Study Skills Tutor

Job Description

The Role
What you’ll do
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
How to apply
Benefits
Employment Visa

The Role

The purpose of this role is to help students develop study skills and strategies to work effectively in a higher education context in the presence of their condition; with the aim of moving them towards independent learning and study.  The boundaries of this role are determined by Student Finance who fund the majority of this support.  You will meet students regularly, usually in-person.

This flexible role will mostly be carried out on-campus, between the hours of 9am and 5pm, during university term-time, which spans up to 30 weeks across the year between mid-September and the end of May. It may require you to provide support for a smaller caseload of post-graduate students and resitting undergraduates during summer break.

Study Skills tutors will be qualified according to specialism.  The SS-ASC role is recommended for students with autism spectrum conditions (ASC), attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  The SS-SpLD role is recommended for students with an SpLD, and also by exception in cases where a student has another condition which has an impact on their learning similar to that of an SpLD (e.g. an acquired brain injury).

Support workers undertaking this role should have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the effects of either SpLDs on language and learning or autistic thinking and learning in a higher education context, together with an awareness of the strengths which students with these conditions can bring to a learning situation and the skills to help students make use of these strengths and overcome barriers to learning. An understanding of relevant assistive technology (AT) is also desirable. A reducing level of support to enable independence should be agreed, where it is appropriate.  

The Study Skills role must not offer any subject-specific tutoring, nor act as a proofreader. They should be able to recognise when there is a need to refer to other support services.

To make an informal enquiry, please contract Laura George on lng@aber.ac.uk

Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check 

Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

What you’ll do

Working as a member of a multi-disciplinary team you will meet your allocated students regularly (typically weekly) by appointment.   Study Skills Tutor help students understand what is required of them academically in Higher Education, recognise the barriers to learning created by their condition and support them in developing strategies to address these barriers.  The support provided will be specifically tailored to the student’s individual needs and set out clear goals and timescales for achieving these goals. This will include:

• Improving academic reading, writing, comprehension, and research skills
• Supporting time management, organisation, and deadline planning
• Encouraging use of academic resources and referencing techniques
• Examination preparation
• Creating personalised action plans and track progress
• Helping students develop independent learning strategies

You will have responsibility for a minimum caseload of 8 students, however minimum work hours are not guaranteed and will vary according to individual assignments; these correspond to individual support recommendations and timetable scheduling. On average, an eligible student may be allocated between 1-2 hours mentoring per week during term time.  Students will be allocated to you by your line manager taking into consideration availability and established competences.

You’ll also need to:

• Attend required training, meetings and Reflective Practice sessions to share best practice and develop professionally in the role.
• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• Be committed to the University’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy and have an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
• Take responsibility for your own continuing professional development
• Undertake any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role

Main Duties & Responsibilities

You will work with the student, and from their Needs Assessment Report (NAR), to identify particular barriers to learning, creating individual work plans that are regularly reviewed.

You will provide regular opportunities for students to check email, Blackboard and other relevant sources of information and communication from university departments, and to act on these appropriately.

You will help your students to develop effective organisation and time management skills for managing their workload and deadlines.

You will support your students in writing assignments and other forms of assessment, helping them to understand the brief and the nature of the assessment, and to teach proofreading skills and reflective practices.

You will support students in the preparation for examinations, and in strategies for answering questions effectively.

You will support the student in understanding and implementing the recommendations from their academic tutors in assignment feedback.

You’ll work with students in a sensitive and empathetic manner, providing a safe, non-judgmental meeting space for your students. 

You’ll be able to understand and manage professional boundaries, establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with students

You will support the student into independent study in preparation for their transition out of university.

You will understand the nature of confidentiality whilst being well placed to refer safeguarding concerns appropriately.

You’ll understand the importance of managing record keeping and other administrative processes in a thorough and timely manner and support your students in their support related administrative responsibilities.

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

1. a) For the SpLD specialism: membership of PATOSS, BDA, PASSHE or DG.b) For the Autism Specialism: First degree AND comprehensive training in adult autism as determined by the DfE mandatory qualification matrix
2. Full term-time availability to support a minimum of 8 students, including attendance at 3 mandatory staff meetings per semester and maintaining responsibility for own Continuing Professional Development
3. Experience of providing tutoring using a learner centred, non-judgmental approach, understanding the issues which impact neurodivergent learners.
4. Good understanding of different learning styles and the strengths neurodivergent students bring to a learning environment.
5. Familiarity with a range of academic language and terminology and an ability to deal with a range of subject areas.
6. Ability to develop study skills tools and strategies to promote student independence.
7. Exceptional organisational skills, with the ability to support students in managing any challenges they may face with executive functioning.
8. Excellent IT and administrative skills including minuting / notetaking, using Microsoft Excel, and using database, timesheet and shared document platforms.
9. Ability to identify and refer safeguarding concerns appropriately
10. Full understanding of, and cooperation with, data protection and confidentiality procedures.
11. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A1* or evidence to demonstrate an on-going commitment to learn Welsh to this level.

Desirable

1. Ability to work throughout the year to support PG or re-sitting students.
2. Understanding of the effects of trauma, and co-occurring mental health conditions.
3. Knowledge of the university’s processes and procedures.
4. Familiarity with UK disability and equalities legislation.
5. Knowledge of the University’s structures and procedures
6. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level C1.*

*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/

How to apply

To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.

Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• Hybrid Working 
• 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
• Commitment to Professional Development
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
• Staff recognition and reward schemes
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
• Staff relocation bursary
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus. 

Please keep reading

Aberystwyth University generally supports hybrid working, allowing a mix of office-based and remote working for suitable roles to enhance flexibility and productivity. Job descriptions typically detail a primary work location alongside opportunities for flexible, remote, or home-based work, subject to service needs and manager approval.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.

We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Employment Visa

Under the UK Government’s points-based system scheme, this role does not meetthe criteria to be sponsored by Aberystwyth University (AU) for a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) application.