POST:Student Services Officer Support for Learning

EDINBURGH COLLEGE

JOB DESCRIPTION

RESPONSIBLE TO:Student Support Manager

PURPOSE OF POST:To provide and administer support services for students across the Student Services Section

MAJOR TASKS/JOB ACTIVITIES

Maintaining, Developing and Supporting Operations

The Student Services Team offer advice, support and guidance to potential and enrolled students on a wide range of issues. Student Services Officers are expected to develop a basic general knowledge of the work of the whole team and will have lead responsibility in a number of identified areas as appropriate to their skills and experience.

As an SSO (Support for learning), you will take a lead role in one or more of the areas listed below and maybe, on occasion, required to support the work of the SSOs (Guidance) and the wider Student Services Team. Post holders are expected to carry out activities within their ability/experience and within the overall remit and spirit of the post. The duties outlined require individuals to be able to demonstrate skills in Supervising and Developing People; the Provision, Analysis and Understanding of Information; Communication; Internal and external Liaison and the ability to Problem Solve & make Decisions autonomously with minimum supervision.

The full list of activities covered by the Student Services Team is listed in Section Two.

Area of lead responsibility

The postholder will be required to work across college in collaboration with teaching departments, other support sections and with colleagues at a range of different levels.

Main tasks are as follows:

Support for Learning

To make initial assessment of additional support needs at the pre-entry stage.
To implement a range of diagnostic instruments to assess learner support needs.
To liaise with external agencies to identify and meet student support needs, including liaising with staff in other educational settings in Future Needs Assessment of school pupils
To assist in developing personal learning support plans for individual students.
To liaise with staff in College departments to co-ordinate support for learning.
To assist students in the application to the Scottish Qualifications Authority for Assessment Arrangements
To co-ordinate and maintain accurate records of support provided.
To provide support for learning as required to students with specific learning difficulties.
To support students as required in completing a Core Skills Diagnostic Test to determine correct level of entry and study.
To develop and provide training to students in Study Skills methods
To carry out Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) Assessments
To ensure compliance with external organisations (including SQA) rules and regulations as far as possible
To take a proactive role in contributing to the achievement of and evidence collection for Extended Learner Support targets

Use of Enabling Technology

To contribute to ongoing development of diagnostic and assessment services for students with extended learning support needs e.g. process evolving from the BRITE initiative.
To identify technological requirements within the college for students
To manage the organisation and implementation of equipment
To provide guidance and training to students in the use of enabling technology
To liaise with other College staff to ensure student access to technological support, including recommendations for purchasing new technology

Guidance

To provide pre-entry guidance to students, including students who may have additional support needs, assisting them in making informed application choices
To contribute to induction guidance of students.
To provide ongoing guidance to students through provision of support in drop ins.
To co-ordinate provision of pre-exit guidance for students by liaising with other staff and external agencies.

Personal Matters: Advice and Referral

To provide a personal matters advice and referral service for students and promote this to both college staff and students
To network with external organisations; creating a list of useful contacts that students can be referred onto
To provide a safe environment where students can come to within the college setting to discuss their issues and seek guidance in making contact with the appropriate sources of support
To make referrals onto appropriate sources of support
To liaise with the Spiritual Care Team who provide additional support for students

College wide Staff Training and Development

To contribute to the College staff development programme where appropriate by providing training to teaching staff in enabling technology and its applications.
To provide training to lecturing staff on specific learning difficulties e.g. Dyslexia
To provide induction training to new members of college staff

General

The above outline of major tasks, activities and areas of responsibility is not exhaustive.

Other Duties can include:

Providing cover for information, advice and guidance services
Researching methods of best practice to enhance service delivery
Providing assessment support (one to one or invigilation) for students with additional support needs
Contributing to the student induction programme
Carrying out projects, events and initiatives promoting various aspects of Learner Support, Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing, Financial Capability, Employability etc as the opportunity arises
Contributing to the achievement of the teams Service Level Agreement
Keeping a statistical record of service provision and reporting this information to the Operations Team Leader on a monthly basis
Dealing with (sometimes difficult situations) in a calm and professional manner

The work of the SSO (Support for Learning) contributes greatly to meeting both departmental and college wide aims and objectives including accessibility, diversity and equality, student retention and achievement, financial targets for Extended Learner Support (ELS), International Student Recruitment etc. The duties attached to the post will be subject to adjustment to support the changing demands of the service, the Student Services Team and Edinburgh College.

The wider Student Services Team Activities

Student Accommodation
Student funding advice and information
Child care funding and the allocation of nursery places
Student employment service
International Student Support
Recruiting, training and supporting volunteers
Child protection
Secondary schools and transition
Community development

Working Hours

Student Services section will operate as follows:

Monday – Friday 0830 - 1635

The post holder will be expected to operate within appropriate professional standards in relation to their area of skill and responsibility.