Academic Support Worker (ASW)
Locations: Salford
Salary: £13.50ph
Hours: Zero Hour Contract
Applications are now being accepted from candidates available to commence work in preparation for the 2026/27 academic year, beginning in September 2026
Job Description
Barry Bennett Ltd are one of the largest companies offering specialist support to students in receipt of DSA (Disabled Students’ Allowance) throughout the UK. We provide a range of support specialised to everyone’s individual needs whilst studying at University.
Barry Bennett Ltd is recruiting Academic Support Workers to provide support to students at various universities across the UK. As an Academic Support Worker, you may work with students in a variety of capacities depending on their individual requirements. These roles include Transitional Support, Practical Assistant, Study Assistant, Note Taker, Sighted Guide, and Exam Support (Reader and Scribe). The support provided helps students overcome barriers to learning, access their studies effectively, and participate fully in university life whilst promoting independence and confidence.
Main Roles
Transitional Support
- This support is designed to help students successfully transition into university life, particularly during the start of the academic year and throughout induction or fresher's activities.
- Providing one-to-one support to students during induction, orientation, and fresher's week activities.
- Assisting students to navigate the campus and become familiar with key locations such as lecture theatres, libraries, student services, accommodation, cafés, and social spaces.
- Supporting students in understanding university systems, timetables, and accessing online learning platforms.
- Supporting attendance at welcome events, course inductions, and introductory meetings to reduce anxiety and increase confidence.
- Assisting students to identify and access relevant university support services, including disability teams, wellbeing services, and academic departments.
- Promoting independence by encouraging students to develop the skills and confidence required to engage with university life successfully.
- Providing reassurance and practical guidance to students who may experience difficulties adjusting to a new academic and social environment.
Practical Assistant
- Providing practical and mobility support to assist students with a physical or sensory impairment.
- Helping students manoeuvre between and around key study venues.
- Carrying books and/or equipment for a student where required.
- Supporting students with practical aspects of their course, such as locating resources within the library, laboratories, or study areas.
- Assisting students to access learning materials and university facilities whilst promoting independence wherever possible.
Sighted Guide
- Providing safe and effective sighted guiding support for students with visual impairments.
- Guiding students around campus, including lecture theatres, libraries, accommodation, social venues, and other university facilities.
- Assisting students in identifying landmarks, facilities, and potential hazards within the university environment.
- Supporting students to attend lectures, seminars, tutorials, examinations, and university events.
- Following agreed sighted guiding techniques and adapting support to each student's individual requirements.
- Promoting the student's independence, confidence, and engagement in university life.
Study Assistant
- This support is provided when a mix of enabling strategies complemented by some practical assistance is required.
- Assisting students to search library catalogues and online learning resources.
- Helping locate, collect, and organise study materials.
- Supporting students with photocopying, scanning, printing, and accessing course resources.
- Reviewing notes and study materials to help students plan and prioritise upcoming assignments, projects, and deadlines.
- Assisting students in developing effective study routines and organisational strategies.
- Supporting students to maintain focus and structure in their academic work.
- This does not include completing academic work on behalf of the student or reading course materials verbatim.
Note taking
- Taking clear, accurate, and comprehensive notes during lectures, seminars or tutorials.
- Producing notes that are well-structured and easy to understand.
- Ensuring high standards of spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
- Providing notes within agreed timescales.
- Maintaining professionalism, reliability, and confidentiality at all times.
- Providing a consistent note-taking service that enables students to fully access their learning.
Exam Support (Reader and Scribe)
- Exam Support Workers may provide reader and/or scribe support in accordance with a student's approved examination access arrangements.
- Accurately transcribing a student's spoken responses during examinations exactly as dictated, without interpretation, amendment, or correction.
- Reading examination questions and instructions aloud in a clear, neutral, and professional manner.
- Re-reading questions, instructions, or student responses when requested and permitted under examination regulations.
- Maintaining examination integrity and adhering strictly to institutional examination procedures and access arrangement requirements.
- Working closely with invigilators, examinations teams, and disability support services to ensure examinations run smoothly.
- Maintaining confidentiality, impartiality, and professionalism throughout the examination process.
- Supporting students with physical disabilities, visual impairments, dyslexia, specific learning differences, or other disabilities requiring reader and/or scribe support.
- Remaining attentive and responsive throughout the examination session whilst ensuring the student remains in control of all responses provided.
Requirements:
The successful applicant will possess these Essential Skills
- University graduate or, currently studying at post graduate level.
- Must have a good availability and support students on campus.
- A good understanding of the nature of University level study.
- Excellent organisation, time management and reliability.
- Ability to work on own initiative, independently, and to deadlines.
- Excellent communication skills. Ability to communicate clearly, professionally and sensitively, both verbally and in writing.
- A good understanding of the importance of integrity and confidentiality.
- Demonstrable general disability awareness.
- Ability to pick out salient points from lectures.
- Neat, legible handwriting with a good grasp of the English Language, including grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Willingness to adopt a flexible approach to working in a manner that is tailored to people’s individual needs.
Desired Skills/Attributes:
- Experience of provision of student support in Higher Education or other social or educational support settings
Other Information:
- You must be eligible to work in the UK
- New starters will be required to obtain a basic DBS check
- Must be able to support students on campus
- have good availability during university hours
Benefits to include:
- £13.50p/h
- Holiday pay
- Flexible Hours
- Zero Hour Contract
- Range of hours available, but subject to support requirements
As a Disability Confident Leader, Barry Bennett Ltd will undertake to interview an applicant with a disability who meets the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and will consider them on their abilities. If you wish to be regarded as disabled for this purpose, please indicate this on your application. Additionally, if you require information in accessible formats, please request this.
Job Type: Zero hours contract
Pay: £13.50 per hour
Work Location: On the road
