£31,814 to £35,750 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £41,113 per annum)
Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.
We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.
The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.
We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.
Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
The Registry supports all aspects of the student journey, right from initial enquiry and application, all the way through to final award and student completion. We strive to provide an outstanding service to all our users and to be thought leaders in our fields of expertise, developing research informed practise. Registry teams work collaboratively with stakeholders to deliver a high-performance culture that promotes wellbeing, diversity and opportunity for all, supporting excellent student experience.
The Disability and Inclusivity Practice Adviser plays a significant role in embedding inclusive practices across the university, guided by founding principles contained within the Disabled Student Commitment. The role is dedicated to delivering and developing support services and coordinating individualised assistance for disabled students. You will collaborate with academic departments, and external partners to advance university-wide inclusion initiatives and ensure effective implementation of disability-related policies. You will lead on delivering training, developing practices, and coordinating support for disabled students while collaborating with various stakeholders, both internal and external.
Anticipated interview date: 14th March 2025
We’re looking for a passionate professional to promote inclusivity, provide tailored support plans, and deliver impactful training on disability awareness and inclusive practices. With strong communication skills, you’ll collaborate across teams, manage a caseload of students, and guide them through funding opportunities like the Disabled Students’ Allowance. You’ll be at the forefront of promoting inclusivity, delivering impactful training, and providing critical support to students with disabilities. You’ll work collaboratively with staff, contribute to policy development, and engage in events that raise awareness of disability support services. If you’re empathetic, proactive, and ready to champion accessibility in education, we want to hear from you!
Responsibilities
* Collaborate with staff to promote inclusive practices aligned with the university’s strategic aims and support frameworks including the Teaching and Learning framework and Student Support Framework.
* Develop and deliver training sessions on inclusive practices, reasonable adjustments, and disability-specific strategies for university staff and students, tailoring delivery for individual, group, and online sessions alike.
* Create and evaluate training resources to enhance accessibility and understanding among academic and professional services staff. Contribute to the development of effective approaches to engage students in the use of technology to enhance learning. This will be through the development of a range of resources, training and workshop delivery.
* Manage a caseload of students with disabilities, providing ongoing advice, support, and assessments to develop tailored support plans.
* Provide informed advice, guidance and support to students with disabilities, through day-to-day enquiries, casework, and scheduled appointments; employing appropriate empathy when dealing with students who may be experiencing levels of distress.
* Regularly review with the student and the course team that the support in place remains appropriate documenting all interactions on case recording systems.
* Advise and assist students to apply for relevant funding which they are entitled to, for example the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA); liaising with Needs Assessors as required.
* Working with the Disability Services Manager, contribute to policy development in relation to the provision of services to students with a disability, Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLDs) and/or mental health difficulty.
* Attend training and other events (e.g. meetings) to maintain the specialist skills and knowledge required for the post.
* Raise awareness of disability support services by participating in university events (e.g., inductions, Open Days) and collaborating with Student Services and academic departments to enhance community engagement.
* Participate in external activities and organisations related to student support and wellbeing, where these benefit students and staff.
Experience
* Experience in UK Higher Education (HE), with a strong focus on inclusivity and diversity.
* Background in advising on reasonable adjustments and knowledge of the Disabled Students’ Allowance.
* Experience in managing complex student casework and maintaining accurate case documentation.
* Demonstrable experience in training delivery and inclusive practice development, aligned with the social model of disability.
* Demonstrable knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for promoting inclusivity and diversity in Higher Education.
* Demonstrable experience of planning and delivering training to a broad and diverse audience.
* Demonstrable experience of anticipating needs and designing and implementing an inclusive environment in adherence to the social model of disability.
* Demonstrable experience of using initiative and creativity to resolve problems, devising varied solutions and approaching the problem from different perspectives.
* Experience of Safeguarding, “Cause for Concern” and related regulations and policies.
Skills, knowledge & abilities
* Up-to-date knowledge of equalities legislation and commitment to widening participation in Higher Education.
* Proficient in dyslexia screening tools and knowledge of assistive technology.
* Excellent record-keeping and an ongoing commitment to professional development.
* Proven ability to work on own initiative, actively seeking new and improved ways of working and evidence of excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritise a wide range of tasks whilst working to deadlines.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to write in clear and concise manner to suit a range of audiences.
* Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to approach and resolve problems in a thoughtful and practical manner.
* Good understanding of issues affecting disabled students and potential barriers to accessing and succeeding in Higher Education.
* Evidence of a commitment to training and continuing Professional Development, to ensure up-to-date knowledge of developments within the HE sector, as well as within the university.
* Knowledge of Safeguarding, Cause for Concern and associated policies.
Business Requirements
* Willingness and ability to undertake occasional evening/weekend working under business requirements.
* Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata).
* Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.
* Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers.
* Discounted onsite gym.
* Discounted access to Devonshire Spa.
* Cycle to Work scheme.
* A flexible working environment.
* A commitment to personal and professional development.
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Sarah Jones, Disability Services Manager via s.jones2@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk.
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and is therefore subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.
To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.
We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.
Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non-binary-inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.
When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender-neutral title 'Mx'. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non-binary candidates. Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.
The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.
However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.
For more information on equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Derby, please visit our website.
At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2040.
Seize the opportunity to shape the future, apply now.
How to apply
You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.
The University reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at recruitment@derby.ac.uk.
Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.
The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.
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