Specialist Mental Health Mentor Contract: Flexible hours, term time Please click here to view the Full Job Description, Essential Criteria and Terms and Conditions for this role. Overall purpose of role To provide a complementary service to existing support within the educational institution, addressing the needs of students with mental health difficulties who need help to overcome barriers in order to achieve their full potential. The purpose of the Specialist Mentor (SM:MH) role is to support students in accessing their higher education (HE) 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. The SM:MH must not offer any subject-specific support or tutoring, or any counselling or therapeutic support relating to the student’s mental health condition. These are outside the remit of the SM:MH role. Main Duties and responsibilities ▪ To support allocated students on a 1:1 basis with the practical impact of their mental health difficulties on their academic experience ▪ To work closely and communicate effectively with the University’s Mental Health Inclusion Team to support liaison with academic staff and university services ▪ To deliver focused interventions to build confidence and motivate your students to attend their timetabled sessions and undertake the independent study required to complete their course ▪ To have knowledge and appreciation of the range of activities, courses, opportunities, organisations and individuals that could be drawn upon to provide additional support for students and encourage independence ▪ To work closely with the line manager to be responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of the impact support has on student attendance, retention, achievement and progression ▪ Keep accurate records of work done with students ▪ Make effective use of supervision to ensure good practice in providing safe and effective support. Supervision is offered every 6 weeks (term time only) ▪ To be able to adapt approach according to the changing needs of the individual learner you are supporting whilst working within the Learning Support Centre’s Quality Assurance Framework ▪ A flexible approach to working hours is required. Occasional travel may also be required ▪ Complete an Individual Learning Plan (Work Plan) for each learner ▪ Attend any relevant training or meetings and have the ability to develop existing skills ▪ Advise other members of the team as required to support student progress and team development ▪ Always be punctual ▪ Manage paperwork effectively, i.e. completing time sheets and Work Plans accurately and promptly ▪ If you cannot make a session you must advise The Learning support Centre as soon possible, so that cover can be arranged ▪ Confidentiality should be respected to agreed disclosure levels ▪ Ensure that clients are happy with the support being provided, any problems must be referred to your manager immediately ▪ Inform The Learning Support Centre of any problems you are having that are either work related or effect your work, we can then help you come to a satisfactory conclusion or adapt your work to support your situation ▪ You will be expected to represent The Learning Support Centre in a professional and service orientated manner. This includes adhering to our stringent policies including those on confidentiality and safeguarding ▪ Actively managing personal development in agreement with the Manager ▪ To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required by The Learning Support Centre Ltd Professional Development ▪ The Learning Support Centre are committed to the regular monitoring and review of individual performance and to maintaining open and participative communications within the team. Professional development and access to appropriate training is part of this and there will be regular review sessions with the Manager or his/her representative ▪ This role description may be subject to review in light of the developing organisation and in consultation with the post holder Terms and conditions ▪ Eligibility to work in the United Kingdom – The offer of employment will be subject to you providing a copy of a document confirming your eligibility to work in this country. The original document must be seen on receipt of the copy for our records (i.e. your UK passport/ right to work online share code). This is to comply with Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 ▪ Leave - You will be contracted to The Learning Support Centre during term time only, your annual holiday entitlement is 18 days per annum during the holiday year which runs from 1st October to 30th September. Your holiday days will coincide with periods of college/school/university closures and public holidays ▪ Payment details - You will be paid on the last week day of each month. Your tax and national insurance contributions will be deducted before you are paid, this will be detailed on your pay slip. Your starting rate will be £22 per hour. Your rate will be reviewed annually ▪ Medical examination – This appointment may be subject to a satisfactory medical report, which may include a medical examination Terms and conditions ▪ Eligibility to work in the United Kingdom – The offer of employment will be subject to you providing a copy of a document confirming your eligibility to work in this country. The original document must be seen on receipt of the copy for our records (i.e. your UK passport/ right to work online share code). This is to comply with Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 ▪ Leave - You will be contracted to The Learning Support Centre during term time only, your annual holiday entitlement is 18 days per annum during the holiday year which runs from 1st October to 30th September. Your holiday days will coincide with periods of college/school/university closures and public holidays ▪ Payment details - You will be paid on the last week day of each month. Your tax and national insurance contributions will be deducted before you are paid, this will be detailed on your pay slip. Your starting rate will be £22 per hour. Your rate will be reviewed annually ▪ Medical examination – This appointment may be subject to a satisfactory medical report, which may include a medical examination ▪ References – The appointment may be subject to the receipt of references, which are satisfactory to The Learning Support Centre ▪ Pension – All eligible employees will be automatically enrolled into the company contributory pension scheme. Employees will have the option of opting out once they have been enrolled ▪ Probation – This appointment will be subject to a probationary period of 6 months ▪ Hours – The Learning Support Centre will seek to provide you with as many hours as are available • Disclosure Barring Scheme (DBS) – Employees are required to complete a DBS check and register with the DBS update service; employment is subject to DBS clearance. You will be expected to pay approximately £50 for a DBS check to be issued and an annual fee to remain on the update service, the hiring lead can advise you on the exact costs on request. Your name and DBS number will be supplied to institutions we work with. The DBS check is transferable and registering with the update service allows the DBS status to be checked and not expire. ▪ Payment for training – Payment will not be paid for attending training Skills Knowledge & Experience Requirements Experience in studying or working in a Higher Education setting to ensure understanding and relation to a diverse range of learners and staff within the institution Essential Sound knowledge of how mental health conditions impact on academic performance Essential Committed to working within the social model of mental health support and experience of psycho-social interventions Essential Professional experience of supporting people with mental health conditions Essential Ability to identify risk and make the appropriate referral with support of the Support Coordinator Essential Sound knowledge of the equality model and good practice Essential An awareness of possible stigma and discrimination around people with mental health conditions Essential Excellent communication skills Essential Ability to recognise your own limitations, to establish and maintain boundaries within a professional role and confidence to refer to other services where appropriate Essential Professional experience of supporting individuals with mental health conditions in an educational setting Desirable Confidence in working independently with learners Essential Application of quality standards to all tasks undertaken and ensures that nothing is overlooked Essential A logical approach to problem solving and close attention to detail Essential