Job Description
Company: Victoria College of Arts and Design
Job Title: Health and Wellbeing Officer
Location: ONSITE, Manchester Campus (M1 1LQ), UK
Salary: £24,000-£27,000 per annum
Employment Type: Full Time: 9am – 5pm, Monday-Friday(Occasional weekend and evening work required)
Department: Student Services
Reporting to: Head of Student Experience and Outcome
About us:
Victoria College of Arts and Design (VCAD) provides higher education teaching and learning in the arts, design, creative industries and business fields. Our goal is to guide and support our students on their journey to becoming successful individuals and citizens. We strive to offer the best services and resources available to ensure that our students are well-prepared for graduate-level employment within the creative industries or any other aspect of the world of work. From enrolment to graduation, we are dedicated to nurturing our students' growth, fostering their creative and critical skills and equipping them with the confidence and abilities needed to excel in a professional environment. Whether through the dedication of our lecturers and support staff, our outstanding facilities, or our network of industry connections, Victoria College of Arts and Design is committed to helping and mentoring our students so that they achieve their personal goals and build themselves sustainable and fulfilling careers.
Position Overview:
VCAD is looking for a proactive and dedicated Health and Wellbeing Officer to join our team. The Health and Wellbeing Officer will play a key part in providing high quality support to our students throughout their academic journey.
This role is integral to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where students feel connected, empowered and equipped to succeed at VCAD.
Responsibilities:
* Conduct individual meetings with the students to discuss health, disability, learning difficulties and provide support and reasonable adjustments.
* Collaborate with internal and external professionals to develop and implement comprehensive support plans for students.
* Refer/Signpost students to appropriate external agencies as needed or requested.
* Maintain detailed case notes of all interactions with students, including dates, issues and outcomes.
* Develop and implement initiatives to support student disclosure, mental health and overall wellbeing.
* Work closely with academics and professional services teams to promote student engagement and involvement in campus life.
* Deliver workshops, webinars and awareness-raising events to educate and support the student community.
* Collaborate and communicate with other teams to establish, maintain and develop productive relationships with colleagues across the University, ensuring effective service delivery and issue resolution.
* Plan and organise own workload efficiently to meet service demands.
* Contribute to long-term planning and development to enhance student health and wellbeing services.
* Ensure compliance with service boundaries, including confidentiality and General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
* Provide regular reports to the Health and Wellbeing Manager.
* Support other duties as directed by the Health and Wellbeing Manager or Head of Student Experience and Outcome.
Essential Requirements:
(where required, training and professional development will be provided to the successful applicant by VCAD, to facilitate their ability to deliver the responsibilities of this role to an excellent standard)
* Bachelor’s degree in psychology or equivalent qualification in related subjects.
* Sensitivity and empathy with students, colleagues and staff.
* Able to deal with confidential matters, highly sensitive data and act with discretion.
* Experience in risk assessments and crisis management.
* Excellent customer service and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships.
* Excellent interpersonal skills, including active listening and effective written and verbal communication.
* Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to work in a face paced environment to manage competing demands while meeting deadlines.
* Flexible, approachable and an excellent team player.
* High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
* Commitment to upholding the values and policies of VCAD and partner universities.
Desirable Requirements:
* Strong commitment to service delivery with experience in student or academic administration within higher education.
Benefits:
* Annual leave (5.6 weeks) + bank holidays.
* Workplace pension scheme.
* Company Sick Policy (from January 2025).
* Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) (until December 2024).
* Statutory maternity/paternity pays.
* Career development opportunities
* Training and self-development opportunities.
* Gym membership discounts
* Retail discount schemes
* Cinema discounts
* Grocery discounts
* Cycle to work
* Investing and savings opportunities
* Financial wellbeing – personal debt advise.
* Financial wellbeing education
* My Mind Pal (mental fitness)
If you are passionate about supporting students in their academic journey and have the skills and experience required for this role, we encourage you to apply.
Join our team at Victoria College of Arts and Design and help make a positive impact on the lives of our students.