Post Date : 31-Jan-2025 Close Date : 23-Feb-2025
Title: Student Welfare Officer
Department: Centre for Mastery: Personal Professional & Academic Success
(CoMPPAS) within the Department of Student, Academic & Regulatory Affairs.
Tenure: Maternity Leave full time contract - for 12 months
Location: RCSI St Stephens Green / Beaumont Hospital
Reporting to: Head of Student Development and Wellbeing or appointee
About CoMPPAS
RCSI's Centre for Mastery: Personal Professional & Academic Success is a
multi-disciplinary team of specialists working collaboratively to facilitate
and empower students to achieve their personal, academic and professional
goals. Our service is for all students who wish to maximise their potential
and enhance their performance. We also assist students to overcome challenges
they may face during their training and to encourage them to develop
sustainable strategies for success as future healthcare professionals.
CoMPPAS's mission is to be a recognised multi-disciplinary centre of
excellence, facilitating continuous growth and skills advancement for future
healthcare leaders. Our service vision is to foster personalised student
learning, well-being and success in an inclusive educational environment that
inspires leadership and builds community. This will be achieved through pro-
active engagement, the delivery of integrated developmental programmes and
creative partnerships.
Objective:
The objective of this post is to provide inclusive, proactive welfare and
wellbeing support to students across the educational programmes of the Faculty
of Medicine & Health Sciences. The successful candidate as a member of an
integrated multidisciplinary team will interact with students and key
stakeholders, across the RCSI teaching locations including St Stephen's Green,
RCSI Hospitals Group, and in other clinical locations, to ensure attainment of
stated goals. Their priority will be in the professional implementation of
individualized and systematic student support. Please note that the provision
of therapy / counselling is not part of this role and it is not envisioned
that the successful candidate would enter in to a therapeutic relationship
with any individual student.
The key objectives of the post are:
Assist student progression and success by providing high quality pro-
active support to individual RCSI students and groups.
Liaise directly with academic leadership, personal tutors, academic staff,
faculty co-ordinators and administrative staff to ensure learners are
fully supported
Refer to and liaise with internal stakeholders and external service
providers (e.g. RCSI Counselling Service, G.P. Service, etc) and
stakeholders to ensure students receive the best possible support in order
to achieve their full potential.
Contribute to and co-ordinate specialist support where required,
particularly in relation to a holistic approach to student health and
wellbeing
Develop strategies and training initiatives that promote student
resilience, well-being and personal skills for success as a future
healthcare professional
Contribute to the development and implementation of an annual student
welfare and well-being service plan
Assist the Head of Student Development and Wellbeing in the delivery of
student engagement and development services across College.
Specifically, the main duties of the post include:
Provide direct support, guidance and signposting advice to students who
may be experiencing social, emotional, physical or mental health
difficulties where required, including directing/referring students to
appropriate College support and development services
Provide direct support & guidance to students availing of or subject to
RCSI regulatory policies and procedures, including disciplinary, appeals
and exceptional circumstances
Carry out risk assessments in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and
professional services
Support students who have been admitted to hospital
Effectively manage assigned caseload and work collaboratively with other
CoMPPAS team members to ensure the highest possible standards of care
Implement approved case management practices and processes, including
prioritisation, referral, communication and escalation protocols
Initiate and/or participate in multidisciplinary case reviews to address
the specific needs of students in complex cases
Provide, on a one to one and group basis, high quality interventions that
encourage learners to engage and develop strategies for their future
success and progression
Maintain accurate case records of all interventions and student
information on the CoMPPAS welfare case management database and Quercus
student information system
Adhere to RCSI data protection and records management requirements in
relation to these records
Research and understand barriers to learning and support learners to
overcome these by developing innovative practice and delivering a
consistently outstanding service
Contribute to the development of events / initiatives that support broader
staff awareness and management of student welfare related issues
Develop effective stakeholder relationships, including embassy
representatives, to assure appropriate student support and interventions
when required
Attend as required relevant student academic and student support meetings
Lead and support the promotion of campaign weeks and activities to promote
awareness of issues which may impact students.
Actively publicise support services to all students and staff
Measure the impact of one to one and group work in order to evaluate
effectiveness, inform continual development and target student issues
Produce statistics as required to improve service standards and contribute
to the Colleges' quality processes
Commit to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children, young
people and vulnerable adults
Provide support to the Learning Access & Facilitation service as required
In collaboration with line-management to take direct responsibility for
own continuous professional development
Engage in relevant professional supervision
Have flexible working hours to be able to attend examinations, student
events (evenings and weekends) and / or react to student crises when
necessary
Provide, in collaboration with others, agreed defined periods of emergency
welfare cover for holiday periods.
General:
Comply with statutory legislation and CoMPPAS rules and requirements in
furtherance of own and general staff welfare and safety
Undergo programmes of training and development as may be required from
time to time
Represent the best interests of CoMPPAS and RCSI at all times
Perform such other duties as may be required and assigned
Person Specification:
Essential:
Accredited 3rd level social work qualification or equivalent professional
qualification and experience in client facing discipline in a health
capacity
Appropriate Professional Registration in a related discipline
Evidenced case management experience and skills
Excellent organisational and record keeping skills
Ability to prioritise and manage a diverse workload to meet deadlines in a
busy environment
Committed team player capable of working collaboratively and pro-actively
with colleagues
Person centric approach
Desirable:
Post qualification experience, working in an educational establishment or
clinical learning environment (e.g. third level HEI) providing student
wellbeing services to students or relevant experience in a primary
/health/social work setting
Capacity to contribute to a multidisciplinary team environment
Ability to manage multiple priorities
Ability to prioritise and manage a diverse workload to meet deadlines and
shifting service demands
Competent ICT skills, including MS Office and working with databases
Strong interpersonal, communication and influencing skills
Fluent in written and spoken business English
Strong commitment to own continuous professional and personal development
We are all too aware that imposter syndrome and the confidence gap can
sometimes stop fantastic candidates putting themselves forward, so please do
submit an application — we'd love to hear from you .
Informal Enquiries
Informal enquiries about this post can be made to Noel O'Callaghan, Head of
Student Development and Wellbeing, [email protected]
Employee Benefits
RCSI make sure you have the resources you need to thrive by offering a wide
range of benefits in areas including time away, finance, community, health,
and well-being and insuring your financial future. Below are some additional
benefits available to you as an RCSI employee:
Minimum of 20 days annual leave, plus an additional 6.5 Privilege days
Flexible/hybrid working options for colleagues across many roles
Additional leave options incl. paid maternity leave, paternity/parental
leave, study leave
7% Employer pension contribution
Onsite gym €10 per/mth incl. classes and PT sessions
Childcare support 20% discount at Giraffe
Free eye test and annual flu vaccination
TaxSaver commuter tickets and Bike to Work schemes
A site sustainability team focusing on the environmental initiatives;
Green Campus Initiative
Competitively priced café and restaurant
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion forums, and network groups
Employee assistance programme with Spectrum Life
Learning and Development training programmes incl.
LinkedIn Learning for career progression
Discounted services incl. GP visits, 10% off dental, staff parking, mobile
tariffs, Group Scheme discount on numerous brands
Sports and social club incl. yoga, Pilates, fitness classes, Zumba,
running club, social evenings, Summer BBQ
Ticket Draws for events including; Rugby, Taste of Dublin, Dublin Horse
Show, theatre, music & comedy events
