Job Purpose
The purpose of this role is to help disabled students at University become more independent and autonomous by offering supportive assistance across their campus.
Key duties/responsibilities:
- Providing practical support to assist a student with a physical impairment in manoeuvring around the campus.
- Opening doors for the student, ensuring pathways are clear
- Carrying books, IT equipment etc.
- General orientation and support in finding out where things are located for students whose disability means that they have problems with orientation.
- Social support in order to ensure access to the wider aspects of student life
- Note taking for the student
While some of these tasks, such as carrying equipment for a student with mobility difficulties, will need to continue throughout a student's course, others, such as general orientation, should decrease as the student becomes more able to manage independently. In all cases the assistant will need to liaise with the student in order to arrange locations/times etc. and to hold regular reviews with the student to assess how well the support is working.
Qualifications:
- Must hold a degree, equivalent qualification or be working towards a degree (in final years)
Skills:
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills
- Good organisational skills
- Flexibility and punctuality
- Ability to work independently
- Patient and enthusiastic
Experience:
- Experience of the Higher Education environment/experience
- Experience of supporting disabled adults
- Knowledge of the University campus
Competencies:
- Ability to work effectively with others as a competent team member
- Understanding of the importance of maintaining confidentiality where relevant
- Ability to support student to develop their independence
- Willingness to carry out practical tasks
- Awareness of the barriers that disabled people may experience in higher education
- Understanding of role boundaries, and awareness of issues which may arise in this context whilst carrying out the role
- Commitment to principles of equality of opportunity
