Job Description

Responsible to: Director of Student Opportunity Reports to: Head of Student Support

Main duties and responsibilities Strategic planning and implementation

Assist the Head of Student Support in the development of the University’s student support strategy with particular reference to disabled students, inputting knowledge and expertise to help shape plans going forwards

Ensure the provision of high quality and timely support, which meets the specific needs of students

Provide professional leadership during a period of significant change, with the aim of improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Disabled Students’ Assessment and Support Service (DSAS), in line with the University-wide approach and procedures

Ensure and enable the Disability Coordinator and Support Worker teams to work effectively with academic and professional colleagues in Schools, Faculties and Services

Maintain awareness of the wider external context in which the service operates

As a member of the DSAS senior management team ensure the University meets its duties under the Equality Act 2010 with respect to disabled students, fosters a student-centered approach, and encourages student retention and achievement University-wide activities

Ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities through effective communication and consistency in processes and use of systems. Coordinate effective team working with academic faculties and schools, other services e.g. accommodation and estates, across the student education service and with Leeds University Union with the aim of ensuring students receive a consistently high standard of support

Contribute to the ongoing development of corporate processes and systems, ensuring the interests of disabled students are considered, avoiding duplication and facilitating University-wide benefit delivery

Have a broad understanding and knowledge of all student education service functional areas in order to lead the delivery of a high quality student service for disabled students and support for academic colleagues

Represent the University’s interests and develop effective external networks, with key external agencies such as National Association of Disability Practitioners, Higher Education Academy and Equality Challenge Unit

Service activities

Take responsibility for setting and delivering service standards for the Disability Coordinators, Support Workers and reception teams

Working with the Disability Coordinators, ensure the support needs of individual disabled students are being met, and resolve any difficulties or problems which emerge. This includes taking the lead on dealing with student complaints

Working with the Support Worker Team Manager, lead on the review, development and implementation of a support worker scheme strategy, in line with the Service and University strategies, vision and values

Working with Financial Services, review and manage the University Disabled Student Fund, team budgets and the Support Worker Scheme financial processes

To act as the University expert advisor in relation to one or more areas of disability support e.g. support for postgraduate research students Line management

Direct line management responsibility for the Student Education Service staff in the Disability Coordinator and reception teams and, indirectly, through line management of the Support Worker Team Manager, the Support Worker Team

Responsible for effective recruitment, management and training of student education service staff within these teams, ensuring appropriate training and development plans are in place and that skills and capabilities can meet future requirements

To deputise for the Head of Student Support, as appropriate, and carry out other duties that are commensurate with the grade of the post, as required – including contributing to essential tasks normally carried out by absent colleagues