Student Welfare Officer (30hrs contract)

This role will be offered on a 1 year FTC basis. Please note this is a part time 30hrs per week position with the following shift patterns: 30h - Evenings and weekends (4-9pm weekdays & 10.00am - 3.00pm Saturdays).

At GBS (Global Banking School), we invest in our people and our students are at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to change lives through education, and we take an inclusive approach to recruiting students, with an aim to widening access to higher education among groups currently under-represented in the sector.

The purpose of this role is to provide guidance and support to GBS students in their learning, wellbeing and engagement throughout their studies. Your key task will be to address student welfare by pastoral support and by guiding students to services appropriate to their needs. GBS Welfare Officers can expect to be among the first members of staff to be approached by students needing assistance with a variety of issues.

Welfare officers must know all services and academic programmes offered by GBS, as well as appropriate external agencies and be ready to refer students to appropriate services. The Student Welfare Officer reports into the Student Welfare Manager.

• To manage student referrals, alongside the Student Welfare Manager, acting as a link between the Welfare Office, the relevant academic team and relevant internal and external services.
• To provide pastoral support to students who may be experiencing social or emotional issues.
• To ensure students with personal learning plans receive the learning accommodations outlined in the plan and that these are addressed in the classroom.
• To maximise the attendance of students by working alongside the student engagement managers to support students effectively throughout their studies.
• To be an effective academic advocate for students working alongside the academic team.
• To provide immediate assistance to students on a drop in and appointment basis.
• To provide student information around welfare issues for distribution to staff and students.
• To provide training to staff and students in relation to health and wellbeing.
• To maintain accurate student welfare records and information and ensure confidential records are held and shared in line with GDPR requirements.
• To provide activity reports to the Welfare Manager.
• To work with the wider student support services such as student engagement managers, enterprise and employability officers, and the learning support team to provide 360 support for GBS students.
• To assist with the organisation of health and wellbeing social activities and events for students.
• To use initiative when dealing with problems and issues arising and take responsibility for follow up actions.
• To contribute to the development of a collaborative working environment in order to maintain and enhance the quality of GBS working conditions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in the relevant area, preferably health related.
• At least 2 years relevant experience.
• High level of computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Attention to detail is a must as well as strong organizational skills.
• Have knowledge of the DDA and SENDA and to know how to implement their guidelines.
• Knowledge of the JCQ and the range of reasonable adjustments that may apply to students with learning differences and individual needs.
• Experience of working with a range of physical disabilities.
• Know how to recognise students with specific learning difficulties encountered in mainstream schools such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, attention deficit and Asperger's syndrome.
• Know how to identify learning difficulties in a range of situations and use a range of techniques.
• Experience of selecting and using appropriate assessment materials, score results, convert raw scores to derived scores, analyse results, draw conclusions and make recommendations.
• The ability to discuss student’s needs in a sensitive manner and together plan a programme of Additional Support to facilitate outcomes of personal targets and tutor targets.
• Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Experience of working in a very diverse workplace with a very diverse client base.

Standard benefits of employment at GBS include:

• 25 days annual leave, plus 8 public holidays.
• 1-day extra leave per year of service, up to a maximum of 5 days.
• Workplace pension scheme with NEST.
• Tuition reimbursement for career development courses.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Access to GBS “Life” - discounts platform, wellbeing centre and much more.
• Reward and recognition programme.
• £500 award employee referral scheme.
• Discretionary annual performance bonus.
• Specsavers eye care vouchers.
• Access to a TOTUM discount card and eligibility for a Costco membership.