Student Mental Health & Welfare Support Practitioner

Oxford Brookes University; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Local Government Pension Scheme

25 days annual leave (rising with long

Job summary

Oxford Brookes University is seeking a Student Mental Health and Welfare Support Practitioner. The role operates on a hybrid model, with on-campus and remote work required.

You will join a small team within the Student Mental Health and Welfare Support Service to provide frontline mental health support to students. You will assess needs, advise on referrals, and support colleagues during critical events, while maintaining a compassionate, culturally sensitive approach to diverse student

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in social work, mental health nursing, counselling or a related field.
• Experience in streamlined assessments and identifying internal/external referral pathways.
• Experience in assessing and managing risk of harm to self and others.
• Experience working 1-to-1 with students/adults in distress and with complex needs.
• Experience in multidisciplinary team settings and culturally sensitive interventions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and ability to convey complex information.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to stay calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Provide first and regular contact for vulnerable students or those in crisis.
• Perform streamlined assessments and guidance on referral pathways.
• Offer specialist advice to students disclosing mental health needs.
• Support colleagues in handling critical student events.
• Conduct risk assessments and safety planning with at-risk students.
• Adopt flexible, problem-solving approaches to support academic engagement.

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Interpersonal skills

Calm under pressure

Risk assessment

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Cultural sensitivity

Education

Degree level qualification in a relevant area

Job description

Student Mental Health & Welfare Support Practitioner

£41,064 rising to £44,746

Full Time, Permanent - Professional Ser

Oxford Brookes University is distinctive in nature. We are a modern and forward thinking institution rooted in, and connected to, a city with a rich history of culture and learning. We are a globally recognised university focused on providing high-quality teaching and delivering impactful research and an excellent student experience. Our vision is simple: "shape tomorrow through our unique blend of the modern and the traditional, by embracing diversity, seeking out the new, and excelling in education and research."

Our people are at the heart of the University - our excellence in teaching, research and knowledge exchange depends on the engagement, capability and wellbeing of our people. We strive to create and encourage an environment where people have the opportunity to develop, progress and thrive.

In acknowledgment of our commitment to gender equality and progression, we proudly hold the Athena SWAN Bronze Award and a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award, a testament to our unwavering dedication to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all. Join us at Oxford Brookes University, where every step forward is a leap toward a brighter tomorrow.

The role

Oxford Brookes University has a vacancy for a Student Mental Health and Welfare Support Practitioner. The team works on a hybrid model with both on campus and remote working required.

About the team

You will be part of a small team of Student Mental Health and Welfare Support Practitioners within the Student Mental Health and Welfare Support Service.

What will I be doing?

As a Student Mental Health and Welfare Support Practitioner, you will be responsible for:

• Providing a first and regular point of contact for vulnerable students, those at risk or in crisis, or with substantial and enduring mental health conditions, those who may be reluctant to access professional services, or students who are unsure of which support services to access.
• Providing streamlined assessments, identifying clear referral pathways (internal and external), and offering support and guidance to students who are having difficulties functioning or continuing their studies for non-academic reasons or who are eligible for reasonable adjustments to help them successfully engage with University life and avoid crises.
• Providing specialist advice, guidance and support to students (both prospective and current students ) who have disclosed mental health as a disability or who have mental health difficulties more generally, which may or may not be in addition to a disability.
• Providing advice and support to colleagues within Student Support Services and other University staff when dealing with critical student events.
• Respond to serious concerns about students, undertaking risk assessments of their situations, face-to-face (in-person or online video) or by telephone with students who are at risk of harm to themselves or others, engage in safety planning, conduct brief solution-focused interventions and signpost to appropriate internal and external agencies.
• Offer a practical, problem-solving, flexible approach to helping students successfully engage with their academic studies and appropriate support services. This may include meetings with students who must present themselves following disciplinary or other offences.

What skills do I need?

Student Mental Health and Welfare Support Practitioner skills and experience

• Qualification at degree level or equivalent in a relevant area (e.g. social work, mental health nursing, counselling or a similar related field).
• Experience in providing streamlined assessments, face to face (in person or via an online video platform or by telephone) to determine the nature and duration of help required by the individual, including identifying clear referral pathways (internal and external).
• Experience in assessing and managing risk of harm to self and others in a front-line provision.
• Experience working on a 1-to-1 basis with students/adults in distress, affected by mental health difficulties or with other complex and multi-dimensional needs.
• Experience in working as part of a multidisciplinary team in an organisational setting.
• Experience in providing culturally sensitive interventions in a multicultural environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and an ability to communicate complex information to others.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to stay calm under pressure and manage challenging behaviour.

About the location

Based at our Headington campus, you'll experience the vibrant campus atmosphere and benefit in our modern office environment. The campus is one mile from the centre of Oxford and is served by regular public transport. This role will be hybrid and we expect the successful applicant to be onsite 4 days per week (until 5pm) with 1 day working from home.

Benefits

As an Oxford Brookes staff member, you will enjoy a total of a minimum of 25 days holiday, rising with your service, plus 8 holidays and additional university concessionary days (normally 5 per year).

We encourage and support hybrid working where the role allows and ensure that you have the necessary equipment to allow you to work flexibly.

We have an extremely competitive Local Government Pensions Scheme with generous employer contributions, as well as providing all staff with access to an occupational health service, financial education, and a comprehensive assistance helpline.

We prioritise the wellbeing of our employees - physically, mentally and financially - and we provide a diverse and comprehensive benefits package to support our team.

In addition, all employees have access to:

• Discounted rates for the university sports and gym facilities
• An on-site nursery (at Headington Campus; waiting lists for some ages).
• Discounted travel options
• TOTUM card discount scheme
• Relocation scheme (for moves over 30 miles, subject to terms of the scheme)
• Training and development opportunities
• A connected community - Brookes have a wide variety of staff networks, which instil a sense of community and offer employees a space for support, guidance and friendship, making Brookes a vibrant and inclusive place to work.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

At Oxford Brookes, inclusivity is one of our five guiding principles: we take positive steps to create an environment in which we celebrate, value and provide equal opportunity to all. We are committed to recruiting from the widest possible pool and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates who embrace our values, regardless of their background.

As a Disability Confident Employer we guarantee to interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential selection criteria.

Closing Date :

18-Oct-2026

Vacancy ID :

196245

Faculty or Directorate :

Academic and Student Administration

Location :

Gipsy Lane Site, Headington Campus

For more information :

[e-mail]