THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER PARTICULARS OF APPOINTMENT FACULTY OF PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES DIRECTORATE FOR THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

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1 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER PARTICULARS OF APPOINTMENT FACULTY OF PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES DIRECTORATE FOR THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE HEAD OF ACCESS SUMMIT Vacancy Ref: PSS The University invites applications for the above post. 2 Salary will be 47,787 to 57,031 per annum according to relevant experience 3 Informal inquiries may be made Dr. Pat Sponder, Director of Student Support and Wellbeing pat.sponder@manchester.ac.uk Tel : Applications should be made on line. If you are unable to apply on line please request an application form by ing hrservices@manchester.ac.uk quoting the reference number or by calling (HR Services). As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons. However, as ethnic minorities are currently under-represented at this level, we would particularly welcome applications from ethnic minority applicants. All appointments will be made on merit. 1

2 The University of Manchester Job Description Job Title: Head of Access Summit Grade: 8 Reports to: Accountable to: Office: Director of Student Support & Wellbeing (Line Manager) The Access Summit Policy Committee Access Summit Division of Student Support & Wellbeing Directorate for the Student Experience Date: February 2014 Overall Purpose of the Job To provide overall leadership and direction for, and management of, The Access Summit Joint Universities Disability Resource Centre ( the Centre ), so as to ensure that the delivery of services to disabled students, staff and other stakeholders (including The Centre s partner higher education institutions and funding bodies), is co-ordinated, efficient, effective and customer focused. To be accountable to the Access Summit Policy Committee for the ongoing development, implementation and promotion of the Centre s strategic, policy and operational priorities. To ensure appropriate working partnerships are in place with colleagues, students, and other stakeholders, which are conducive to the effective realisation of the Centre s strategic aspirations and operational priorities. Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties Strategic To play the lead role in establishing and maintaining the Centre s reputation and profile nationally (and internationally where appropriate) on issues relating to the provision of disability services, benchmarking and contributing to the development of KPI s where appropriate so that the Centre can be seen as a leader exemplifying best practice, sharing it as appropriate and learning from the experience of others. To lead, organise and direct the work of the Centre so that its objectives are met and it is operating efficiently and effectively. To promote a culture of excellent customer service throughout The Centre, and work with colleagues to support this across the disability support services in the partner institutions. To embed a performance culture within The Centre. To support the wider disability support aims, working with colleagues in the partner institutions on matters of strategic importance. 2

3 Operational To lead the further development of the Centre, building on its strengths and identifying areas for innovation and in doing so to take account of national and international developments and benchmarks with the aim of ensuring that the Centre maintains and enhances its reputation as an exemplar and leader in disability support services. To promote and facilitate innovation and collaboration with a wide range of contacts, stakeholders and other service providers within the disability support sector, both locally and nationally, so that the Centre continues to develop as an exemplar of best practice and remains at the forefront of disability support service provision. To keep under review the priorities of the Centre and to deploy resources, as appropriate, to reflect those priorities so as to ensure that the Centre delivers costeffective services which meet the needs of disabled students and its partner HEIs. To manage the finances of the Centre efficiently and effectively, ensuring that income generation is maximised in order to enhance and develop the services to students and the Centre s partner institutions. To work with colleagues on the further implementation and development of the CRM and Matching systems to underpin service delivery, development and innovation, and to realise the full potential of these resources to further expand the service delivery reach of the Centre. To make regular reports to the Access Summit Policy Committee on the work of the Centre and prepare and submit for its approval annual business plans and budgets. To work collaboratively with other colleagues from a wide range of stakeholder organisations including funding bodies and partner HEIs including Disability Support Services to ensure that the provision of support services for disabled students is responsive to needs and effective in meeting needs. To work with colleagues to implement procedures for monitoring the quality of the Centre s support services as experienced by a wide range of stakeholders including disabled students and to implement appropriate changes to ensure that service delivery continues to improve and is responsive to demand. To support the Director with compliance and implementation of the University s risk management policies and procedures, in particular for Health and Safety and information security, to monitor and ensure requirements are adhered to. Managerial To lead, manage and motivate a team of staff in providing disability support services that are modern, responsive and customer-focused and to organise and co-ordinate the delivery of these services to students from the Centre s partner HEIs and to students and further and higher education institutions across the North West. To manage the staff within the Centre, supporting their development, managing their performance, carrying out annual appraisals, and monitoring annual leave and sickness absence. To optimise resource and effort for the delivery of high quality services within the Centre and partner institutions. To take a significant role in directing the work of the Access Summit Steering Group. To be an active member of the Access Summit Policy Committee, contributing to the operational planning, visions and values, and its wider remit as and when required. As a member of the Senior Management Team for the Division, to make a significant contribution to the effective and efficient management of the Division, to support its development and assist with reviewing priorities. To undertake such other duties as may be required from time-to-time by the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing commensurate with the level of responsibility of the role. 3

