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 UK.
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 are looking for Specialist Study Skills Tutors and Mentors 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 Tutors and Mentors to inspire and guide HE students on their academic journey. This role is vital in fostering a supportive learning environment, empowering students to achieve their full potential. As a tutor or mentor, you will leverage your expertise to provide personalised guidance, support student development, and promote academic success.
You will provide one-to-one in-person or remote support to students with SpLD's, mental health conditions, autism or other disabilities. We're looking for experienced consultants 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 is self-employed, supporting students in receipt of Disabled Students' Allowance through the SFE. This flexible role offers the opportunity to work with university students on a one-to-one basis, either remotely or on a university campus.
We are looking for in-person and remote tutors and mentors to work in various universities across the UK, including but not limited to the South, South West and South East regions. See below for a list of universities and areas.*
All Mentors & Tutors 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 for SE).
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.
- Confidence using online systems and digital technology.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Qualifications and memberships as laid out by the Mandatory Qualifications Criteria*
- 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).
- Experience of Assistive Technology (such as mind mapping software, text-to-speech or speech-to-text software) would be advantageous but is not essential.
- The ability to build positive, trusting and professional relationships.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Delivering tailored mentoring AND/OR study skills 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 or study 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.
- Completing session records (timesheets) and administrative tasks accurately and within required timescales.
Job Overview - Study Skills:
You will have knowledge of study skills, academic writing and learning strategies appropriate for higher education. Deliver tailored support to each student's needs, helping develop practical strategies for planning, organisation, time management and independent study.
Supporting academic reading, note-taking, essay planning, report writing and research techniques; strategies to improve memory, attention, information processing and executive functioning skills where appropriate. Deliver strategies for organisation, managing deadlines and workload, while helping to implement action plans to stay on track with studies.
Essential Qualifications and Training:
SpLD Tutors:
You will be educated to degree level with a teaching qualification and must have current professional membership of one of the following organisations:
- PATOSS (full or associate membership)
- BDA (full professional membership)
- ADSHE (professional membership)
- Dyslexia Guild (member, associate or fellow membership)
ASC Specialist Mentors & Tutors:
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).
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
*Mandatory Qualification Criteria: https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/1987/final-nmh-qualifications-matrix-july2023.pdf
Areas including but not limited to the following universities
*London
- University College London(UCL)
- King’s College London (KCL)
- Queen Mary University of London
- City St George's, University of London
- University of Westminster
- London Metropolitan University
- Middlesex University
- University of Greenwich
- University of East London
- University of West London
- Roehampton University
- Kingston University
- Brunel University London
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- London South Bank University
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
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.
Pay: £38.00-£43.00 per hour
Work Location: Hybrid remote in London
