THE POST

Faculty/Service: Education and Academic Services

Post: Mental Health Mentor

Reference No: R70607

Grade: E

Reporting To: Mental Health Mentor Team lead, supervision provided Mental Health Mentor Team Lead
or Wellbeing Consultants

Context

Wellbeing Services

Wellbeing Services operate to help students get the most out of their time at University. Health and wellbeing
are crucial ingredients of effective study as well as a rich and fulfilling student experience. Staying well in body
and mind isn’t always easy at university. We recognise that it’s much more difficult to learn and enjoy student
life when personal difficulties or emotional worries arise. Our Wellbeing Team offers a range of services to
support students personally and in their studies when difficulties occur.

Our Team

Our Wellbeing team, made up of therapists and mental health practitioners, are all highly skilled and
experienced in recognising how psychological and mental health difficulties can affect a student’s studies. They
offer advice, therapeutic and practical support to help students to cope personally and to manage their studies.
The university opened the Wellbeing Centre in the late summer of 2012 bringing together relevant services for
students within the beautiful Reed Mews building.

Job Description

Main purpose of the job:

The Mental Health Mentor will contribute to the three strands of service provision for students: health
promotion, illness prevention and intervention. The specific remit of this role is to work as a member of the
Wellbeing Services team in the provision of mental health support and interventions to enable students to
reach their full potential in respect of their academic experience.

Main duties and accountabilities:

1. To provide mental health mentoring support to enable students to manage their mental health in
relation to their academic progression, promoting strategies for independent learning and
selfmanagement.

2. To have up-to-date knowledge of the Disability Discrimination Act, the Equality Act 2010, and the
Disabled Students’ Allowance, in order to assess students’ need for the provision of reasonable
adjustments and ongoing support.

3. To liaise with and coordinate support in conjunction with medical services, external providers of
mental health services and academic/support staff as appropriate.
 4. To assess the student’s ongoing needs and to ensure that wellbeing services risk policy is followed.

5. To engage with regular caseload supervision which will usually be carried out by a Wellbeing team
lead or a Wellbeing consultant. As part of this process, to report emerging clinical and academic
concerns and to ensure relevant support options are being considered. To provide advice,
information and training to students and staff about mental health, the University’s policies and
procedures relating to Wellbeing Services and the range of support systems available.

6. As and when required, to promote positive mental wellbeing amongst students by being involved in
health promotion activities. Additionally, when required to contribute to the development of University
awareness, policy and strategy on mental health issues relevant to students.

7. To work across a range of locations which may include Streatham Campus, St Lukes Campus and
various office spaces where wellbeing services offer support to students.

8. To use the University SID IT system to write accurate records of interventions and support and when
communicating via email provided on university systems, ensuring adherence to confidentially
guidelines and GDPR at all times.

9. To keep accurate records of interventions and support provided, ensuring adherence to

confidentiality guidelines at all times.

10. To attend training sessions, reviews, team meetings and meeting with other University staff as
required.

11. To represent Wellbeing Services within and outside the University at events as required.

12. To keep up to date on mental health and wellbeing issues in Higher Education as well as in equality
and disability legislation.

13. To carry out any other appropriate duties as requested by the mental health pathway lead and
mental health team lead.

This job description summarises the main duties and accountabilities of the post and is not comprehensive;
the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties of similar level and responsibility.
Person Specification

Applicants are required to demonstrate how they meet the essential criteria for this role, through examples in
their application.

Competency Essential Desirable

Attainments/Qualifications • Educated to degree level or

equivalent.

• Professional qualification in
occupational therapy,
mental health nursing,
social work, postgraduate
psychological therapy
training or equivalent.

• Current registration with a

professional body, e.g.
HCPC, NMC, BACP etc.

Skills and Understanding • Understanding of how

mental health difficulties
impact upon individual
functioning

• Awareness of the Equality

Act (2010) and other
relevant disability legislation
and codes of practice in
Higher Education, such as
Disabled Students
Allowance.

• An understanding of issues
that affect the participation
and progression of students
experiencing mental health
issues in Higher Education.

• Excellent interpersonal,
clinical practice and
communication skills.

• Ability to work
independently and flexibly,
as well as ability to
contribute effectively to
team work.

• Excellent skills and

confidence in IT, including
keeping up to date clinical
records and using data
bases.
Prior Experience • Recent significant
experience of supporting
students/people with a
range of mental health
conditions.
• Experience of assessing
clinical risk and ability to
determine appropriate
action, including when to
refer students to statutory
services.
• Previous experience as a
mental health mentor in a
Higher Education setting
• Experience and knowledge
of local mental health
services.
• Knowledge of use of
assistive technology and
willingness to develop skills
in this area as appropriate.

• Experience in delivering
presentations and training.

•
Experience in facilitating
group work for students/
people.

Behavioural Characteristics • Ability to set and keep

appropriate boundaries.
•
Approachable, patient, and
empathetic listener with
balanced and sensitive
judgement

• Evidence of developing
supportive and trusting
therapeutic relationships.

• Ability to work flexibly and

independently across a
range of locations.

• Ability to take initiative, use

own clinical judgement to
make decisions, while
working closely with
colleagues.

• A willingness to be creative,
flexible and adaptable within
own and team working
practice.

Commitment to continuing
•
professional development

Informal Enquiries
Before submitting an application you may wish to discuss the post further by contacting either Beccy Farrow,
r.farrow@exeter.ac.uk (Mental Health Mentor Team lead) or Kirsty Grant k.grant@exeter.ac.uk (Mental
Health Pathway Lead) or on 01392 724381 or email wellbeingadmin@exeter.ac.uk

Terms & Conditions

Our Terms and Conditions of Employment can be viewed here.

Further Information
Please see our website for further information on working at the University of Exeter.