Academic Skills Support Mentor

Heart of Worcestershire College; Worcester; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 18,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

24/7 confidential EAP

CPD and new qualifications

Flexible working options

Benefits package with discounts

Cycle to Work

Free onsite parking

Job summary

Heart of Worcestershire College is seeking an Academic Skills Support Mentor to join the Specialist Learning Support team. The role is primarily based at Worcester and Malvern campuses, with travel between sites as needed.

You will deliver 1:1 and small group academic skills sessions, help learners overcome barriers, promote assistive technologies, and monitor attendance and progress to maximise success. The salary ranges from £16,941.05 to £18,414.27 per annum for 30 hours/week across 36 weeks.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting learners to overcome barriers to learning.
• Ability to deliver 1:1 and small group academic skills sessions.
• Familiarity with assistive technologies and ILT (information technology).
• Willingness to travel between Worcester and Malvern campuses.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality academic skills support to learners in 1:1 or small groups.
• Deliver tailored academic skills sessions and give feedback to raise attainment.
• Monitor, track and review learner attendance and progress; record outcomes.
• Coordinate and ensure compliance with exam access arrangements and other support duties.

Skills

One-to-one support

Small group sessions

Assistive technologies

Learner progression tracking

Tools

Assistive tech tools

Job description

Job Title Academic Skills Support Mentor Closing Date 22/10/2026 23:59 Pay Actual Salary: £16,941.05 - £18,414.27 per annum based on 30 hours x 36 weeks. Starting salary is dependent on experience and qualifications. Hours 30 Hours x 36 Weeks Type Part Time

Join us as an Academic Skills Support Mentor at Heart of Worcestershire College

We are looking for someone who’s ambitious, driven, and passionate to join our Specialist Learning Support team.

This is your chance to grow your skills, explore new opportunities, and take on exciting challenges in a vibrant, forward‑thinking environment.

Heart of Worcestershire College is recognised for nurturing the brilliance of every student and we are proud to be a college that celebrates diversity and inclusion. Our latest Ofsted report highlights our continued commitment to delivering high-quality education, outstanding support for learners and meaningful partnerships with employers and the wider community. HoW college has also been recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 reflecting our commitment to building a positive workplace culture where colleagues feel valued, supported and able to thrive.

You’ll be mainly based at our Worcester and Malvern campuses, but flexibility to travel across sites is essential.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:

For the full breakdown, check out the Key Roles and Accountabilities in the Job Description.

You will support in many aspects, to name a few:

• Support learners to overcome barriers to learning, enabling effective participation, achievement, and progression.
• Deliver tailored academic skills support through one-to-one and small group sessions, providing feedback to help learners improve performance and reach their potential.
• Use and promote assistive technologies and specialist support strategies to meet individual learner needs.
• Monitor, track and review learner attendance, progress and outcomes, recording support provided and evaluating its impact.
• Coordinate and ensure compliance with exam access arrangements, liaising with relevant teams and completing required documentation to support learners with additional needs.

WHO WE ARE

Heart of Worcestershire College is the county’s largest and most diverse FE provider, offering academic, vocational, and community courses across multiple campuses. In 2026 the college achieved a strong standard or expected standard across all areas from Ofsted. We are also delighted to be recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026. This accolade reflects the culture we have worked hard to build across the College.

Our values — diversity, integrity, partnership and trust — power everything we do and shape the experience we give our learners. We’re also on a mission to be 90% green by 2030 — and we’d love you to be part of that journey.

If you’re ready to innovate, inspire and progress, you’ll feel right at home here.

Your growth is our growth.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING HERE

A career at HoW offers much more than a monthly pay slip. We invest in our people and make sure they feel supported, valued, and ready to shine.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

• 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Regular CPD and opportunities to gain new qualifications
• Agile and flexible working options (role dependent)
• A great benefits package with high‑street and travel discounts
• Clear progression routes
• A mentor to help you settle in and succeed
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Free onsite parking (at selected campuses)
• Opportunities to give back through community and charity projects

WE HIRE PEOPLE.

