Student Support Officer

Access UCC works in partnership with colleagues within and outside of the University to increase equity of access to University College Cork and to ensure student success for our diverse learners. Access UCC supports students such as those with disabilities, mature students, students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, Travellers, students entering from further education and Sanctuary scholars. The Access UCC team works across the student lifecycle: from primary school outreach right through to providing employability support. The work is varied, far reaching, and rewarding.

The Student Support Officer will be working with other Student Support Officers within the Access UCC – Engagement and Support Team and other staff across Access UCC. They will help to enable students from Mature, QQI and HEAR backgrounds to maximise their learning outcomes and participate fully in the University experience. The appointed candidate will have experience of supporting students from non-traditional backgrounds in an educational setting.

The main duties will be:

• Assist in the further development and enhancement of post-entry supports in order to maximise the retention, progression and employability of Access UCC students.
• Support and advise Access UCC students in one-to-one and group settings.
• Monitor the progress of Access UCC students and ensure appropriate supports are provided.
• Engage with academic and student support services staff to address issues that may arise for students.
• Co-ordinate and assist in the delivery of the Access UCC Connection events.
• Assist in the preparation of submissions and reports in relation to Access UCC.
• Maintain appropriate records and collect relevant data on the operation of the service.
• Liaise with industry partners, donors and alumni in the delivery of mentoring programmes and internship opportunities for Access UCC students.
• Assist in the delivery of the pre-entry outreach programme as required.
• Liaise as necessary with external agencies on behalf of students (TUSLA, SUSI, Community Welfare Officers, St Vincent de Paul).
• Undertake other duties and responsibilities which may be assigned from time to time.

The person appointed will have a proven ability to work well in a one-to-one advisory capacity and will have experience of handling confidential and sensitive discussions professionally. Applicants for the post will have excellent communication, IT and organisational skills. The successful applicant will in the first instance be working within the HEAR cohort of students.

Health & Safety

In addition to the statutory safety duties of all employees (as prescribed in safety legislation and the relevant local safety statement), each staff member is responsible for:

• Discharging any safety functions delegated to them by their Head of College/School/Department/Centre/Unit, in relation to the areas/activities under their control.
• Co-operating and assisting the University and the Head of College/School/Department/Centre/Unit in the discharge of their statutory safety responsibilities.
• Ensuring that all work under their control is undertaken safely and without risk to health and complies with the provision of all relevant statutory legislation.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will be expected to have:

Essential Criteria

Desirable Criteria

Candidates are requested to make a personal assessment of these criteria against their own qualifications, skills and abilities to assess whether they should apply for the post.

Please note: Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the criteria set out above will not be shortlisted.

The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.

UCC as a progressive organisation will continue to change and evolve its structures and reporting lines to deliver on the University's strategy and future business needs. The postholder is expected to proactively engage with the University's programme of change as it evolves. Any such change will be managed in accordance with applicable public sector agreements and established consultation arrangements.

Competencies relating to administrative grades in the University are available on the website.

Salary: Appointment may be made on the Admin V Salary Scale: €52,338 - €64,190 (Scale B) / €50,066 - €61,097 (Scale A).

Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

As required by public pay policy for the higher education sector, new appointments to a direct entry recruitment grade will generally be at the minimum (1st point) of the relevant scale. For existing public servants, the restriction to the first point on scale may be varied where a person is appointed to the same or an analogous grade, role or position as their previous public service employment.

The rate of remuneration for all appointments may be adjusted from time to time in line with government policy.

Working Hours: The working hours for administrative staff are 35 hours per week, with normal hours of duty from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, with 1 hour for lunch break.

Due to the nature and seniority of the post, however, it may be necessary to extend and vary these hours from time to time in order to meet the exigencies of the post.

Annual Leave: Annual leave will be 27 days per annum. This leave is exclusive of public holidays and Good Friday. The leave year commences on 1 July annually and four days annual leave must be held for the Christmas closure period.

Sick Leave: Sick leave will be granted in line with University policy in this regard, which may change from time to time. You should familiarise yourself with the University Sick Leave Policy and University Sick Leave Management Policy.

Tenure: The post is fixed term, two-year term, based on the following provisions:

a) A probationary period of twelve months shall apply from commencement of employment in the post, during which the contract of employment may be terminated by either party in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 to 2005.

b) Except in circumstances of gross misconduct justifying immediate dismissal, the appointee will receive one month's notice of termination of employment, or, if greater, such notice as is provided for in the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973.

c) The appointee is required to give one month's notice of termination of employment.

Pensions: The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 established the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. In general, anyone taking up pensionable public service employment on or after 1 January 2013 is a member of the Single Scheme. The Act provides that most members of the Single Scheme have a minimum pension age consistent with the age of eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) and a compulsory retirement age of 70.

A member of this group is generally referred to as a “Single Scheme member”.