Student Advisor - Greenwich & Avery Hill

JOB DESCRIPTION

Our Service delivers independent advice to Greenwich students, supporting them to stay and succeed at university. This role will specifically support students on our Greenwich and Avery Hill sites but you’ll also help students studying on our Medway campus, mainly.

The Students’ Union Advice Service is a professional, independent, and free service that empowers students to navigate academic regulation, and access support. The Student Adviser has a key role in providing professional advice to students 1-1 and in a group.

Looking at trend data, the role will support the team in developing insights into the needs of students studying at Greenwich.

Guided by this information, the post holder will develop new initiatives and facilitate service outreach to reduce the likelihood of issues arising in the first place.

This role sits within the Advocacy and Policy Team who focus on making 1-1 timely interventions to support students to succeed as well as identifying broader trends in student behavior to inform our strategic approach to services and support.

Duties and Key Responsibilities

This post holder will be part of the wider Advocacy and Policy Team and will be expected to contribute to departments wider objectives and planning.

The post holder will:

Advice

• Provide academic processes and welfare advice to clients on relevant issues online, on the phone and in person.
• Take an empowering, client centred approach and, if necessary, act on behalf of the client to obtain information or advocate for them.
• Undertake peer review activities and supervision.
• To create and maintain accurate, comprehensive case records at all times; record all advice given and outcomes of any actions taken. Ensure confidentiality is adhered to.

Monitoring Trends

• Monitor trends in student casework and advice queries and report on these trends to inform Students’ Union practices and advocacy.
• Provide briefings, debriefs, reports, research and where appropriate attend forums and other meetings to ensure that advice service trends inform policy and practice improvements.

Outreach

• Support the development of new initiatives and facilitate service outreach, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups.
• Assist the team with a review of relevant reference materials and publicity for the service as requested.

Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with colleagues, to ensure we have a consistent approach to how we work with and support students.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships and links with appropriate staff in the University and with external agencies.

General Responsibilities

• Represent and be an ambassador for GSU.
• Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop, or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position.
• Maintain and improve competencies through continuous professional development.
• Abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices.
• Support and promote liberation, diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.
• Treat with confidentiality any personal, private, or sensitive information about individual organisations and or clients or staff and Project data.
• Actively seek better ways to assist GSU in its effort to become a more sustainable workplace.
• Any other duties commensurate with the accountabilities of the post.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

Experience

• Relevant working or voluntary experience working in a client or stakeholder-facing role.
• Experience in negotiation and advocacy.
• Project planning, implementation, and evaluation skills.
• Experience in working with a range of stakeholders and partnership working.
• Experience advising, supporting, or advocating for clients would be an advantage.

Skills and Abilities

• Problem-solving, and able to deal with and resolve difficult situations calmly, efficiently, and effectively.
• Knowledge of IT systems. Ability to use digital Advice casework databases such as AdvicePro would be an advantage but training will be provided.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly – 1-1, in meetings and in written form.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills with the ability to reach deadlines, within agreed budgets and to a consistently high standard.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of academic, welfare, housing, and benefits advice would be an advantage but training will be provided.
• Knowledge of Safeguarding.
• Knowledge of principles of confidentiality, GDPR and handling sensitive data.
• Knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation.

Education/Training

• No one specific qualification is required, but it would be an advantage showing evidence of professional development in an area relevant to the post. For example, training in areas of advice, ILM, project management etc.

Personal Attributes and Other Requirements

• Able to travel across our campuses, Greenwich, Medway and Avery Hill. There is a dedicated bus service staff can use to Greenwich/Avery Hill/Medway.
• Can work independently as lone working at times is a requirement of this role.
• May need to stay overnight for training and conferences. Advance notice given for flexibility.
• Works well in a team with a flexible approach to work.
• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.
• Commitment to the values and ethos of the Organisation.