Freelance Mobility Trainer – One-Off 15-Hour Contract
Location: University of Chester – in person - Gateway House, Chester, CH1 2HT
Contract: Freelance / Self-employed
Hours: 15 hours total
Fee: £450 for completion of the 15-hour contract
Completion date: All support must be completed before 28 September 2026
Be on the DBS Update Service
Hours: Flexible – arranged directly with the student
About the Opportunity
Act Student Support is looking for an experienced Mobility Trainer to provide a one-off programme of mobility and orientation support to a university student studying at the University of Chester.
This is a 15-hour freelance contract, paid at £450 in total.
There are no fixed working hours. The successful practitioner will liaise with the student to arrange the 15 hours at mutually convenient times, provided that the support is completed before 28 September 2026.
Due to the timescale of this appointment, we are looking for somebody who is already appropriately qualified, experienced and able to undertake Mobility Trainer work independently. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide role-specific training before this particular contract begins.
Although this is initially a one-off contract, we would be very happy to keep the successful practitioner on our freelance practitioner register for future Mobility Trainer opportunities across the UK where there is a good fit.
The Role
The Mobility Trainer will work individually with the student to support safe, confident and increasingly independent orientation and travel to, from and around their university environment.
The role will involve assessing the student's individual mobility and orientation requirements and developing a time-limited programme of training based on their needs.
Support may include:
Assessing the university campus and surrounding environment
Identifying and teaching safe and appropriate routes
Supporting orientation to and from key university locations
Developing the student's confidence and independence when navigating their environment
Adapting mobility training according to the student's individual needs, goals and progress
Identifying potential accessibility or environmental barriers
Liaising appropriately with the student, Act Student Support and the university where required
Maintaining appropriate records of the support delivered
Working within professional boundaries, confidentiality and safeguarding requirements
The aim of the role is always to promote independence, enabling the student to navigate their university environment as safely and confidently as possible.
Essential Requirements
Applicants must:
Have previous professional experience delivering mobility and orientation training
Meet the current DSA Non-Medical Help mandatory qualification or professional membership requirements for Mobility Trainers
Be able to provide evidence of the relevant qualification and/or professional membership
Have an Enhanced DBS certificate registered with the DBS Update Service
Be able to provide the support in person in Chester
Be available to complete the full 15 hours before 28 September 2026
Be able to work independently and professionally with a university student
Have appropriate professional insurance for freelance practice
Accepted Qualifications
Applicants should hold an applicable qualification such as:
BSc/BSc (Hons) Degree in Rehabilitation Work
PG Dip in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight
Certification in Habilitation Studies
Foundation Degree in Rehabilitation Work
Diploma in Higher Education in Rehabilitation Studies
BTEC Professional Diploma in Rehabilitation Studies
Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care in Rehabilitation Studies
Habilitation Work – Working with Children and Young People – Top Up Degree, BSc (Hons)
Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight Graduate Diploma
Graduate Diploma in Low Vision Rehabilitation
Combined Mobility Officer and Technical Officer Certificate
Original Certificate in Rehabilitation Work, with evidence of relevant experience applicable to supporting HE students
OR an applicable professional membership, including:
Rehabilitation Workers Professional Network (RWPN) – Full or Associate Membership, with appropriate experience of mobility and orientation training with adults
Habilitation VI UK – with evidence of relevant experience applicable to supporting adults
Applicants must meet the relevant requirements of the DfE Disabled Students' Allowance Non-Medical Help Qualifications Matrix for the role.
Working with Act Student Support
Act Student Support provides specialist one-to-one support to disabled and neurodivergent students across UK higher education.
Although this is a short-term contract, we are interested in developing relationships with experienced Mobility Trainers who may wish to undertake further freelance work with Act in the future.
Our freelance practitioners have a high degree of flexibility and independence. For this contract, you will be able to agree your working pattern directly with the student, rather than working predetermined shifts.
15 hours. £450. Flexible scheduling. In-person at the University of Chester. Completed before 28 September 2026.
Pay: £30.00 per hour
Expected hours: No more than 15.0 per week
Application question(s):
- Meet the current DSA Non-Medical Help mandatory qualification or professional membership requirements for Mobility Trainers
- BSc/BA (Hons) Degree in Rehabilitation Work or Equivalent
Education:
Work Location: In person