We value individuality. Everyone at HoW brings their own story, background, identity and strengths — and together, we’re stronger for it.

We’re committed to being an inclusive and supportive employer and expect all colleagues to share our dedication to safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds.

NEED TO KNOW

All successful candidates will need to complete and pay for a DBS check, plus required online verification checks.

Closing date: 22 nd October 2026 Interview date: TBC

• Job Description

  AIM AND PURPOSE OF THE JOB

  The purpose of the role is:

  • To support College attendance, retention and achievement strategies by providing a high-quality responsive support service, in particular, targeted at learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LLDD).
  • To work in collaboration with the CRQ leaders, PT’s and curriculum staff to identify and support learners who would benefit from additional one to one or small group support.
  • To provide support for learners who self‑ref or are referred by CRQ leader’s curriculum teams or PT’s.
  • To provide learning support that contributes to an outstanding student experience from the start of their college journey to progression into further study, employment or greater independence.
  • To support learners to improve their literacy and numeracy skills.
  • To assist in the development of learning materials to support learners with a range of additional support needs
  KEY ROLES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
  • To provide support and guidance by removing barriers to learning in order to promote effective participation, enhance individual learning, raise aspirations and achieve full potential.
  • To contribute to the identification of barriers to learning for individual learners and provide them with a range of strategies for overcoming the barriers.
  • To be confident in demonstrating the use of assistive technologies to support learners.
  • Identify, develop and implement innovative approaches to the application of IT and ILT to support academic skills development.
  • Provide support via 1:1 or small group sessions dependent on need.
  • To provide feedback to students about their progress, enabling them to improve their grades and performance, as well as supporting the further development of their knowledge and understanding.
  • To track, monitor and review the attendance and progress learners make as a result of this support and record interactions and outcomes on Pro Monitor, identifying further learning opportunities and review impact of support and setting and reviewing targets.
  • Contribute to the evaluation of the academic skills offer including the production of reports and statistics to ensure the offer meets the changing needs of learners.
  • To actively publicise support services to all students and staff.
  • Maintain an awareness and knowledge of new approaches, technologies and methods leading to effective academic skills support.
  • Liaise with colleagues from the Specialist Learning Support team to consult on complex difficulties/disabilities.
  • To co‑ordinate alternative exam arrangements, ensuring that the MIS team, exams team and appropriate staff are fully appraised of arrangements that need to be made to comply with JCQ requirements.
  • To compile Specialist Teacher Reports and complete Form 8 documentation.
  • To liaise and consult with Specialist Learning Support Lead to ensure all exam access arrangements are completed and meet all regulation requirements.
  • To provide specialist SEN equipment where required for specific needs.
  • To provide lesson cover as a contingency when needed and to provide ad hoc tutor cover in Learning Centre or classroom.
  • To undertake normal desk duties as a contingency when needed within the Learning Centres, including responding to enquiries, circulation of resources and providing support to students in the use of IT, printing/scanning facilities, digital tools and the internet including those undertaking Elements and THRIVE activities.
  • To assist in pre‑entry activities such as recruitment events, enrolment activities and assessment of support needs.
  • To undertake duties as a First Aider.
  • To undertake duties as a Fire Marshal.
  • To undertake duties as an Exam Invigilator.

  GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

  • To commit to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
  • To participate in the College’s Performance Management Scheme and attend such training events as are necessary to enable him/her to carry out the duties of the job description.
  • To continually improve teaching, learning and assessment through proactive CPD and sharing best practice.
  • To actively participate in the College’s Quality System, including quality improvement strategies and initiatives.
  • To undertake such other duties as may be assigned commensurate with the grade and purpose of the post.
  • To take reasonable care for the health and safety of him/her and for others affected by his/her work.
  • To actively support College Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity policies.
  • To operate/conduct all HR tasks and functions within the principles of GDPR.

  CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

  The appointment is subject to the Conditions of Service for Business Support Staff.

  All successful applicants will undergo the following checks:

  • Enhanced DBS
  • 2 x References, one of which must be your current or most recent employer
  • Qualification validation check

  SALARY

  The salary range for this post is from £16,941.05 to £18,414.27 per annum. Your starting salary will be dependent upon your qualifications and experience. Once you have successfully passed your probationary period, your salary will increase within the salary band on an annual incremental basis, until you reach the top of the salary scale.

  HOURS OF WORK

  The hours of work will be based on 30 hours per week, 36 weeks a year (Term Time Only).

  ANNUAL LEAVE

  As this is a term time only appointment you will receive a payment in lieu of holiday, which is in addition to your salary. You will also be paid for any Statutory Bank Holidays and concessionary days which fall within your working week.

  PENSION SCHEME

  The College operates an occupational pension scheme, namely the ‘Local Government Pension Scheme’.

  PROBATIONARY PERIOD

  All newly appointed staff must serve a 4-month probationary period. During the probationary period you will have to attend the corporate staff induction day, a Teaching and Learning Induction session if you deliver learning and additional mandatory courses on: Equality & Diversity session, Safeguarding Training session, Prevent, GDPR and Health & Safety training session. Failure to attend these will prevent you from successfully completing your probation.

  REFERENCES

  Please note that without 2 satisfactory references being received before the end of the probationary period, new staff will not be able to successfully pass their probationary.

  LOCATION

  The successful applicant will be based at our Worcester and Malvern campuses.

  VALIDATION OF QUALIFICATIONS

  The College will undertake qualification validation by writing to the appropriate educational institute. Only those qualifications which are essential for the post will be followed up.

  CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN A QUALIFICATION

  If you are required to obtain a qualification as a contractual requirement, the College reviews its CPD budget on an annual basis regarding availability of funds, and cannot therefore guarantee that newly appointed staff will receive either part or full funding for the course fees. However, student loan facilities are available.

  MATHS AND ENGLISH

  All staff are required to have a minimum level 2 qualification in both English and Maths. If you are not already in receipt of one or both of these qualifications, you will be expected to obtain it (them) during your employment at the College.

  SAFEGUARDING

  The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

  All newly appointed staff will be required to undertake safeguarding training following their appointment.

  Heart of Worcestershire College adheres to the Department of Education’s guidance on ‘Keeping children safe in Education’. As part of your induction, you will be required to read and understand part 1 of this document.

  DISCLOSURE & BARRING CHECK

  All successful applicants will be required to complete and pay for a Disclosure & Barring Service check. The costs of this check will be deducted from the applicants first salary payment from the College. The College adheres to the DBS Code of Practice and has policies covering the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders and the Secure Storage, Handling, Use, Retention and Disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure Information. Copies of these are available on request.

  RECRUITMENT OF EX-OFFENDERS

  The College is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services, regardless of race, gender religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical/mental disability or offending background.

  As an organisation we use the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) to assess the suitability of all prospective appointments. We undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of conviction or other information revealed.

  Applicants/employees are required to declare any pending criminal prosecutions they may have as well as any spent criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings as defined under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. The only exception to this requirement is that applicants/employees do not need to disclose any ‘protected’ cautions, or convictions as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2013.

  Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of any offences.

  TRAINING

  All successful applicants will be required to undertake any appropriate training and development as required, including Health and Safety.

  NO SMOKING POLICY

  HoW College is a Smoke Free environment from the effects of direct/indirect contact with smoking, including using the following:

  • Cigarettes
  • E-cigarettes
  • Vaporisers
  • Pipe smoking
  • Cigars
  • And all other associated smoking products

  APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES

  Candidates with a disability should contact the HR Department before interview if they require any adjustments to be made for the interview and/or selection tests.