Mental Health Support Officer - Maternity Cover

Application Deadline: 14 April 2025

Department: Learning Support

Location: Liverpool

Compensation: £29,431 - £32,147 / year

Description
Maternity cover until 04/05/2026
35 hours pw
Salary: £30,938 - £33,794

Working within the Safeguarding Team, alongside the Counselling and Mental Health Team, to provide mental health educational needs assessments, as well as supporting these students. The postholder will be responsible for developing support and safety plans where relevant, liaising with external agencies to support individual mental health needs, and advocate on behalf of students to facilitate educational attainment. The postholder will play a key role in raising awareness around mental health issues and to offer practical advice and guidance to the College staff around inclusion.

You will be educated to at least Level 4 in a relevant subject or a recognised mental health qualification and have recent experience of working with students with mental health needs to support them to achieve and to stay safe.

To contribute to achieving excellence in supporting students through innovative and excellent practice. Responsible to: Safeguarding, Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager

Key Responsibilities

• To contribute fully to the mission and values statement of the College ensuring its effective implementation in all aspects of College life.
• To manage and maintain a caseload of students presenting range of mental health needs from mild-moderate to complex, severe and/or enduring.
• To develop support and safety plans.
• To undertake mental health educational needs assessments.
• To advocate for reasonable adjustments to support the attainment of education.
• To adhere to the GDPR compliance requirements in relation to safeguarding of personal data.
• To record, file and enter data in College systems.
• To advocate on behalf of students as and when appropriate.
• To develop mechanisms whereby young people have a voice in order to evaluate the service and take an active role in decision making.
• To coordinate and attend multi-agency meetings as required.
• To comply with the policies and practice requirements in terms of health and safety, safeguarding, equality and diversity etc.
• To adhere to record keeping and recording systems.
• To actively participate in the evaluation and quality assurance of the service.
• To share knowledge and skills through training as and when required.
• To work within a multi-agency framework to ensure the needs of students are addressed holistically.
• To actively promote participation in all aspects of service delivery.
• To develop and maintain sound working relationships with health, education and social care, to enable a joint working, joint thinking approach in relation to the needs of students.
• To contribute to the College and service area strategic objectives and to actively engage in the annual review.
• Evaluate and improve own communication skills to maximise effective communication and overcome barriers.
• To review own professional development needs and to participate fully in future training and development.

Professional Practice and Values

• To contribute fully to the mission and values statement of the College Group ensuring its effective implementation in all aspects of College life.
• To take a proactive approach and responsibility for personal professional development, Health & Safety, and meeting other regulatory compliances (e.g. GDPR, DPA, Safeguarding), thereby enabling safe and professional working practices to be observed at all times.
• To support cross college activities as required in particular the key enrolment and invigilation periods.
• Carry out any other relevant and appropriate duties as determined by the needs of the service and as appropriate to the grade.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential:

• Educated to Level 4 e.g. Degree or equivalent.
• Experience of working with people with mental health issues.
• Excellent computer literacy – ability to use the current IT programs of the College.
• Experience of assessing clients' mental health needs.
• Experience of developing support plans and strategies.
• Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding requirements and legislation.
• Engaged in Continuing Professional Development.
• Minimum of Level 2 literacy and numeracy or willingness to complete.
• High level of communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to set high standards for students, colleagues and for themselves.

Desirable:

• A recognised Mental Health qualification.
• Membership of a relevant professional body.

Benefits

We really care about our people. As a member of College staff, you will have access to a wide range of benefits, wellbeing services and opportunities for professional development.

These include:

• Generous annual leave - We offer the highest holiday entitlement in the City Region.
• Competitive salary - Our salaries are the highest within FE in the City Region.
• Access to our Employee Benefits Platform, offering hundreds of discounts and savings.
• Wellbeing support - Access to a free, independent and confidential 24 hour counselling support, as well as general wellbeing and lifestyle support through our platform and app.
• Pension Scheme - Excellent pension provision, with memberships of Local Government Scheme, Teachers Pension Scheme and Aviva, depending on the role.