Student Inclusion Officer

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 37,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working opportunities

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a skilled education support professional to join the Education and Student Experience Team. You will be the main contact for queries related to disability, student wellbeing and inclusion, signposting to specialist services and supporting a range of students from induction to graduation.

With a focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, you will monitor progression, respond to student voice, and collaborate with staff across the university to improve the

Qualifications

• Significant experience of working in a student support role, preferably within a Higher Education environment.
• Strong understanding of the Equality Act and how disability and mental health issues may affect students.
• Knowledge of Data Protection and an ability to deal with confidential issues in a sensitive manner.
• Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office packages and Google applications.
• Ability to develop creative approaches to problem solving.
• Ability to analyse and interpret data.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, including report writing skills.
• Ability to deal tactfully with people at all levels and negotiate where necessary to achieve appropriate outcomes.
• Excellent customer service skills, with experience of responding efficiently and effectively, and with empathy to staff and student enquiries via phone and email.
• Willingness to assist and/or lead other team members and to work collaboratively with others to ensure deadlines are met.
• Knowledge and understanding of student welfare issues and the support services available.

Responsibilities

• Act as main school contact for disability, student wellbeing, and inclusion support for all students (UG,PGT & PGR), liaising closely with the wider team to ensure a joined up approach to inclusion and engagement.
• Ensure Learning Support Plans, including Exam Support Adjustments (ESAs) are understood and implemented, working with colleagues from across the School, Faculty and University as required.
• Offer advice to academic colleagues on implementing reasonable adjustments.
• Work with the Director of Education to identify and implement underpinning inclusive practices which reduce the need for individual adjustments for disabled students.
• Be the School’s Disability Liaison Officer, providing guidance and information to colleagues on student related disability-related issues in line with University guidance; facilitating liaison with Disability and Dyslexia Support Service as required to ensure that legislative requirements are met.
• Ensure local mechanisms are in place to identify and signpost students who may benefit from or be entitled to support from the University’s Student Support Services.
• Lead the management of the school’s student progression processes, including Extenuating Circumstances, Extensions, attendance and engagement matters, liaising closely with other members of the team to ensure effective student support.
• Working with the Student Experience Manager and colleagues in Student & Academic Services, develop and implement approaches to respond to the participation element of the institution’s Access and Participation Plan.
• Maintain oversight of the impact of welfare issues on student progression through the curriculum, and advise students on the options available to them in their circumstances e.g. through leave of absence.
• Work with the relevant academic lead to proactively identify students who may be struggling to engage, allowing early identification of issues, and taking action to support reengagement.
• Attend and contribute to a range of departmental committees, providing input on matters of student wellbeing/ inclusion.
• Refer complex student cases to Student Support Services (Student Mental Health, Counselling and Therapies Service; the Safeguarding and Welfare team; University Health Service; Residence Life; and Dyslexia and Disability Support Services), acting as point of coordination between those services and the school for those cases.
• Delegate to, and supervise colleagues in the wider team, as required, in order to ensure effective overall delivery of the role.
• Support colleagues in the wider Education and Student Experience Team to ensure that the School is able to deliver the full remit of its responsibilities in a timely and effective manner.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Skills

Excellent IT skills

Effective communication

Data analysis

Teamwork

Empathy

Education

Educated to A Level with GCSE Maths and English

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

You will work within a team that delivers a high quality, inclusive and accessible learning experience for all students. You will support students, actively seeking out and responding to ‘the student voice’ (via student-staff committees, NSS, Tell US) to enhance the student journey from induction to graduation.

As a key member of the school’s Education and Student Experience Team, you will act as the main contact for queries related to disability, student wellbeing, and inclusion and you will find opportunities to build an inclusive environment. You will collaborate closely with colleagues to ensure that disabled and disadvantaged student needs are understood and met, and you will signpost students for specialist support and advice through the central University Student Support Services. With a desire to improve student success and outcomes, you will monitor academic participation and progress and lead initiatives to re-engage students when required.

