Queen Mary's College is seeking a Learning Mentor and wellbeing Specialist to provide high-quality academic mentoring, wellbeing and mental health support to students, enabling them to achieve their full potential both academically and personally. The postholder will lead on the delivery of academic skills support, act as a key point of contact for students experiencing emotional or wellbeing difficulties and contribute to the College's safeguarding and student support systems to ensure a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the provision and delivery of academic skills support across the College.

• Design and facilitate small group workshops and one-to-one support sessions covering areas such as organisation, time management, study skills, proofreading, revision techniques and independent learning strategies.

• Develop resources and interventions that promote student confidence, resilience and academic success.

• Monitor the effectiveness of support programmes and implement improvements where appropriate.

Student Wellbeing & Mental Health

• Act as the first point of contact for students requiring support with emotional wellbeing, mental health or personal difficulties.

• Develop and operate an effective triage system to assess student needs and ensure timely intervention and referral.

• Manage a caseload of students requiring regular monitoring and targeted support.

• Create, review and coordinate crisis management plans, ensuring appropriate actions and communication are in place.

• Support Sustainable Access to Learning processes and other wellbeing interventions to help students remain engaged in education.

• Deliver weekly wellbeing, mindfulness and resilience enrichment activities that promote positive mental health and student engagement.

Safeguarding

• Undertake the role of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL).

• Support the management of safeguarding, welfare and wellbeing referrals from students, parents and staff.

• Ensure that appropriate action is taken in emergency or crisis situations in line with College procedures.

• Maintain accurate and confidential safeguarding records in accordance with statutory safeguarding and child protection requirements.

• Liaise with relevant staff, agencies and external professionals to safeguard and support students effectively.

• Attend and contribute to regular Safeguarding Team meetings.

Student Support and Multi-Agency Working

• Work collaboratively with internal teams and external agencies to ensure the delivery of coordinated and holistic support for students.

• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with health, social care and specialist support services.

• Ensure wellbeing information, guidance and resources are accessible and regularly communicated to staff and students.

• Support students in accessing appropriate support services and interventions.

Information Management and Communication

• Develop and maintain systems for recording, monitoring and sharing information regarding additional learning and wellbeing support.

• Ensure timely and appropriate communication of relevant student information to teaching staff and key College personnel.

• Maintain accurate records and produce reports as required.

• Support the development and updating of wellbeing information and resources for the College website, including guidance for parents and carers.

Therapeutic and Enrichment Provision

• Support and coordinate the College's therapy dog provision.

• Facilitate structured therapeutic sessions and dog-walking enrichment activities that promote wellbeing, engagement and positive mental health.

• Evaluate the impact of therapeutic interventions and contribute to the ongoing development of wellbeing initiatives.

General Responsibilities

• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the role.

• Maintain professional standards, confidentiality and compliance with relevant legislation and College policies.

• Participate in training, continuing professional development and performance review processes.

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of the post as reasonably required by the College.

Key Relationships

• Students and Parents/Carers

• Director of Learning

• Safeguarding Team

• Additional Learning Support Team

• Tutors and Teaching Staff

• External Agencies and Mental Health Professionals

• Student Services Team

This role is pivotal in ensuring that students at QMC receive the academic, emotional and pastoral support required to thrive, succeed and fully engage in College life.

Person Specification

The ideal person for this role is someone skilled in working with young people with special needs and adept at with understanding medical information. Someone who has flexibility around the expectations of the role, compliance related matters and can balance these against the needs of the students they are supporting. Kindness, patience and compassion are important factors in delivering this role as well as being part of a multi-disciplinary team.

The successful candidate will be able to give a clear demonstration of the following requirements:

• Comfortable with engaging with and supporting students with a range of SEN needs

• Has a strong understanding of mental health needs in young people and is familiar with terms and support approaches

• Confident leading small group sessions with students

• Excellent and diverse communication skills  

• Good level of general education;

• Knowledgeable about specific disabilities and best practice support;

• Interested in general aspects of social care;

• Ability to interact effectively with a broad spectrum of disability and a genuine empathy and affinity for this particular age group;

• Commitment to the philosophy of inclusion for students with barriers to learning, learning difficulties and disabilities;

• Discrete and professional in terms of confidentiality;

• Self-motivated and with strong initiative;

• Well organised and committed to providing high-quality support;

• Ability to understand and carry out reasonable instructions;

• Good communication skills with both staff and students;

• Willing to attend training courses to enhance professional expertise and breadth of experience;

• Good level of general fitness to allow for the wide range of support tasks undertaken;

• A willingness and ability to support learning in specific curriculum areas

• A solid and demonstrable understanding of equalities, diversity and inclusion more widely in education

• Comfortable with handling trained therapy dogs and an understanding of the benefits of animals in supporting engagement and wellbeing 

• Confident and current IT skills

This role is central to Queen Mary's College's commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and student success. Through the provision of specialist SEND, medical and pastoral support, the postholder will help ensure that all students have the opportunity to participate fully in College life, overcome barriers to learning and achieve their personal and academic goals.

Why Join Us?

Having won the Best Place to Work Award (Summer 2025), we are proud of our workplace and workforce. Located on a beautiful, leafy 23-acre site, we offer a supportive environment that prioritises staff wellbeing. 

Benefits include:

• Health & Wellbeing: Free use of the onsite gym and swimming pool, access to a Wellbeing Hub, counselling services, and frequent Staff Wellbeing events.

• Professional Growth: Extensive training and development opportunities.

• Workplace Perks: Free onsite parking, complimentary hot beverages & discounted Starbucks and Costa drinks*, and onsite catering. Central Studio (our theatre) discounted tickets. * Subject to availability

• Contract: 195 days per academic year, following National Joint Council terms for Sixth Form Colleges. The College operates a no smoking policy. All College staff are required to apply for a DBS Disclosure and subject to references and a 4-6 month probationary period.