Post title: Residence Life Officer
SBU/Department: Office of the Dean of Students/Residential Life
FTE: 1.0 FTE (working 37 hours per week)
Duration of Contract: 1 permanent, 1 fixed term maternity cover (1 year)
Salary: UH6 £31,396 pa to £33,966 pa with potential to progress to £37,099 pa on achieving designated skills and experience
Annual Leave: 25 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year
Location: College Lane and de Havilland Campus, Hatfield (with some flexibility for home working)
Working as part of the Residence Life Team, this post will also work closely with the Student Wellbeing and Procedure Teams as well as the Head of Safeguarding and our University Police Team. The Res Life Officer is an integral part of the Student Experience promoting positive, healthy and safe living/learning environment for our students living in University accommodation.
The Residence Life Officer will be responsible for resolving issues affecting students offering the best solution to promote harmonious living. Following the University's policies and procedures for any breach of the Student Code of Conduct which is used to provide our expectations of student behaviour. The postholder will also be able to identify and refer any student who may have complex challenges for Support to Study to provide a holistic approach for academic success.
Main duties & responsibilities
As a Residence Life Officer, you will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external, to help continually improve services, including Student Wellbeing, Security, Student Union and the Police. You will work collaboratively with relevant professional services, academics and external partners where needed, using an evidence-based approach, focusing on the best possible student outcome, ensuring that disciplinary and welfare cases are followed up in a timely manner in strict accordance with our University policies.
Meetings with students, welfare or discipline related, will be conducted with all relevant background information so that an informed decision can be made or in some cases a referral to the Support to Study process. As Residence Life Officer, you will manage investigations and Support to Study meetings in accordance with the University policies and procedures. You will also create and monitor accurate reports, ensuring all actions are recorded on the Reporting System.
Compliance with safeguarding responsibilities and procedures is paramount as is the ability to identify and escalate any safeguarding or complex welfare concern, including reports of sexual violence or hate crime, to the Residence Life Manager or Deputy.
As a Residence Life Officer, you will support an outstanding student experience for those living within University accommodation by supporting various projects relating to Residence Life across the university and promote positive wellbeing, physical and mental health. You will support the organisation and planning of the Residential Life Programme of Events including the smooth operation of the arrivals and departure weekends for both semesters, and you will also support the recruitment, training and management of the Residential Assistants.
Skills and experience needed
You will have knowledge and experience of working in the Higher Education sector, as well as proven experience of delivering pastoral care, welfare and wellbeing services to students. An understanding of effective models of welfare service delivery, legislative requirements and national codes of practice, as well as experience in working with clients from a diverse range of cultural and social economic backgrounds is essential to the role. You will be able to demonstrate an excellent understanding of University Procedures and Regulations, and you will also be expected to maintain a good knowledge of national and internal news affecting HE students and its impact upon student life.
You will be able to action reports using the relevant UPR to achieve effective outcomes and engage students with the necessary support needed for them to succeed in their studies, using empathy, initiative and problem-solving skills. You will have experience of excellent writing and communication skills, as well as effective communication and negotiation skills, with proven advanced digital capability. Experience in social media would be beneficial. You will have the ability to tackle new initiative and bring new ideas, and a commitment to collaborative working across professional boundaries.
Qualifications required
A minimum of a degree or equivalent, or proven relevant professional experience, and a Safeguarding Level 1 qualification
Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.
We regret that we are unable to offer UKVI sponsorship for this post; applicants will either hold UK Right to Work, or demonstrate access to UK Right to Work, before an offer is made.
REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT
DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE
This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 as amended. The University requires that the successful applicant who is offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. An Enhanced Disclosure will be required and this will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. The University of Hertfordshire complies with the ‘Code of Practice for Registered Personsand other recipients of Disclosure Information'.
Overseas applicants and UK applicants who have lived abroad
Successful applicants who have lived outside the UK, for at least 12 months, (whether continuously/in total), in the last 10 years,will be required to produce a ‘Certificate of Good Character/Conduct' issued by each of those countries.
Contact Details/Informal Enquiries
Diane Kendrick (Residence Life and Safeguarding Manager) [email protected] 01707 281169
Closing Date : 09 May 2024
Interview Date: TBC
Reference Number : 058815
Date advert placed: 24 April 2024
Our vision is to transform lives: UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of their protected characteristics, and recognise there are different ways applicants may achieve the criteria in this document. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave, flexible location opportunities within the UK, discounted Sports Village memberships and free Active Staff sessions, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies. #GoHerts