Job Description

Job details

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Responsible to


Disability Services Manager


Location


Kedleston Road, Derby Campus


Closing date


Monday 25 August 2025


Salary


31,814 to 35,750 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to 41,113 per annum)


Job grade


ATOS 6


Reference


0123-25


Contract type


Permanent


Post type


Full-time


Adaptive working type


Onsite

This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.



About the University
We have one simple promise - to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.



The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.



We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 - making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.



Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.


About the College/Department
The Registry support all aspects of the student journey, right from initial enquiry and application, all the way through to final award and student completion. We strive to provide an outstanding service to all our users and to be thought leaders in our fields of expertise, developing research informed practise. Registry teams work collaboratively with stakeholders to deliver a high-performance culture that promotes wellbeing, diversity and opportunity for all, supporting excellent student experience.



Student Services provides a range of student support, information, guidance and development services across the University including wellbeing, counselling, disability, mental health, financial support and other key services delivered centrally. These teams work closely together (and with other sections of the university) to provide the best possible services to our students, to enhance the student experience, to help students achieve their full potential and to meet the strategic aims of the University. These services are central to the student experience they are visible, seamless, effective and tailored to the needs of our student community.


About the role
You will be working with the Disability Services Manager and will provide co-ordinated support for a case load of students with a wide range of disabilities and long-term health conditions. You will make recommendations regarding access to courses and facilities including reasonable adjustments and changes to the wider estate. You will collaborate with academics and professional services to develop and enhance inclusive teaching practices.

Anticipated interview date:

Thursday 18th September 2025


About You
You will possess excellent knowledge of the statutory, regulatory and legislative frameworks that apply to student disability support and a sound understanding of the challenges of working within Student Services. You will have significant and demonstrable experience of leading, managing, motivating and developing a professional service team(s) to achieve organisational aims and will be able to demonstrate the ability to work to budget within a given framework of resource.



You will be successful at building highly effective working relationships with a wide range of colleagues and adopt an insightful and pragmatic approach to the management of operations across the Disability Service and wider Student Services.


Principal accountabilities
To manage a caseload of disabled applicants and students to provide advice, information and assessment and to co-ordinate strategies and support to address disabled students' needs.

Provide informed advice, guidance and support to students with disabilities, through day- to-day enquires, casework and scheduled appointments, (including creating Support Plans for dissemination, provision of study skills tutors, support workers and other support, and reviewing arrangements with students at appropriate intervals); employing appropriate empathy when dealing with students who may be experiencing levels of distress.

To regularly review with the student and the course team that the support in place remains appropriate documenting all interaction(s) on case recording systems.

Advise and assist students to apply for to relevant funding which they are entitled to, for example the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA); liaising with Needs Assessors as required.

Be aware of, and liaise with, external agencies (e.g. Student Finance England, DSA Needs Assessment Centres, External Support Agencies) to progress students' claims; assist in the arrangement of student support and resolve problems where appropriate.

Work in partnership with the Colleges and other university departments providing information and advice to ensure that staff are aware of the needs of students with disabilities and of their responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, facilitating appropriate consideration of anticipatory adjustments and alternative forms of assessment, as well as resolving individual casework, and ensuring that issues are identified and addressed effectively and in a timely manner.

Contribute to staff development and disability awareness for university teaching and professional service staff on issues relating to the provision of support for students with disabilities, Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLDs) and mental health difficulties; contributing to training and guidance provided to academic and professional service staff.

Working with the Disability Services Manager, contribute to policy development in relation to the provision of services to students with a disability, Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLDs) and/or mental health difficulty.

Attend training and other events (e.g. meetings) to maintain the specialist skills and knowledge required for the post.

Contribute to raising awareness of disability within the student population through collaboration with colleagues within the Student Services, professional services and the Colleges. Prepare and deliver a range of advice and guidance sessions at various inductions, Open Day and admissions events throughout the year.

Participate in external activities and organisations related to student support and wellbeing, where these benefit students and staff.

Person specification###

Essential Criteria

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Qualifications

A degree or equivalent experience A professional qualification relating to the area of disability (or equivalent applied experience) and / or membership of a professional body such as National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP)
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Experience

Evidence of previous experience of working with disabled students, making recommendations for reasonable adjustments in a Higher Education (HE) context, including an excellent understanding of the Disabled Students' Allowances scheme Experience of co-ordinating complex student case work to ensure an excellent student experience Experience of working with clients over a sustained period and of maintaining accurate case notes and files Demonstrable experience of anticipating needs and designing and implementing an inclusive environment in adherence to the social model of disability Demonstrable experience of using initiative and creativity to resolve problems, devising varied solutions and approaching the problem from different perspectives Experience of Safeguarding, "Cause for Concern" and related regulations and policies
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Skills, knowledge & abilities

A commitment to delivering a professional and customer focused service, responding to and meeting customer needs and adapting service delivery as required Proven ability to work on own initiative, actively seeking new and improved ways of working and evidence of excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritise a wide range of tasks whilst working under pressure and to deadlines Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to respond sensitively and appropriately to the needs of students and staff Good understanding of issues affecting disabled students and potential barriers to accessing and succeeding in higher education Knowledge and experience in using a range of dyslexia screening tools Excellent administrative, record keeping and organisational skills Knowledge of legislation relevant to disability with particular reference to Higher Education Knowledge of appropriate assistive technology to support students with a wide range of needs Evidence of a commitment to training and continuing Professional Development, so as to ensure up-to-date knowledge of developments within the HE sector, as well as within the university
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Business Requirements

Ability to work outside of normal working hours (including some evenings and weekends), to support the business during key University events, such as Graduation, Clearing and Open Days and at key student admissions points Benefits
Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata) Local Government Pension Scheme Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers Discounted onsite gym Cycle to Work scheme A flexible working environment A commitment to personal and professional development

Find out more about rewards and benefitsFind out more about rewards and benefits


Key contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Sarah Jones, Disability Services Manager via s.jones2@derby.ac.uk


For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk.


Important information####

Visa Sponsorship Eligibility

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.



Please visit visit our website for more information.


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DBS check

If you are successful, you will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.



Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.



To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.




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Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.



We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.



Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non-binary-inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.



When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender-neutral title 'Mx'. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non-binary candidates. Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.



The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant's name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.



However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.



For more information on equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Derby, please visit our website.





A university that celebrates you

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Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.





Environment and sustainability


Don't miss your chance - join the team and make a difference today!