Welfare Officer

Surrey International Study Centre, Guildford

Based on the university campus in Guildford, Surrey International Study Centre offers foundation courses that prepare international students for entry onto the first year of their chosen degree course at the University of Surrey.  

The centre is seeking to appoint a permanent and full time Welfare Officer to oversee the safeguarding and pastoral care of students for the duration of their stay at the ISC.  

The role will be responsible for ensuring the welfare, well-being, safety and continuing security of students is protected and enhanced at all times.   

Responsibilities: 
Safeguarding:

• To be the main point of contact and liaison with guardians for under 18s
• To provide pastoral support to under 18 students including meeting with them on a regular basis to discuss their progress academically, personally  and practically 
• Coordinate and document Centre staff training in Mental Health First Aid, Safeguarding, and Prevent
• Ensure safeguarding issues are flagged in line with centre policy

Student Welfare:

• Ensure a structured tutorial framework is in place which addresses student welfare needs and ensure accurate records of centre tutorials are retained.  
• Review attendance and act in line with centre policy
• Meet with students to counsel on attendance and issue informal and first formal warnings in discussion with Head of Centre.
• Escalate first formal warnings to Head of Centre.
• Monitor and provide pastoral and academic welfare support ensuring students are effectively signposted to the appropriate university services to meet their welfare needs (e.g. medical centre, accommodation, counselling services, academic co-ordinator).
• To counsel students with welfare and health issues and maintaining notes in a timely manner in Study Global, keeping Centre staff informed as necessary.
• Ensure welfare concerns are highlighted to the Head of Centre as necessary 
• To hold proactive discussions and meetings with the Head of Centre and deputy safeguarding lead in relation to student welfare issues
• To work with personal tutors to ensure that welfare needs are identified and supported
• To attend Centre Board Meetings and act on outcomes as necessary
• Be an active member of the Student Forum when required 

Student Experience

• Arrange and communicate induction plans in advance of students arriving in Centre
• Manage the student induction process when students arrive 
• Help students settle by taking part in induction week activities and provide information to late arriving students
• Play an active role in supporting students in developing the student experience at the Campus (e.g. Societies, trips and engagement with local events)
• Facilitate student involvement in Staff Student Liaison Committee and Student Council and any other network committees
• Support students in transition activities and immersion events with Surrey University

Other Duties

• To provide general admin support for the Centre as required and cover duties for other members of staff when absent and during peak periods 
• Cover the role of Student Support Co-Ordinator in their absence
• To foster productive relationships with the student body and members of staff
• To deal, on occasions, with out-of-office hours queries regarding student arrivals
• To assist the Administration Manager as required
• Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of students in centre 

Qualifications/Training:    

• Level 3 or equivalent work experience (desirable)
• Safeguarding Training to Level 3 (desirable)

Experience:

Essential

• Providing welfare support and pastoral care to students
• Working under pressure and to deadlines
• Working with students or young people

Desirable

• Counselling experience and training
• Working within an educational environment with international students
• Experience of organising medium to large scale events and activities 

Skills

• Ability to empathise and build rapport with the customer base (international students)
• Excellent communication skills with good standard of written English
• Ability to plan, prioritise and organise work effectively
• Experience of working with a student management system (Progresso, for example)
• Intermediate Microsoft Office skills, in particular Word and Excel 
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Results driven and able to work to deadlines

In addition, it is essential to have one or more of the following areas of expertise:

• Student Welfare issues
• Student Experience (assisting and supporting groups of people in engaging in activities and events)
• Student Ambassador
• Working with vulnerable groups

Personal Attributes

• Demonstrates the ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people.
• Demonstrates emotional resilience in working with challenging behaviours.
• Demonstrates a positive attitude to the use of authority and maintaining discipline.
• Enthusiastic, Committed and Curious
• Proactive
• Flexible

Organisational Compliance:

Study Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students, and expects all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment.

Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the role, including checks with past employers, an Enhanced Check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and overseas criminal records if appropriate

Please note, external applicants will require an enhanced DBS check. 

To apply, please send an updated CV and covering email.