Mental Health Co-ordinator in London

About us

UCL is a world-leading university, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where every student can thrive and succeed. Student Support and Wellbeing Services provides information, advice and welfare support to UCL's diverse student community, helping students access the support they need throughout their time at UCL.

Within Student Support and Wellbeing Services, the Disability, Mental Health & Neurodiversity Support Services team provides specialist advice and support to enable students who identify as disabled to thrive and succeed at UCL. Our work is student-centred, collaborative and focused on removing barriers to study and ensuring students can access appropriate support and reasonable adjustments.

About the role

As Mental Health Co-ordinator, you will play a key role in providing non-therapeutic support to UCL students experiencing mental health difficulties and wellbeing needs. You will provide advice, guidance and practical support to help students engage successfully with their studies and make the most of university life.

You will work directly with students through face-to-face meetings, email, correspondence and telephone support, taking time to understand their individual circumstances and identify appropriate support and reasonable adjustments. You will also advise prospective and current disabled students, particularly those with mental health difficulties, and work closely with academic and Professional Services colleagues to ensure agreed support is communicated sensitively and confidentially.

The role will involve identifying students who may benefit from mentoring and making appropriate referrals, as well as working with external organisations and students' personal support networks where students present with risk or potential risk. Where students have more complex needs or require crisis intervention, you will use your professional judgement to make appropriate referrals.

You will also contribute to wellbeing and mental health awareness activities across UCL, support communications and publications, and help ensure the service continues to respond effectively to emerging issues and developments in student mental health and wellbeing.

This is a varied role that requires excellent judgement, organisation and communication skills, alongside the ability to remain calm and compassionate when supporting students in challenging circumstances. You will manage a demanding workload while working collaboratively with colleagues across UCL and external organisations.

Please note, this role is offered on a full-time basis with currently a minimum of 40% onsite working per week across our Bloomsbury & UCL East campuses (subject to change, we expect between 20-80% onsite). An enhanced DBS will be required for this role.

About you

We are looking for an experienced student support or mental health professional with a relevant professional qualification and experience of working with people experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties and disabilities.

You will have experience of providing mentoring, advice or support to individuals with mental health difficulties, ideally within a student-centred environment. You will be confident identifying appropriate support and adjustments, managing sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality, and using sound judgement when responding to complex or challenging situations.

You will bring excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to listen with empathy, provide clear advice and build effective relationships with students, colleagues and external partners. You will be comfortable working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and able to demonstrate tact, diplomacy and a genuinely customer-focused approach.

Highly organised and able to manage competing priorities, you will have experience of managing a large and demanding workload while maintaining accurate records and meeting deadlines. You will be able to work independently while also contributing positively to a close-knit team where responsibilities and tasks are shared.

We are particularly interested in candidates who understand the higher education environment and the range of support available to disabled students. Knowledge of relevant disability legislation, experience of delivering services to disabled people, and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion would also be valuable.

What we offer

• 41 days' holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, 6 closure days)
• Option to purchase 5 additional days' annual leave
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan, and immigration loan
• Relocation support for eligible posts
• On-site nursery and gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
• Staff Support Service (employee assistance programme)
• Discounted medical insurance

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates underrepresented in UCL's workforce, including those from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, and – for Grade 9 and 10 roles – women.

Applicants should also familiarise themselves with UCL's policies on: Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Personal Relationships Policy.