Student Welfare Adviser

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground‑breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

About the College/Department

The Registry support all aspects of the student journey, right from initial enquiry and application, all the way through to final award and student completion. We strive to provide an outstanding service to all our users and to be thought leaders in our fields of expertise, developing research informed practice. Registry teams work collaboratively with stakeholders to deliver a high-performance culture that promotes wellbeing, diversity and opportunity for all, supporting excellent student experience.

About Student Services

Student Services at the University of Derby is committed to providing the best possible support services to our students, to enhance the student experience, to help students achieve their full potential and to meet the strategic aims of the University. These services are central to the student experience they are visible, seamless, effective and tailored to the needs of our student community. As part of this commitment, a transformational programme of work is underway in Student Services to ensure that the support we deliver meets the needs of our students. We are excited for this next chapter in our service and welcome applicants with vision, drive and a passion for supporting student success.

About the Role

The Student Welfare Adviser plays a key role in delivering a responsive, frontline support service to students across the University. Acting as a first point of contact, you will provide timely advice and guidance on a wide range of wellbeing, financial and personal issues, resolving queries wherever possible and triaging to specialist services when required. You will have an understanding of safeguarding and be confident responding appropriately to students at risk

You will support students through one-to-one interactions, helping them navigate the challenges of university life, build resilience and remain engaged with their studies. The role also includes responding to urgent and complex situations, working collaboratively with academic schools and professional services, and contributing to preventative wellbeing initiatives across the student lifecycle.

This position is offered on a 12 month fixed-term basis to cover a period of maternity leave. There may be the potential for the contract to be extended beyond this date, however this cannot be guaranteed.

About You

You will have experience of delivering high-quality, student-centred support within a Higher Education environment or a similar setting supporting adults. You are confident working with students facing a range of personal, financial and wellbeing challenges, and can provide practical, solution-focused guidance through both brief interventions and ongoing support.

With excellent interpersonal skills, you can build rapport quickly, manage sensitive situations and work effectively with academic and professional colleagues. You are organised, adaptable and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment, with a strong understanding of the pressures and barriers affecting students in Higher Education.

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Lucy Doherty, Student Welfare Manager via

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Please visit our website for more information.

If you are successful, you will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.

To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.

Please find our Safeguarding pages including our Safeguarding Policy here.

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