Student Services Adviser

Kingston College; England; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 25,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Wellbeing leave

Pension scheme

Subsidised sports facilities

Professional development and training

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Kingston College is seeking a part-time Student Support Adviser to proactively manage a caseload of learners at risk, providing one-to-one support and developing robust safety and support plans to remove barriers to learning.

You will deliver information, advice and signposting through the Student Services Centre, supporting learners with a range of issues and referring to external organisations where appropriate.

Qualifications

• Proven experience with vulnerable young people in educational or youth settings.
• Ability to build positive relationships and re-engage learners at risk of disengagement.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Well organised, able to prioritise workload and work independently or in a team.
• Proficient IT skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and student record systems.

Responsibilities

• Proactively manage a caseload of learners at risk and develop safety and support plans.
• Provide information, advice and signposting via the Student Services Centre drop-in service.
• Deliver workshops and signposting to external organisations as appropriate.
• Support learners to become involved in college life and develop confidence and independence.
• Conduct interviews, reviews and produce risk assessments and support plans.
• Maintain strong liaison with colleagues and external agencies.

Skills

Experience with vulnerable youths

Relationship-building

Communication skills

Organisational skills

IT skills

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Youll proactively manage a caseload of learners who may be considered at risk, providing one-to-one support and developing robust safety and support plans to help remove barriers to learning. Youll also provide information, advice and appropriate signposting through the Student Services Centre drop-in service, supporting learners with a range of issues including benefits, homelessness, childcare, sexual health, substance misuse and bursary enquiries, referring to external organisations where appropriate. Alongside this, youll support and deliver activities that encourage learners to become involved in the wider college community, helping them develop the confidence, skills and independence they need to prepare for life beyond college.

As our Student Support Adviser, youll have proven experience of working with vulnerable young people, with a strong track record of supporting learners who may be disengaged or disaffected. Youll understand how to build positive relationships and use effective strategies to re-engage young people with education or training and help prevent them from dropping out. Youll have experience of working in a safeguarding capacity with young people, alongside a good understanding of safeguarding legislation and practice within an educational setting. Youll also understand Post-16 education and the challenges young people may face when transitioning from pre to post-16 provision or returning to formal education after a period away.

Confident working with a diverse range of students, youll have experience of delivering workshops or tutorials, conducting interviews and reviews, and producing risk assessments and support plans. Youll have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with young people, colleagues, customers and external agencies. Youll be highly organised and able to work both independently and as part of a team, effectively prioritising your workload, meeting deadlines and remaining calm in a busy environment.

Strong IT skills are also essential, with confidence using systems and applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, intranet and website platforms, social media and student record systems such as ProMonitor/EBS. Youll also be willing to undertake further training to develop your knowledge of College systems and software.

12 Months Fixed Term Contract (30th November 2026 30th November 2027)

Part-time, 18 hours per week (0.5) Term-time only (40 weeks)

Campus based

This is a part-time position working 2.5 days per week, comprising Wednesday AM/PM, Thursday and Friday., The benefits package includes generous annual leave of 27 days plus up to 8 additional days over Christmas/New Year as well as an additional 5 days Wellbeing leave to enhance employees physical and mental health. There is an excellent pension scheme that receives a significant financial contribution from the employer (Teachers Pensions or Local Government Pension Scheme), subsidised sports facilities and professional development and training plus a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

As part of our due diligence checks on prospective employees, successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, an online search and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

As outlined in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

The South Thames Colleges Group is made up of Carshalton College, Kingston College, Merton College and South Thames College, which merged on 1 August 2017. South Thames Colleges Group is one of Londons largest providers of post-16 education and training and is an ongoing and significant contributor to its local communities. We aim to put students success at the heart of everything we do.

We are looking for hard-working and collaborative people who can join our team and help challenge our students to achieve and progress.

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