Wellbeing Adviser (Mental Health)

Department

The Academic Section is part of the University’s Professional Services and is headed by the Academic Registrar. The Section is responsible for managing all aspects of student and academic administration in partnership with Departments, Schools and Faculties. It plays a central role in delivering the University’s commitment to excellence in education across the institution. The Section is also the guardian of the student experience and leads, promotes, and embeds the institutional commitment to putting students at the heart of everything we do.

The Student Life Directorate is part of the Academic Section and encompasses Student Development, Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity, and Student Services; all of which support student progression, success and graduate employability.

The Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service leads the delivery of our exciting vision for student wellbeing and inclusivity. We seek to deliver a service that provides a professional and proactive service for students within a wider safe, healthy and inclusive environment, and supports our students to fulfil their potential as individuals and to enable them to be active participants in their own educational experiences and the transformational opportunities available to them at the University of Essex.

Duties of the Role

You will provide wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students, working flexibly depending on individual students’ needs.  This might include conversations about mental health, relationships, sexuality, finance, neurodiversity, accommodation, family issues, bereavement  and trauma. Wellbeing Advisers listen, support, advise, signpost to internal/external services and can liaise with appropriate staff as needed. The aim is to provide a safe, confidential, collaborative space for students to discuss whatever is on their mind.

Specific areas of responsibility include developing and delivering student centred information, advice and guidance services and providing case management interventions for students with mental and emotional health difficulties and supporting the development of an inclusive environment. You will also support and advise university wide staff supporting students.

The Wellbeing Advisers meet regularly for peer support, case-based discussions and professional development sessions. Individual meetings/professional supervision with the line manager are also offered, as are reflective practice sessions with our Counselling Manager.

Please note this is a non-clinical post where you will be providing general support and advice and signposting students to appropriate specialist and clinical support as appropriate.

Skills and qualifications required

We are looking for solution focussed individuals with experience of working with individuals with mental health difficulties. You will need to be educated to a minimum of A level and preferably hold a professional qualification relevant to the post.  You will also need to have experience of managing risk and be able to work collaboratively with stakeholders to signpost students to appropriate professional support. Resilience and advanced communication are necessary requisites for this post.

Due to the nature of the role, it is essential you can fulfil the staff vetting requirements in respect of University Positions of Trust.

Please use the 'Apply' button to read further information about this role including the full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role. You will also find details of how to make your application here.

Our website http://www.essex.ac.uk contains more information about the University of Essex. If you have a disability and would like information in a different format, please email resourcing@essex.ac.uk.

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