Disability Adviser (Reading)
Employer: University of Built Environment
Location: Your time will be split between the Horizons, Reading office and your home*. The exact split of days/hours is negotiable but must include a minimum of one working day each week in Horizons only on the core days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). *Working from home is only possible if your environment is suitable – please see the ‘Working from home’ section on our Careers Site for further information.
Working hours: part time for 21 hours per week
Salary: salary up to £18,600 per annum (£31,000 Full Time Equivalent).
Closing date: Wednesday 15 July 2026 at 17:00
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High level summary of job role
The Disability and Welfare team provides information, advice, and guidance to all students to ensure they are safe and well-supported throughout their studies. You will work with a case load of students who have shared a disability with the University, taking a collaborative approach to support them to be successful in their studies. Primarily, this will be autistic students and those with long term health conditions. At key times throughout the year, you may need to provide support to students with a range of disclosed disabilities e.g. physical and sensory impairments, ADHD, specific learning difficulties, and long-term mental health conditions.
You will work with students to carry out needs assessments, advise on reasonable adjustments, formulate support plans, offer guidance and signposting to external services if needed, and monitor the success of students on your caseload. You will work and build rapport with a wide range of stakeholders across the University to ensure students and staff are well informed, and that the support being provided is effective and appropriate to student needs.
As an online provider, support will primarily be via phone, video calls, and email, creating personal Additional Support Plans (ASPs) and assisting with applications for external funding, such as DSA or apprentice learning support funding.
Specific job role accountabilities and responsibilities
Monitor student queries/cases and respond in a timely manner.
Develop resources and provide effective information, advice and guidance to students.
Support and be responsible for a case load of students, often with complex support requirements, providing help and/or advice to disabled students by assessing needs, determining and implementing support arrangements and monitoring progress.
Advise students on applications for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) and other financial support, following up on applications to ensure a successful outcome.
Carry out needs assessments and draw up personal ASPs for current students and ensure adjustments are implemented.
Advise prospective disabled students on the support available.
Liaise with staff across the University, medical professionals and external agencies to ensure the effective implementation of support for disabled students.
Develop and maintain relationships with external support agencies which may benefit University of the Built Environment students.
Collaborate with academic and professional services colleagues to ensure individual students’ needs are met and that an inclusive and holistic approach to provision is implemented.
Collaborate with academic colleagues to advise on inclusive teaching and learning strategies for disabled students.
Work closely with teams across the University to ensure students are accessing the full range of support.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in relation to the support required and provided, ensuring compliance with data protection legislation and auditing requirements.
Deliver excellent customer service in all aspects of the role and contribute to a student-centred specialist advice and guidance service.
Promote a culture of self-advocacy and provide students with the tools to develop skills to manage the challenges they experience throughout their studies.
Keep up to date with Safeguarding, Prevent, disability and welfare legislation, funding eligibility and best practice in the sector.
Keep up to date sector knowledge regarding how Safeguarding, Prevent, disability and welfare support is implemented across higher education providers.
Fully engage with all required training for the role and embed this training within your daily practice as applicable.
Other important features of the job role
Line management responsibilities: None.
Budget responsibility: None.
In this role you will liaise with the following: Student Services teams, Academic Support team, Apprenticeship Outcomes, Academic team, and external specialist support providers
PERSON SPECIFICATION
E = Essential person requirement; D = Desirable person requirement
How the person requirement will be assessed: This is not a heading
A = Application; I = Interview; T = Test or other assessment
Please be aware that as part of safer recruitment and onboarding processes, we will seek original documentary evidence of the relevant academic and/or professional qualifications which you include within your job application. This is all part of our comprehensive pre-employment screening which also includes checking your identity, right to work, criminal record history (basic disclosure unless specified otherwise), and three years employment history. This is all part of our commitment to safeguarding our students. Keeping our students safe is a responsibility shared by everyone within the University.
Qualifications and training
GCSE Maths and English language Grade C or 4 or above (E, A).
Evidence of relevant CPD (E, I).
Further education level qualifications (D, A).
Degree level qualification (D, A).
Previous experience
Relevant demonstrable experience of paid/voluntary work of delivering pastoral support (E, A, I).
