Job Description

Act Student Support is a supportive provider of tailored mentoring and educational support for university students with diverse needs, including Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and mental health challenges. As a Disability Confident and Disability-Led organization, we champion inclusivity, accessibility, and student well-being. Our mission is to empower students to succeed academically and personally through compassionate, student-centered support.

Position: Freelance/Self-employed Consultant
Salary: 34.20 per hour
Location: Remote, in-home, or on campus (within 30 miles of your home)

The Role: As an Act Study Skills Tutor (SpLD/ASC), you will:

Provide tailored academic support to students in higher education. Assist students facing learning barriers due to mental health conditions, Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and other learning differences. Develop strategies to help students with memory, organization, attention, numeracy, and language retention. Support students with study strategies, time management, essay structuring,

proofreading techniques,

and

research skills.

Foster independent learning and empower students to develop their academic abilities. Organize and schedule sessions with assigned students. Deliver support remotely, in-home, or on campus as agreed with each student (most support is remote, although if a student requires in-person support not far from your home this might be requested). Complete Act administration accurately and promptly. Adhere to Act policies, including safeguarding, health and safety, lone working, and professional boundaries.
Skills and Requirements:

Experience working with students or individuals with specific learning difficulties. Ability to assess individual student needs and collaboratively develop an Individual Support Plan. Strong understanding of the demands of higher education and the barriers faced by neurodiverse students. Awareness of when to refer students to additional support services. Ideally, a good working

knowledge of assistive technologies

and related study strategies. Excellent planning, organization, and time management skills. Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. Proficiency in using mobile IT devices and software. Commitment to continuous professional development (CPD).
Essential Qualifications and Memberships: Applicants must be educated to degree level and hold current professional membership with at least one of the following bodies:

PATOSS (Full or Associate Membership) BDA (Full Professional Membership) ADSHE (Professional Membership) Dyslexia Guild (Member, Associate, or Fellow Membership)
If you are passionate about empowering students and making education accessible for all, we would love to hear from you! Please send your CV to info@ActStudentSupport.co.uk

Be part of a team that values inclusivity, understanding, and the empowerment of students through meaningful, specialist support. We encourage applications from individuals with physical disabilities, neurodiverse conditions, or lived experience of mental health challenges.

Welsh speaking or bilingual skills would be advantageous.

Preferable to have a Masters or Phd degree and a real love for learning.

NOTE HOURS:

Working Hours & Contract Type

This role is offered on a zero-hours contract. As a small, values-led organisation, we believe in being transparent about what this means in practice.

Students are referred to Act Student Support with a set number of funded hours per academic year (for example, 30-60 hours per year, with 1-2 hours usually with you each week. Students will then stay with you over their entire time at University which could be anything from 1-6 years). Once a student is allocated to you, you will usually support them across those hours over time.

Referrals do not arrive all at once. You may receive:

1-3 new students in a short period followed by quieter periods where no new referrals arrive for several days
This means that hours naturally build up gradually, rather than starting at full capacity immediately.

How Hours Typically Build

Most staff gain their hours over a number of weeks or months, rather than instantly.

For example:

A recent team member requested 10-20 hours per week It took September to December to build up to around 14 hours per week This equated to approximately 11-14 students
Some Study Skills students are entitled to 2 hours per week or more, while others may need less frequent support. The pattern of work can therefore be variable and unpredictable, particularly at the start. Once students are allocated to you and a strong working relationship is established, they typically remain with you throughout their time at university. Meaning that you may get to a point whereby you cannot take any more students until one have finished.

While this is a zero-hours contract, everyone we have hired has reached their requested number of hours within a few months.

Seasonal Variations (Including Summer)

University support work is seasonal.

During the summer, student demand is usually lower Some students take breaks of 4-10 weeks However, support continues for certain groups, including: NHS students Postgraduate students Placement-based students
Summer months are generally quieter, but work does not stop entirely.

You are free to plan your own time off, and we actively encourage rest and well-being. And we all take off Christmas. This time off is unpaid and your rate of pay at 34.20 an hour also includes any holiday pay.

Why Working With a Small Organisation Is Different

Because Act Student Support is a small company, each student referred to us genuinely matters, and in turn so does each staff member.

Unlike large providers:

Your hours are not spread across a large pool of workers Each new Study Skills hour is allocated directly to you We build your caseload intentionally and sustainably
You will have:

A personal working relationship with us Regular check-ins and support Free Supervision Open conversations about how many hours you want and need
We aim to grow your workload at a pace that feels right for you.

?

Our Commitment to Disabled & Neurodivergent Staff

We are proud to be a disability-led organisation.

Many of our staff:

Are neurodivergent Have lived experience of mental health difficulties Have physical disabilities or long-term health conditions
We actively encourage applications from disabled applicants.

Staff often tell us they value:

The supportive and understanding environment The option to start slowly, building work one student at a time A workplace where access needs and well-being are taken seriously
This role is particularly well-suited if:

You want to return to work gradually You value flexibility, autonomy, and compassion in your workplace We are always here to support you, while also trusting you to self-manage your time. You are free to take time off whenever you need, without having to ask permission or go through a lengthy approval process. As this is flexible, session-based work, payment is made for hours worked; time taken off is unpaid.
Job Types: Freelance, Zero hours contract

Pay: From 34.20 per hour

Expected hours: 1 - 20 per week

Benefits:

Additional leave Flexitime Work from home
Education:

Master's (preferred)
Language:

Welsh/Bilingual (preferred)
Licence/Certification:

PATOSS membership or equivalent (required) (required) Will need own insurance (costs about 50) (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Wales