Student Mental Health Advisor

The Role

The Student Mental Health Advisor plays an important role in providing expert ferry, caring and trauma‑informed support for students with mental health needs. The postholder will be an effective Mental Health practitioner with specialist experience in the field of mental health support.

The postholder will work in close partnership with the Student Mental Health Lead and team to provide both proactive and reactive support to Aberystwyth University students who may be experiencing mental ill‑health and/or challenges at points through their educational experience.

Working as part of a newly formed Student Accessibility and Wellbeing service, the postholder will play a role in ensuring that the service aims align with the University’s 2030s Strategic Plan and meet the needs of our diverse and engaged student community.

The postholder will provide day‑to‑day support of students which includes contributing to an effective duty and triage system, assessing student needs and risk, delivering One‑at‑a‑time (OAAT) support, and working in close partnership with external mental health services to ensure a joined‑up approach to the care of our students. Working in a vibrant and complex University Campus setting the postholder will develop effective relationships and problem‑solve to ensure that students are best placed to progress through their studies and achieve their potential.

The team’s caseload is busy and has grown significantly in size and complexity over recent years. The postholder will be a team player and skilled problem‑solver who can spot innovative and efficient ways of working and apply a variety of strategies to engage students and improve their experience.

The postholder will provide efficient and effective mental health support and work to defined service standards to support the needs of students on and off campus. A key feature will be working with academic colleagues and other service personnel to increase awareness and confidence across our community and to embed effective risk measures for staff to work within.

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.

• The post holder will contribute to the delivery of an effective triage and support service for students seeking support in managing a range of psychological issues and challenges including those undergoing a crisis or deterioration in their mental health.
• They will support the Student Mental Health Lead in assessing risk, ensuring fast and effective support is put in place to avoid crisis (risk of harm, risk to life etc.).
• Undertake routinely, wellbeing support plans: this may include, self‑help material, advice and signposting, and referral to internal and external services.
• Alongside other Advisors, deliver support to our students as part of our One‑at‑a‑time (OAAT) service, where it isį deemed appropriate.
• Be responsive to the students’ needs, determine what external agencies can offer beyond the services at the university and influence and initiate positive engagement to create referral pathways.
• Manage, in partnership with the Mental Health Lead, urgent and complex cases taking appropriate action, in line with the agreed service procedures.
• Attend and contribute to appropriate multi‑disciplinary meetings and case reviews.
• Contribute to the ‘Support to Study’ process by attending panel meetings and ensuring assessing the effectiveness of the process at an individual and institutional level.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of Mental health promotions and awareness raising and guide the department by sharing expertise, information and giving guidance to colleagues across the Academic community and Professional services.
• Develop and maintain good collaborations with local NHS colleagues within the Community Mental Health Team and other key services.
• Engage in university‑level projects and initiatives as directed, and undertake any additional duties commensurate with ყველაზე role, as assigned by the Student Mental Health Lead.
• Demonstrate…