Mental Health Advisor in Bangor

The Directorate of Student and Academic Services brings together key professional services that support the student journey and enhance the academic experience at Bangor University. The Directorate comprises three main areas:

• Registry, which oversees student administration and business support, and leads on quality assurance, academic enhancement, and curriculum management.
• Student Life, which encompasses a wide range of student-facing services including Wellbeing and Inclusivity, Library Collections, Residential Life, Student Success (covering Teaching, Learning and Language Support, Careers, and Student Advice), and the Student Experience team.
• Campus Services, responsible for the University’s day-to-day operational environment, including Facilities, Catering, Sport, the Nursery, and the Security and Response Team.

Together, these services work in close partnership with academic colleagues and other professional service directorates to provide a supportive, inclusive and high-quality environment in which students can thrive.

Purpose of the Job

The role holder will form part of a team of Wellbeing & Inclusivity Advisors who contribute to the provision of a professional advisory service for staff and students, internal or external referral delivery and development of a range of services including individual and group work, and curation of psycho-educational or self-help resources. The role holder will assist and support the Head of Service in promoting, developing and maintaining a safe and ethical Wellbeing & Inclusivity Service within the University.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Specific Responsibilities of the Role:

• Work in line with a model of support that promotes the independence and resilience of our students to best prepare students for future study or their career goals.
• Provide high level advisory/case support to students presenting with mental health difficulties, using specialist professional expertise and experience to formulate, and implement strategies, according to a range of psychological theories and models.
• This will entail:

• Assessment for the suitability of appropriate psychological interventions and therapy.
• Provide advice on the management of the identified risks and their impact according to the assessment result.
• Provision of structured short term psychological interventions according to student need and mental health assessment outcomes.

Duties common across Grade 7 roles in the directorate:

• Service Delivery and Operational Support: Provide high-quality, student-centred support tailored to specific areas of work, maintaining a positive image of the institution when dealing with internal or external stakeholders.
• Ensure effective and efficient service delivery by managing day-to-day operations, processes, and workflows.
• Act as a point of contact for complex queries, including those that have been escalated by colleagues, offering specialist advice and guidance to students and staff.
• Manage and assess individual student cases, taking a lead in the resolution of student issues by investigating, advising and implementing solutions in line with policies and the operational requirements relating to the area of work.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Support students with their academic, personal, or professional development, addressing needs relevant to own area of work, including working closely with academics and professional services colleagues to ensure seamless delivery of services and support.
• Offer one-to-one support sessions, workshops, or drop-ins, providing tailored advice and guidance.
• Build relationships with external partners and agencies (e.g., employers, funding bodies, mental health services, or specialist tutors).

Policy and Compliance:

• Engage in a culture of continuous improvement to support projects or working groups to improve services, processes, or systems in area of expertise.
• Collect, manage, and analyse data to monitor service usage, student engagement, and performance outcomes, proactively contributing to policy or process developments.
• Contribute to the preparation of reports for senior leadership, identifying trends, risks, and areas for improvement.

Training and Awareness:

• Design and deliver resources, workshops, training sessions, or presentations for students, staff, or external stakeholders on relevant topics.
• Make a significant contribution to support new initiatives and the sharing of knowledge.

Contributing to Institutional Goals:

• Provide leadership and expertise to support other teams during periods of high demand or staff absence, ensuring continuity of service, maintaining high standards, and adapting to varying priorities across the university.
• Positively represent the institution at events, open days, or external networks, showcasing the available support and opportunities.

Other:

• Make a significant contribution to the preparation for audits, reviews, or other compliance-related activities.
• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities including attending training sessions, team meetings, or workshops to develop skills and enhance knowledge.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Policy and the Welsh Language Standards.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and relevant institutional policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

• Essential: Recognised mental health professional qualification. Registration from a professional body such as CCW, NMC, HCPC, BACP.
• Desirable: Postgraduate degree in a relevant area.

Experience/Knowledge

• Essential: Substantial experience of working in an area that supports mental health and wellbeing provision or in a setting that supports clients with their mental health.
• Substantial experience in undertaking assessments for the suitability of psychological interventions and psychotherapy along with risk assessment.
• Experience of working with a wide range of mental health conditions and of crisis management.
• Knowledge of relevant mental health and equality legislation.
• Knowledge of local and national mental health services relevant to the needs of students in higher education.
• Knowledge of the effects of study on the mental health and wellbeing of a diverse student population.

Skills/Abilities

• Essential: A high level of confidentiality and discretion to maintain appropriate boundaries with all stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communication (verbal and written) skills including the ability to communicate effectively in both Welsh and English.
• Good IT skills and the ability to learn and use new systems.
• Ability to work in a team that encompasses a range of theoretical perspectives and professional specialisms.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and external agencies in the best needs of the students.
• Ability to work under own initiative, with minimal supervision, to manage own workload effectively whilst under pressure.
• Ability to work flexibly and make sound therapeutic decisions whilst adapting to the changing needs of students and the Service.

Other

• This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check.
• The ability to speak Welsh confidently and to perform certain written tasks in Welsh is essential for this post.

General

• We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University’s policies, practices, and culture.
• We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
• All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.
• All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.

Disclosure & Barring Service

This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check. As Bangor University meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) before the appointment is confirmed.