4 Person Specification Qualifications To be educated to degree level, or equivalent educational standard, with evidence of progressive professional development. Experience Significant experience of leadership, including management of staff and resources, preferably within an HE setting. Proven record in effectively leading and managing a team. Significant experience of delivery of disability related services in education. A detailed knowledge and understanding of current issues and developments related to the provision of support services for disabled students, with a particular focus on post-16 and higher education. A results and delivery track-record, evidence of setting and achieving clear and challenging performance goals. Able to manage projects and operations successfully within budget. Evidence of working collaboratively across organisational boundaries and with external agencies. Evidence of a proactive approach to generating new ideas, seeing and seizing opportunities and the ability to create and communicate these plans. Demonstrable experience of policy development and the delivery of projects. Evidence of significant experience of working in a competitive environment, and of achieving key outcomes. Evidence of working in a customer focused environment and of delivering exceptional customer service to stakeholders. Experience of managing a sizeable budget and of deploying staffing and financial resources efficiently and effectively. Experience of involvement in the development of tender documents and procurement exercises for the acquisition of goods and services. Skills and Competencies An ability to think in strategic terms and a willingness to exercise leadership. The capacity to innovate and support change management. An ability to develop and manage plans of work within the context of overall strategic aims and objectives. The ability to operate in a competitive environment, with an understanding of the financial, accounting, marketing and operational functions of an organisation. Excellent leadership, team building and decision making skills combined with the ability to motivate staff within an ethos of individual and collective responsibility for actions and exemplary service delivery. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage and influence colleagues. Excellent project management skills within a demanding environment. The capacity to be a constructive team player. The ability to represent the Centre externally. 4

5 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY SALFORD UNIVERSITY Access Summit Background Information Access Summit was established in 1997 by the then four universities of Manchester (University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Salford and UMIST) following a successful bid under the HEFCE Special Initiatives. The aim of the bid to HEFCE was to: develop and enhance a supportive educational environment sensitive to the individual needs of disabled students on HE courses within the four Access Summit institutions, by exploring the potential of collaborative activity to the full through joint initiatives and the sharing of resources and expertise operating from a central resource base (Source: Joint bid to HEFCE, 1997) Since the conclusion of the HEFCE funding period in 2000, the Access Summit resource centre (hereafter referred to as the Centre ) has continued as a joint activity of the (now) three participating partner universities (University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and Salford University). The Centre operates successfully on a self-funding basis and is now one of the UK s largest and leading integrated H.E. based assessment and support providers. The Centre is located in St Peter s House, Oxford Road, Manchester, close to the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University. There are also Outreach Centres in Oldham, Salford, Preston and Crewe. Much of the work of the Centre relates to the assessments of disabled students in respect of their need for assistance from the Disabled Students Allowances, the provision of nonmedical helpers and the training of students in the use of assistive technology. In 2002, following a review of these operations, it was decided to partner with an external agency to provide the significant numbers of non-medical helpers and assessors necessary to meet demand. The current provider of these staffing resources is Randstad Student Support. Thus the Centre now has a core staff of twenty five, including the post being advertised, and has become more of a facilitator of services rather than a direct provider. The core staff team manages the day-to-day deployment of up to 180 support workers (Study Coaches, Notetakers/Personal Assistants/Study Facilitators, Assessors and Assistive Technology Trainers) who are retained on Contracts for Services via Randstad Student Support. The activities of the Centre are overseen by a Policy Committee which agrees a development plan and an annual business plan for the Centre and provides strategic direction reflecting both current legislation and requirements and the needs of the participating institutions. There is also a Steering Committee which is responsible for keeping an overview of the work of the Centre, ensuring that the services it offers are meeting the needs of the partner institutions. For administrative convenience, the University of Manchester acts as the administrative base for the Centre in respect of finance, and personnel and payroll for a small number of the core Centre staff. The Centre staff work closely with disability support staff in the three partner universities and, collectively, they seek to share and develop good practice which will contribute to a positive experience for disabled students at all of the participating institutions. The following figures for give an indication of the size of the Centre s activities: Study Needs Assessments undertaken in 2012/13 = Hours of non-medical helper support provided in 2012/13 = hours Turnover in = in excess of 1.8m 5