Example title:

Student Support and Assessment Officer

Grade 6

Main Duties and Responsibilities

  • Take responsibility for improving and regularly updating the student My Health and Welfare pages on Minerva (the Medical School’s Virtual Learning Environment).
  • Support the Personal and Academic Tutor Scheme (PATS),reviewing and reinvigorating the Scheme, identifying areas for improvement and implementing change where necessary.
  • Support the Directors of Study and Phase Administrators in the organisation and administration of the Enhanced Support Programme (ESP). This includes the organisation of ESP interviews and ensuring onward referrals to Student Support services and/or Occupational Health or other follow-up actions take place.
  • Design, develop and maintain a database to track students who have additional support needs in liaison with the Disability Liaison Officer (DLO). You may be required to deputise for the DLO, as and when necessary.
  • Design, develop and maintain a database to record and track students whose professional behaviours are assessed as unsatisfactory, referring students with repeated poor behaviour or those whose behaviour gives rise to serious concern, to the Fitness to Practise Investigator.
  • Liaise with Undergraduate Co-ordinators in the Associate Teaching Hospitals (ATH) ensuring that they are fully aware of the full range of student support mechanisms both within the School and elsewhere in the University. Provide staff induction, advice and training where necessary either onsite at the ATH or in Sheffield.
  • Organise and attend all Phase Extenuating Circumstances Boards ensuring anonymity, impartiality and consistency throughout the programme. Ensure that outcomes are accurately transmitted to each Examination Board through liaison with the Phase Administrator.
  • Maintain the OSCE Examiner database. Ensure that training and refresher training needs are identified. Organise appropriate sessions to fulfil training requirements. Keep records of training undertaken and issue CPD certificates.
  • Service the Curriculum Assessment Group (CAG) which meets three times a year including drafting agendas, preparing papers and taking and writing minutes.
  • Liaise with the Chair of IQA (Internal Quality Assurance) and Phase Administrators to ensure that the internal review of all summative assessments are carried out in a timely manner. Organise IQA Boards ensuring appropriate module and subject representation at each Board.
  • Be the main School contact for formal University procedures; Academic Appeals, Complaints, Discipline and Fitness to Practise. Investigate cases, collate background information and draft responses for consideration by the Head of Teaching Administration.
  • Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post.

Example criteria (‘E’ indicates Essential):

Qualifications and experience

  1. E Educated to A level standard (or equivalent qualifications).
  2. A good honours degree (or equivalent experience).
  3. E Significant experience of working in a Higher Education environment in a similar professional services role.
  4. E Excellent IT knowledge, including e-mail, Word and Excel.
  5. E Previous experience of committee work including taking and writing minutes.
  6. Experience of organising and creating materials for display on the internet using the University’s Content Management System (CMS).
  7. Knowledge of the National Health Service (NHS), its organisation and structures.

Communication skills

  1. E Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
  2. EExcellent customer service skills, with experience of responding efficiently and effectively to phone and email enquiries.
  3. EGood listening skills with an empathetic approach in dealing with the student in difficulty.
  4. E Knowledge of Data Protection and an ability to deal with confidential issues in a sensitive manner.

Team working

  1. E A flexible approach to own work, along with the ability to work as part of a team.

Supporting staff performance

  1. E Experience of delegating work to other team members and ensuring that work is carried out to a high standard.

Problem solving and decision making

  1. E Ability to identify areas for improvement and develop creative approaches to problem solving.
  2. E Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer-term implications.

Project planning

  1. Ability to lead on projects, setting objectives and milestones and evaluating performance against a plan.

Personal effectiveness

  1. E Experience of developing and maintaining a network of contacts throughout own work area.
  2. E High degree of numeracy and accuracy and an ability to produce work to a high standard with great attention to detail.
  3. E Excellent organisational skills.
  4. E Experience of adapting own skills to new circumstances.
  5. E Ability to use initiative and prioritise a varied workload to tight deadlines.