Head of Mental Health & Wellbeing in Birmingham

Aston University’s 2030 strategy is Inclusive, Entrepreneurial and Transformational. We are building a new model of university for a changing world, delivering measurable impact for our students, staff, partners and communities. Within this vision, the Student Life Directorate plays a central role in assisting students from transition through to successful completion, providing expert guidance on engagement, wellbeing and student success.

We are seeking a Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing to join Aston University’s Student Life Directorate. The postholder will lead the refresh, refocusing and development of an integrated Mental Health and Wellbeing service across counselling, mental health advice and chaplaincy. This is a key strategic priority: the role will be expected to create a clearer, more proactive, evidence-led and student-centred service model that brings the three areas together through shared pathways, stronger governance, prevention, risk oversight, service standards and measurable impact.

Within that wider integrated model, the postholder will also lead the development of a dedicated Domestic and Sexual Violence Advice branch, ensuring that Aston has trauma-informed, institutionally robust pathways for students affected by domestic abuse, sexual violence, harassment and related safeguarding concerns. The successful candidate will therefore combine strong service redesign capability with safeguarding expertise, multidisciplinary leadership and the ability to translate complex student need into coherent, high-quality provision.

Key Responsibilities and Priorities

• Refresh, refocus and develop an integrated Mental Health and Wellbeing service across counselling, mental health advice and chaplaincy.
• Coherent development of the three core areas so that counselling, mental health advice and chaplaincy operate as connected, complementary and student-centred provision.
• Proactive and preventative provision beyond appointments and counselling.
• Leadership of safeguarding practice and development of a dedicated Domestic and Sexual Violence Advice branch within the Mental Health and Wellbeing service.
• Complex risk, safeguarding and defensible practice.
• Service utilisation, KPI oversight and evidence-led improvement.
• OfS E6 assurance, sector developments and Mental Health Charter readiness.

About You

You have significant leadership experience in mental health, counselling, wellbeing, chaplaincy, safeguarding, welfare, domestic and sexual violence support or related services. You can redesign, refresh and deliver integrated service models that bring counselling, mental health advice and chaplaincy together through clear pathways, shared standards, prevention, responsiveness, governance and measurable outcomes. You bring a strong understanding of safeguarding, trauma-informed support, domestic abuse, sexual violence, harassment and sexual misconduct, and can translate this into safe pathways, partnership working, training, governance and assurance.

You understand how to use service data, utilisation trends and student feedback to improve provision. You can lead assurance activity linked to OfS E6, student safety, training, reporting routes and continuous improvement. You will hold a relevant professional qualification or equivalent substantial professional experience in wellbeing, mental health, counselling, social work, safeguarding, nursing, psychology or a related discipline, alongside evidence of management and leadership development relevant to a senior role.

You will bring senior experience of leading wellbeing, welfare, safeguarding, mental health or related support services in Higher Education or a comparable complex environment, including complex risk, service integration, multidisciplinary leadership and partnership working. You will be able to lead the phased development of a specialist Domestic and Sexual Violence Advice branch, working with internal and external partners to establish clear boundaries, referral routes, case oversight, reporting, prevention activity and evaluation. Experience of student support services in Higher Education, senior committee assurance, institutional policy development, commissioning, partnership management or external service liaison would be advantageous.

What we offer:

• Aston University is a dynamic and vibrant campus located within Birmingham city centre, which has excellent transport links via bus or train.
• Excellent training and development opportunities.
• A generous annual leave scheme with 30 days bookable leave and a further 13 days bank holiday and University Closure days.
• Everyday discounts to a number of activities and retailers.
• Great family friendly policies.
• On site gym and pool with discounted staff membership available.

This role may meet the requirements for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. If you require sponsorship, Aston University will assess eligibility if you are shortlisted for the role. Please note we are unable to confirm individual eligibility before shortlisting.

Anonymous shortlisting will be carried out for this role as part of Aston University’s commitment to equality and diversity and ensuring a fair and consistent approach to recruitment. Personal details that are included on application forms, including the candidate’s name and address will not be disclosed to the shortlisting panel. CVs will not be considered as part of the shortlisting process.

The University celebrates the rights of freedom of speech and academic freedom and is committed to maintaining and protecting these rights within the law. An offer to work at Aston University will never be denied on the basis of an individual’s lawful expression of their beliefs, ideas or opinions. Aston University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. It promotes equality and diversity in all aspects of its work. We strive to have robust inclusivity strategies in place, to encourage colleagues to have the confidence and freedom to be themselves in the workplace.