About Mont Rose College
Mont Rose College of Management and Sciences Ltd (MRC) was established in 2006 and has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality teaching, exceptional student support, and an inclusive learning environment. Our mission is to ensure that students from all backgrounds have equal opportunities to access, succeed in, and progress through higher education while receiving excellent value for money.
Through innovation in teaching, student-centred services, and a commitment to academic excellence, the College seeks to positively impact student access, retention, achievement, employability, and personal development.
Job Title
Student Welfare Officer
Hours:37.5 hours per week (part-time option can be considered)
Salary £33,000-£40,000 (depending on experience)
Reporting To
Student Services Manager
Location: Mont Rose College Mont Rose House, 412-416 Eastern Avenue, Ig2 6NQ (with
travel to other College sites if required)
Job Purpose
The Student Welfare Officer plays a vital role in promoting student wellbeing, inclusion, engagement, and success throughout the student lifecycle. The postholder provides professional welfare, pastoral, and well-being support to students experiencing personal, emotional, social, financial, medical, mental health, disability-related, or academic challenges that may affect their ability to participate fully in college life.
The Student Welfare Officer acts as a key point of contact for students requiring support and guidance and works collaboratively with academic staff, professional services, external agencies, healthcare professionals, and community organisations to ensure students receive appropriate interventions and reasonable adjustments.
The role contributes to the College's commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, student retention, and the creation of a supportive learning environment that enables all students to achieve their academic and personal potential.
Key Responsibilities
Student Welfare and Pastoral Support
- Provide confidential welfare, well-being, and pastoral support to students through appointments, drop-in sessions, telephone, and online communication.
- Assess student needs and provide appropriate guidance, support plans, referrals, and signposting to internal and external services.
- Support students experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, depression, bereavement, family difficulties, housing concerns, financial hardship, relationship issues, or other personal challenges.
- Promote student resilience, well-being, and positive mental health through early intervention and preventative support.
- Assist students in navigating College procedures relating to welfare, wellbeing, and support services.
Disability and Inclusive Support
- Support students with disabilities, long-term health conditions, mental health conditions, neurodiverse conditions, and specific learning difficulties.
- Coordinate the implementation of reasonable adjustments and Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) to ensure students can access learning opportunities equitably.
- Liaise with academic staff to ensure agreed support measures are effectively implemented and monitored.
- Provide guidance on accessing external support, including Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) and specialist support services.
- Promote inclusive practices and raise awareness of disability-related issues across the College.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Provide initial well-being assessments and support students presenting with mental health concerns.
- Identify students who may be at risk and ensure timely referral to specialist services where appropriate.
- Maintain awareness of local and national mental health support services and establish effective referral pathways.
- Support the development and delivery of mental health awareness initiatives and wellbeing campaigns.
- Contribute to the creation of a healthy, supportive, and inclusive student culture.
Safeguarding and Student Protection
- Act in accordance with the College's safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Identify safeguarding concerns and make appropriate referrals to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or relevant authorities.
- Maintain accurate records of safeguarding concerns and actions taken.
- Support students who may be vulnerable or at risk of harm, exploitation, abuse, radicalisation, or neglect.
- Contribute to safeguarding awareness and training initiatives across the College.
Student Retention, Engagement and Success
- Work proactively with students identified as at risk of withdrawal, poor attendance, or disengagement.
- Collaborate with academic and professional services teams to improve student retention and progression.
- Support attendance monitoring initiatives and engage with students experiencing barriers to participation.
- Encourage student engagement with academic, social, and enrichment activities.
Collaboration and Case Management
- Manage a caseload of student welfare cases, maintaining professional boundaries and effective case records.
- Liaise with academic departments, admissions, employability services, registry, student finance, and other internal teams to coordinate support.
- Work with external agencies including counselling services, NHS providers, social services, housing organisations, charities, and specialist support providers.
- Attend case review meetings and contribute to multi-disciplinary support planning where required.
- Ensure students receive coordinated and timely support interventions.
Training, Awareness and Student Development
- Develop and deliver workshops, presentations, and awareness campaigns on topics such as:
Mental health and wellbeing
Stress management
Disability awareness
Safeguarding
Healthy lifestyles
Personal resilience
Student support services
- Produce welfare-related information, guidance materials, and online resources for students and staff.
- Support wellbeing events, induction activities, and student engagement initiatives.
Administration and Compliance
- Maintain accurate, confidential, and timely student welfare records in accordance with GDPR, data protection legislation, and College policies.
- Produce reports, case summaries, and management information as required.
- Monitor welfare trends and contribute to service improvement initiatives.
- Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, including:
Equality Act 2010
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
Safeguarding legislation and guidance
Prevent Duty requirements
Health and Safety regulations
- Participate in quality assurance and continuous improvement activities.
General Responsibilities
- Work flexibly to meet the needs of students and the College.
- Maintain professional knowledge through continuous professional development (CPD).
- Participate in team meetings, training programmes, and College events.
- Undertake other duties commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of the role.
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Health, Psychology, Counselling, Social Work, Education, Youth Work, Mental Health, or a related field.
- Diploma in Counselling, Mental Health Support, Student Welfare, or an equivalent professional qualification.
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to student wellbeing and welfare.
Essential Experience
- Minimum of two years' experience in a student support, welfare, counselling, safeguarding, wellbeing, education, healthcare, or related role.
- Experience of supporting individuals with mental health difficulties and emotional well-being concerns.
- Experience of working with students or young adults from diverse cultural, social, and educational backgrounds.
- Experience of supporting individuals with disabilities, neurodiverse conditions, and specific learning difficulties.
- Experience of managing confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
Essential Knowledge
- Understanding of safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures.
- Knowledge of mental health and well-being issues affecting students in higher education.
- Understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and reasonable adjustments for disabled students.
- Knowledge of UK GDPR and data protection requirements.
- Understanding of barriers to participation, retention, and student success.
- Awareness of referral pathways and external support services.
Essential Skills and Competencies
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and active listening skills.
- Ability to build trust and establish positive relationships with students and colleagues.
- Strong assessment, problem-solving, and case management skills.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities.
- High level of empathy, professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.
- Excellent organisational and administrative skills with strong attention to detail.
- Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and student record systems.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
- Membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), or a similar professional body.
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) qualification.
- Safeguarding training at an appropriate level.
- Experience within higher education or further education
- Knowledge of Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) processes and support arrangements.
- Experience of delivering training, workshops, or awareness programmes.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Timely response to student welfare referrals and enquiries.
- Effective management of welfare cases and support plans.
- Positive student feedback regarding support received.
- Contribution to student retention, attendance, and progression outcomes.
- Compliance with safeguarding, GDPR, and College policies.
- Successful delivery of wellbeing initiatives and awareness programmes.
- Accurate and timely reporting and record management.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £33,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Company events
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Diploma in Counselling, Mental Health Support, Student Welfare, or an equivalent
professional qualification.
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to student wellbeing and
welfare.
- Experience of supporting individuals with mental health difficulties and emotional well-
being concerns.
- Experience of working with students or young adults from diverse cultural, social, and
educational backgrounds.
- Experience of supporting individuals with disabilities, neurodiverse conditions, and
specific learning difficulties.
- Experience of managing confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
Education:
Experience:
- welfare or student support in education sector: 2 years (required)
Location:
- Ilford IG2 6NQ (preferred)
Work Location: In person
