A Space To Thrive Ltd is a specialist provider of Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) support, delivering high-quality one-to-one services to university students across the South, South West and South East of England.
Founded by a practitioner with over 15 years' experience in higher education and student support, we understand the importance of providing personalised, student-centred support that promotes confidence, independence and academic success.
We work with experienced Specialist Mentors and Study Skills Tutors who share our commitment to professionalism, compassion and excellence. Our aim is to create positive, lasting outcomes for students while building a supportive organisation where tutors and mentors feel valued, respected and empowered to do their best work.
Student hours are allocated through the DSA/SFE, so work depends on availability and allocations. We operate a fair system for student allocation among our tutors and mentors and will match you with students so that each of you can shine. We will do our best to ensure that you receive the hours.
Job Summary
We are seeking dedicated Specialist Mentors in Higher Education to inspire and guide students on their academic journey. This role is vital in fostering a supportive learning environment, empowering students to achieve their full potential.
As a Specialist Mentor, you will leverage your mentoring expertise to provide personalised guidance, support student development, and promote academic success. You will provide one-to-one support to students with mental health conditions, autism or other disabilities. We're looking for experienced mentors who are passionate about helping students succeed.
Your enthusiasm and proactive approach will help create an engaging educational experience that motivates students to excel both academically and personally.
The role will be on a self-employed basis, supporting those entitled to the Disabled Students' Allowance through the SFE. This is a flexible role offering the opportunity to work with university students on a one-to-one basis, either remotely or on a university campus.
We are looking for tutors and mentors to work in various universities across regions, including Bristol and UWE, Bath Spa, Exeter, Brighton, Chichester, Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, and across London. See below for a list of universities.*
All mentors will need to pay their own tax and National Insurance, be registered as self-employed with a UTR number, and hold relevant insurances, including Public Liability and Professional Indemnity. (or be willing to register).
You will have:
- Experience supporting students or adults with mental health conditions, autism or other disabilities.
- An understanding of the challenges faced by students in higher education.
- The ability to build positive, professional and supportive relationships.
- Strong organisational and time and workload management skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- The ability to recognise when a student would benefit from additional support and confidently signpost or refer them to appropriate services.
- A commitment to maintaining your Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Your responsibilities will include:
- Delivering tailored mentoring sessions based on each student's individual needs.
- Supporting students with organisation, workload demands, planning, motivation, anxiety management and balancing academic demands.
- Encouraging confidence, resilience and independent learning.
- Developing and reviewing personalised support strategies with your students.
- Organising and managing your own appointments.
- Delivering support online, on campus or at another agreed location.
- Able to clearly assess when a referral or ‘signpost’ to another service is required
- Maintaining high professional standards, including safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries.
MH Specialist Mentors:
You will be educated to degree level and must have membership of (at least) one of the following organisations at the required level;
- Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) – Full member.
- The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) – Accredited membership.
- The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
- Registered Member (MBACP)
- Accredited Member (MBACP – Accred)
- British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) – Under a member institution – Practitioners become registrants of the BPC through their membership of one of their member institutions. They do not have a category for individual membership.
- British Psychological Society (BPS) – Chartered Member (CPsychol)/IAPT register/ Graduate Member (MBPsS) a PG qualification in Psychology or Mental Health.
- Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA) – Accredited (Other UK Professional body) Counsellor/Psychotherapist Member of COSCA This category of membership requires you to be currently accredited with another recognised UK professional body for counselling and psychotherapy
- Federation of Drug and Alcohol Practitioners (FDAP) – National Counsellor Accreditation Certificate (NCAC)
- General Medical Council (GMC) – Psychiatry – Full member or above.
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – Education and training programmes approved as a route to registration – Arts Therapist/ Occupational Therapist/ Practitioner Psychologist/ Social Worker in England
- Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) – Accredited member
- National Counselling Society (NCS) –
- Accredited Registrants (MNCS Accred).
- Accredited Professional Registrant (MNCS Prof Accred).
- Senior Accredited Registrant status (MNCS Snr Accred).
- NCS Fellowship (FNCS).
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) – Mental Health Nurse/ Community Mental Health Nurse / Psychiatric Nurse
- Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
- Social Care Wales (SCW)
- Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)
- UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) – Full clinical individual member
- The University Mental Health Advisers Network (UMHAN) – UMHAN mentor member. (N.B. UMHAN accreditation routes are now closed).
- Association of Christian Counsellors (UK) – Accredited Counsellor
ASC Specialist Mentors:
An undergraduate degree and a recognised teaching qualification with evidence of appropriate autism training, such as:
- The National Autistic Society (NAS) Core Autism training modules: Understanding Autism; Autism and Communication; Autism and Sensory Experience; Autism, Stress and Anxiety; Autism: Supporting families (non-medical helper package)
OR
- Have completed an NAS tutor-led course ‘Understanding Autism’ or ‘Introduction to Autism and the SPELL Framework’
OR
- The Optimum Training Course: Autism and ADHD in Higher Education: Recognising and addressing the barriers through Non-Medical Helper (NMH) Mentoring and Study Skills Strategies
OR
- Hold a Post-Graduate Certificate in Autism / Post-Graduate Certificate in Asperger’s AND a teaching qualification (minimum Level 4).
*Mandatory Qualification Criteria: https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/1987/final-nmh-qualifications-matrix-july2023.pdf
Why Join A Space To Thrive Ltd?
Led by an experienced practitioner with over 15 years of supporting students in higher education, we understand the DSA sector, appreciate the expertise our tutors bring, and are committed to creating a professional, supportive and values-driven organisation where tutors and mentors are respected, trusted and encouraged to thrive.
- Make a meaningful difference by supporting students to develop confidence, independence and the skills they need to succeed at university and beyond.
- Flexible working that allows you to manage your own diary and availability with competitive rates of pay.
- Be part of a values-led organisation where relationships matter and both tutors and students are treated with respect.
*South West:
- Bristol
- UWE Bristol
- Bath
- University of Exeter
South East
- University of Brighton
- University of Chichester
- University of Sussex
- University of Southampton
- Solent University
- University of Portsmouth
- University of Bournemouth
Greater London
- University College London(UCL)
- King’s College London (KCL)
- Queen Mary University of London
Pay: £38.00-£43.00 per hour
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Brighton and Hove BN2
