Senior Welfare Advisor

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a new role which will have a positive impact not only on students at Manchester Metropolitan University but, we hope, across the sector.

Manchester Metropolitan has received a generous donation for an innovative 4 year project which combines student scholarships and this new part time post which together will support students who have experience of the criminal justice system.

Working within Student Services and alongside colleagues in our School of Sociology and Criminology the post holder will combine the provision of direct support to individual students with capturing the learning from the project and sharing this sector wide.

About the Team:

The successful candidate will join our Student Welfare Team which sits within the Student Services Directorate. The team is experienced in providing support to students with various concerns including, for example, discrimination, harassment, hate crime, sexual violence and homelessness.

Links with the School of Sociology and Criminology will be crucial, recognising the knowledge and expertise they bring with regard to working with young people and students engaged with the justice system, their knowledge of local and national support networks and the evaluation of provision. The postholder will be expected to work across and within both teams.

About the Role:

As a new role, it is likely to develop and evolve over time. But critical to the role will be addressing the barriers to study faced by students who have experience of the justice system, from application through to completion of their studies and the move to employment or post graduate education.

The successful candidate will promote the scholarships and the support available through external networks and among people who may have considered a university education out of reach. Once enrolled you will provide the student with a point of contact and support throughout their university career, ensuring they have access to, and benefit from, the full student experience. And on completion of their studies, you will support the transition into work or post graduate study.

A key feature of the role will be identifying and sharing 'what works' so measuring and reporting on the impact of the service will be critical, in this way shaping practice within Manchester Metropolitan University and across the whole sector.

The post holder will work across two University teams, managed within Student Services but also spending time working from the School of Sociology and Criminology.

About the Candidate:

The successful candidate is likely to have:

• Experience of working with people who have been engaged with the criminal justice system, and who may have been though the system themselves.
• A good understanding of support networks external to the University.
• Provided support and case management to people with complex needs.
• Be empathetic and sensitive to the needs of the students.
• The confidence to advocate for the students and to share the learning from the project across the sector.

For a full list of our candidate criteria please see the attached Job Description. When applying candidates must provide clear evidence of how they meet the criteria set out in the person specification. If candidates are not clear as to how they meet the criteria, they will not be shortlisted. It is recommended that each of the criteria is addressed point by point with evidence as to how it is met.

Queries regarding the role may be addressed to Lyle Millard, Head of Student Welfare and Pastoral Support or Liz Cain, Head of School of Sociology and Criminology

Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to supporting the rights, responsibilities, dignity, health and wellbeing of staff and students.

We promote applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of background, belief or identity, recognising the benefits that a diverse organisation can bring. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minority Ethnic candidates, who we recognise are underrepresented in this area.

Hybrid working is offered for this role. The nature of the role requires presence on campus at certain times of year, but at other times you will be able to complete some work remotely. We recognise the benefits and importance of an environment that supports flexible working and are open to conversations throughout the application