The successful candidate will be a supportive, people-focussed individual, with motivation for promoting and embedding equality, diversity and inclusion principles and improving the student experience. They will have an empathetic approach to dealing with students and will be able to build effective relationships as they collaborate with staff and students. Please note that this will be a job share with one other post holder.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Act as main school contact for general disability, student wellbeing, and inclusion support for all students (UG,PGT & PGR), liaising closely with the wider team to ensure a joined up approach to inclusion and engagement.
• Ensure Learning Support Plans, including Exam Support Adjustments (ESAs) are understood and implemented, working with colleagues from across the School, Faculty and University as required.
• Offer advice to academic colleagues on implementing reasonable adjustments.
• Work with the Director of Education to identify and implement underpinning inclusive practices which reduce the need for individual adjustments for disabled students.
• Be the School’s Disability Liaison Officer, providing guidance and information to colleagues on student related disability-related issues in line with University guidance; facilitating liaison with Disability and Dyslexia Support Service as required to ensure that legislative requirements are met.
• Ensure local mechanisms are in place to identify and signpost students who may benefit from or be entitled to support from the University’s Student Support Services.
• Lead the management of the school’s student progression processes, including Extenuating Circumstances, Extensions, attendance and engagement matters, liaising closely with other members of the team to ensure effective student support.
• Working with the Student Experience Manager and colleagues in Student & Academic Services, develop and implement approaches to respond to the participation element of the institution’s Access and Participation Plan.
• Maintain oversight of the impact of welfare issues on student progression through the curriculum, and advise students on the options available to them in their circumstances e.g. through leave of absence.
• Work with the relevant academic lead to proactively identify students who may be struggling to engage, allowing early identification of issues, and taking action to support reengagement.
• Attend and contribute to a range of departmental committees, providing input on matters of student wellbeing/ inclusion.
• Refer complex student cases to Student Support Services (Student Mental Health, Counselling and Therapies Service; the Safeguarding and Welfare team; University Health Service; Residence Life; and Dyslexia and Disability Support Services), acting as point of coordination between those services and the school for those cases.
• Delegate to, and supervise colleagues in the wider team, as required, in order to ensure effective overall delivery of the role.
• Support colleagues in the wider Education and Student Experience Team to ensure that the School is able to deliver the full remit of its responsibilities in a timely and effective manner.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential Or Desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Educated to A Level standard with GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent experience).

Essential Application

Significant experience of working in a student support role, providing initial guidance or signposting, preferably within a Higher Education (HE) environment.

Essential Interview

Strong understanding of the Equality Act and how disability and mental health issues may affect students.

Essential Interview

Knowledge of Data Protection and an ability to deal with confidential issues in a sensitive manner.

Essential Interview

Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office packages and Google applications

Essential Interview

Ability to develop creative approaches to problem solving

Essential Interview

Ability to analyse and interpret data

Essential Interview

Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, including report writing skills

Essential Interview

Ability to deal tactfully with people at all levels and negotiate where necessary to achieve appropriate outcomes

Essential Interview

Excellent customer service skills, with experience of responding efficiently and effectively, and with empathy to staff and student enquiries via phone and email.

Essential Interview

Willingness to assist and/or lead other team members and to work collaboratively with others to ensure deadlines are met.

Essential Interview

Knowledge and understanding of student welfare issues and the support services available.

Further Information

Grade

6

Salary

£32,080 - £36,636

Work arrangement

0.5 FTE

Line manager

Student Experience Manager

Direct reports

N/A

Right to work in the UK

This role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship under the UK Visa & Immigration points-based system. Information on alternative visa options is available on www.gov.uk.

Our website

https://sheffield.ac.uk/ijc

For informal enquiries about this job contact Meg Ayres, Student Experience Manager: on [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

The selection process will take place after the closing date. This will consist of an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within 2 weeks of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail].

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What We Offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
• access to menopause support in the workplace
• paid time off and support for fertility treatment
• and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 30/09/2026

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.