Supporting disabled people, some with complex needs, and providing relevant advice/guidance (E, A, I).
Individual and/or small group coaching and/or mentoring (D, A, I).
Management of complex safeguarding and/or welfare cases (D, A, I).
Development and delivery of training (D, A, I).
Working with external support partners (D, A, I).
Experience of Ofsted Inspection Process (D, A, I).
Demonstrable experience of anticipating needs and designing and implementing an inclusive environment in adherence to the social model of disability (D, A, I).
Experienced in supporting students in Higher Education and in providing and justifying reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010 (D, A, I).
Behaviours and attitudes
Alignment to the University’s core values and growth mindset approach, which reflect our culture. Refer to the specific behaviours within the Competency Framework (E, I) – summarised within the careers site.
Skills, knowledge, other requirements
Knowledge and understanding of assistive technology (E, A, I).
Excellent communication and presentation skills, especially the ability to communicate sensitive ideas effectively to different audiences (E, A, I).
Ability to adapt quickly to changing pressures and demands whilst maintaining accuracy (E, I).
Ability to make and build relationships with remotely based students and internal staff (E, I).
Ability to manage sensitive situations empathetically and in a timely manner (E, I).
Knowledge of statutory Safeguarding, Prevent and Disability legislation (including the Equality Act 2010) and how these can be applied in a Higher Education setting (E, A, I).
Strong sense of resilience and ability to listen and respond to students sharing distressing personal circumstances (E, I).
Highly organised, driven, and excellent time management and people skills (E, A, I).
Knowledge of current legislation relating to data protection (E, I).
Understanding of specific issues relating to online learning and being part of an online community (D, A, I).
Knowledge of the operation and management of academic or apprenticeship programmes (D, A, I).
Digital skills confidence: We use MS Office which includes Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and several other systems/technology (E, I, T).
Commitment to delivering positive outcomes for our students regardless of your area of work within the University; we want our students to be successful (E, I).
You must be prepared to undertake mandatory online training should you be appointed. The University is regulated by the Office for Students and Ofsted, and we have specific requirements and expectations around safeguarding, Prevent, and anti-harassment and bullying. This is all part of our Competency Framework requirements (E, I).
PAY AND BENEFITS
Salary: Actual salary up to £18,600 per annum (£31,000 Full Time Equivalent).
Holiday: 26 days paid holiday (rising to 28 with service) plus paid bank/public holidays plus up to five paid closure days (typically between Christmas and New Year); all per holiday year Full Time Equivalent. Our holiday year runs from 1 August to 31 July. We also have a holiday buy and sell scheme in place. Sometimes the University does not need to close for five days per year and any balance (for example one day), can be used as a paid Wellbeing Day to take time out for your own physical or mental health.
Pension and life assurance: Pensions auto-enrolment to the People’s Pension which is a default salary sacrifice scheme. You may opt out of salary sacrifice but remain in the scheme, or you may choose to opt out altogether. We provide life assurance (death in service) cover as standard to all employees.
Family-friendly policies: Policies in place for all types of family-friendly statutory leave with enhanced pay available from day one of employment for some leave types. Access to Tax-Free Childcare (Government scheme).
Wellbeing: Full access to the Employee Assistance Programme as well as the Thrive Mental Wellbeing app. Several employees are trained Mental Health First Aiders and can support staff. We have a wellbeing policy and we focus on five pillars of wellbeing.
Sustainable travel: Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice schemes.
Parking: We have locked sheds for bicycles. For cars, for Horizons based roles, we may in the future be able to offer parking on site however you must not assume this will be possible. Every now and then we may have a spare parking space become available and you can ask to join the waiting list. The University is keen wherever possible, to encourage staff to commute as sustainably as possible.
Other health related benefits: Employer-funded Health Cash Plan (Simplyhealth) and voluntary dental insurance (Unum).
Other valuable benefits:
Charity giving options available including one voluntary paid day, per annum.
You will have access to Microsoft Office 365 applications for personal use.
You will have access to range of lifestyle discounts and everyday savings.
We offer learning platforms including LinkedIn learning.
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