Mental Health Mentor (6212)

Salary: £39,905.97 - £46,048.78 per annum (pro rata). Contract type: Permanent. Part-time hours available.

About the role

You’ll meet students regularly, usually in-person, and provide them with support to help them reach their potential regardless of their difficulties. This flexible role will mostly be carried out on-campus, between the hours of 9am and 5pm, during university term-time, which spans up to 30 weeks across the year between mid-September and the end of May. It may, however, require you to provide support for a smaller caseload of post-graduate students and resitting undergraduates during summer break.

The role is mostly funded by Student Finance, and supports students in accessing their higher education studies by:

• Supporting students in understanding what is required of them academically in higher education.
• Identifying barriers to the student’s learning.
• Helping students to develop effective organisation and time management skills and strategies to manage their workload and deadlines in the presence of their mental health condition.
• Helping students with prioritisation and realistic goal setting, including producing plans of work and targets.
• Developing a support programme to facilitate the growth of the student’s independence, reducing the need for support in the longer term.

Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Responsibilities

• Be alert to and follow up on concerns relating to the students you support, such as:
  • Signs of disengagement or growing vulnerability (e.g., lack of attendance, late submission or non-submission of work, disciplinary issues).
  • Indicators of significant risk (e.g., suicidal ideation, self-harm, or other safeguarding concerns requiring escalation).
• Make appropriate referrals to Aberystwyth University’s student support services, especially where you have urgent concerns about a student’s wellbeing. These services include the Mental Health and Wellbeing team, the Accessibility and Inclusion team, the Student Support and Community Life team, and the Careers Service, as well as external agencies.
• Manage a minimum caseload of 8 students. Work hours will vary according to individual student support plans and timetable scheduling. On average, an eligible student may be allocated between 1-2 hours of mentoring per week during term time.
• Undertake other duties as assigned by your line manager, commensurate with the role's grade.
• Engage in university-level projects and initiatives as directed.
• Demonstrate flexibility by supporting colleagues during periods of high demand, including attendance at key university events such as open days and graduation ceremonies, which may include weekend work.
• Promote equality of opportunity and support the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work.
• Engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities.
• Fulfil health and safety responsibilities appropriate to the role, while actively promoting the personal health, safety, and wellbeing of staff and students.
• Support the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability through responsible practices and engagement.

Requirements

You’ll be a registered mental health professional and draw on your understanding of different mental health conditions and the impact they may have on students accessing their studies. This can include, for example, personality disorders, eating disorders, phobias, depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, psychosis (including schizophrenia), addiction, obsessive compulsive disorder, and identity issues. You should also have an understanding and awareness of students with more complex presentations of multiple disabilities such as specific learning difficulties, long-term health conditions, or autism alongside a mental health condition.

• Ability to work in a student-centred, empathetic, and collaborative approach, recognise the limits of the mentoring role, and refer appropriately, avoiding the provision of therapeutic or clinical interventions beyond the scope of the position.
• Membership of an organization from a specified list in the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Nursing and Medicine, or Social Work.
• Ability to take responsibility for your own Continuing Professional Development and flexibility to attend training sessions outside of routine working days, including 2 start-of-semester days per year.
• Proven ability to use Microsoft Excel and digital systems for record-keeping, scheduling, and reporting.
• Ability to organise and manage a caseload of 8 students minimum using Outlook Calendar, and to work flexibly, prioritising term-time availability for seeing students, but also attending required meetings and training sessions and providing limited sessions outside term-time.
• Understanding of and cooperation with data protection and confidentiality procedures.
• Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A1*, or evidence to demonstrate an on-going commitment to learn Welsh to this level.

Qualifications

Desirable

• Proven track record of providing empathetic and skilled support to students from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of challenges.
• Understanding of the impact of neurodivergence, learning differences, and disabilities on student wellbeing.
• Familiarity with UK disability and equalities legislation.
• Familiarity with local NHS mental health services (e.g., Crisis Team, Early Intervention Team).
• Knowledge of the University’s structures and procedures.
• Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B2*.

Benefits

• Flexible working policy.
• Hybrid working for full-time roles (36.5-hour week).
• Generous leave entitlements: 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days.
• Commitment to professional development.
• Enhanced contribution to workplace pension schemes.
• Staff recognition and reward schemes.
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free.
• Staff relocation bursary.
• Maternity, paternity, parental, and adoption leave.
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.

This role does not meet the criteria for sponsorship under the UK Government’s Skilled Worker Route.