Post/Job Welfare Co-ordinator

Postholder:

Location: Any BU Accommodation

School/Service: Student Services

Group/Section: Residential Services

Payment A monthly allowance of £250

Duration 5th September 2016 – 31st August 2017

Responsible to: Welfare and Communities Officer

Job Purpose

This role focuses on the informal support of student welfare in a designated BU accommodation site. Post holders will be expected to be able to provide all of the duties outlined below for the duration as noted above. The exact working hours for this role will be agreed with the line manager but will include weekends, evenings and bank holidays.

Main Responsibilities

1.  Attend the Welfare Advisor training days in early September

2.  Welcome students on arrival at their accommodation and help them to settle as quickly as possible.

3.  Attend and participate in the Induction/Arrival events

4.  Carry out introduction/welcome meetings at allocated accommodation blocks/houses, giving students an opportunity to meet them and understand the role of the Welfare Co-ordinator.

5.  Ongoing and proactively market and explain the role to all students living in the accommodation where they reside using relevant forms or communication, including the use of noticeboards, emails and social media.

6.  Make themselves available for students who require assistance with a welfare related concerns and where relevant refer students to the appropriate internal and external welfare support services ensuring records are kept and updated and that the Welfare and Communities Officer/ Residential Services Operations Manager is informed of action taken.

7.  To attend and participate in the monthly Operations Meeting for the accommodation where they reside keeping the Welfare and Communities Officer and local site team updated on all welfare related issues.

8.  To attend and participate in the quarterly Welfare Co-ordinator team meetings.

9.  Be fully knowledgeable of fire evacuation procedures for the accommodation where they reside and advises students of their responsibilities with regards fire safety and assist with periodical fire drills as necessary.

10.  Provide holiday and sickness cover for other Welfare Co-ordinators as and when necessary.

11.  Support Bournemouth University in reducing its carbon footprint by planning and promoting environmental campaigns and events.

12.  Undertake any other responsibilities as may be required from time to time as directed by the Welfare and Communities Officer/Residential Services Operations Manager

Contacts

Internal: Residential Services Operations Manager and his Deputies, Welfare and Communities Officer, Halls Operations Officer, Housing Officers, Residential Services staff, SUBU, ASKBU, GROW@BU, and other Student Services staff,

External: PBU Partner Providers, Parents, Private Landlords, Neighbours, Neighbourhood Policing team, SUBU elected staff, SUBU, Health & Welfare Agencies

Organisation Chart

Challenges

·  Balancing the main responsibilities of this role with any other ‘primary’ employment priorities

·  Challenging and, where relevant and agreed with interested parties, finding approaches and new initiatives to respond to negative patterns of student behaviour, e.g. use of drugs and alcohol

·  Considering the specific and varied needs and requirements of non-UK based students

·  Forming positive and open relationships with a wide variety of different stakeholders and agencies to promote and demonstrate genuine partnership working approaches

·  Considering and understanding the wider aims of the BU student welfare and well-being agenda

Person Specification
Post / Job Title: Welfare Co-ordinator Post No:
School / Support Service: Student Services Date:
SELECTION CRITERIA / Essential / Desirable
Knowledge (including experience & qualifications)
An understanding of the personal and welfare issues relating to students (eg drugs and alcohol use, mental health, healthy/unhealthy lifestyles) and of other current issues facing students in Higher Education / E
Demonstrable experience of a role supporting personal learning and development of others / E
Understanding of the issues of client confidentiality and data protection issues / D
Skills
Coaching and/or mentoring / D
Good communicator, orally and in writing with the ability to communicate in a simple and accessible way / E
Use of current social networking methods as an effective communication tool / E
Highly developed interpersonal skills with an ability to successfully influence a diverse range of stakeholders / E
Strong collaborative and team working skills / E
Attributes
Ability to remain calm in a crisis / E
Energetic, enthusiastic, resilient and highly motivated / E
Ability to work flexibly under pressure / E
Ability to motivate engaged and disengaged students / E
Able to take direction and follow instructions and processes / E
Tact, diplomacy and sensitivity / E

Additional Information

·  The Welfare Co-ordinator is required to live in a designated flat/house for the effective performance of the role. If the Welfare Co-ordinator can no longer provide the duties described in this document then they will be required to move out of the designated accommodation.