, depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, psychosis (including schizophrenia), addiction, obsessive compulsive disorder, and identity issues. SM-MHs should also have an understanding and awareness of students with more complex presentations of multiple disabilities such as specific learning difficulties, long-term health conditions, or autism alongside a mental health condition.

You’ll be able to understand and manage professional boundaries, establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with students while understanding the importance of professional record-keeping and confidentiality. You’ll work with students in a sensitive and empathetic manner and respond positively and calmly to students in distress. Professional listening, observation and communication skills are essential. You’ll understand the importance of prompt and thorough record-keeping and support your students to interact with mentoring administration processes.

Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge, and Skills required:

Essential

• Ability to work in a student-centred, empathetic and collaborative approach, recognise the limits of the mentoring role and refer appropriately, avoiding the provision of therapeutic or clinical interventions beyond the scope of the position.
• Membership of an organization from a specified list in the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Nursing and Medicine or Social Work (full list available at: nmh_mandatory_qualifications_and_professional_body_membership_requirements.pdf)
• Ability to take responsibility for own Continuing Professional Development and the flexibility to attend a proportion of offered training sessions outside of own routine working days, including 2 start-of-semester days per year.
• Proven ability to use Microsoft Excel and digital systems for record-keeping, scheduling, and reporting.
• Ability to organise and manage a caseload of 8 students minimum using Outlook Calendar, and to work flexibly, prioritising term-time availability for seeing students, but also attending required meetings and training sessions and providing limited sessions outside term-time.
• Understanding of and cooperation with data protection and confidentiality procedures.
• Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A1*, or evidence to demonstrate an on-going commitment to learn Welsh to this level.

Desirable

• Proven track record of providing empathetic and skilled support to students from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of challenges.
• Understanding of the impact of neurodivergence, learning differences and disabilities on student wellbeing.
• Familiarity with UK disability and equalities legislation.
• Familiarity with local NHS mental health services e.g. Crisis Team, Early Intervention Team etc.
• Knowledge of the University’s structures and procedures.
• 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.

Please keep reading 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 underrepresented 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

Under the UK Government’s points-based system scheme, this role does not meet the criteria to be sponsored by Aberystwyth University (AU) for a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) application.