Mental Health Mentor

The Role

You’ll meet students regularly, usually in-person, and provide them with support to help them reach their potential regardless of their difficulties. This flexible role will mostly be carried out on-campus, between the hours of 9am and 5pm, during university term-time, which spans up to 30 weeks across the year between mid-September and the end of May. It may, however, require you to provide support for a smaller caseload of post-graduate students and resitting undergraduates during summer break.

The SM-MH role is mostly funded by Student Finance, and they set out the purpose of the role as one that supports students in accessing their higher education studies by:

• supporting students in understanding what is required of them academically in higher education.
• identifying barriers to the student’s learning.
• helping students to develop effective organisation and time management skills and strategies to manage their workload and deadlines in the presence of their mental health condition.
• helping students with prioritisation and realistic goal setting, including producing plans of work and targets.
• developing a support programme to facilitate the growth of the student’s independence, reducing the need for support in the longer term.

To make an informal enquiry, please contact Sara Childs on

Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check.

Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the university, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

You’ll be alert to and follow up on concerns relating to the students you support.

For example:

• the student is showing signs of disengagement or growing vulnerability (e.g. lack of attendance, late submission or non-submission of work, disciplinary issues, etc.).
• indicators of significant risk (e.g. suicidal ideation, self-harm, or other safeguarding concerns requiring escalation).

You’ll be aware of and make appropriate referrals to Aberystwyth University’s student support services, especially where you have urgent concerns about a student’s wellbeing. These services include the Mental Health and Wellbeing team, the Accessibility and Inclusion team, the Student Support and Community Life team and the Careers Service as well as external agencies.

You’ll have responsibility for a minimum caseload of 8 students; however minimum work hours are not guaranteed and will vary according to individual students; these correspond to individual student support plans and work around individual timetable scheduling. On average, an eligible student may be allocated between 1-2 hours mentoring per week during term time. Students will be allocated to you by your line manager taking into consideration availability and established competences.

• Undertake other duties as assigned by your line manager, commensurate with the role's grade.
• Engage in university-level projects and initiatives as directed, and undertake any additional duties commensurate with the role, as assigned by the line manager.
• Demonstrate flexibility by supporting colleagues during periods of high demand, including attendance at key university events such as open days and graduation ceremonies which may include weekend work.
• Promote equality of opportunity, and to support and uphold the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work.
• To support the university strategy and underlining plans, engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities to develop yourself and support the development of others.
• Fulfil health and safety responsibilities appropriate to the role, while actively promoting the personal health, safety, and wellbeing of staff and students as a member of the Aberystwyth community. Additionally, support the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability through responsible practices and engagement.

The above does…