The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

Are you passionate about empowering students and making a tangible difference in their academic journeys? We're looking for dedicated Specialist Mentors to join our vital Disability and Dyslexia Support Service at the University of Sheffield.

This is an opportunity to be instrumental in the support we offer our disabled students. Our current team of mentors is driven by a shared commitment to fostering academic progress, positively impacting students' university experience and their outcomes.

As a Specialist Mentor, you'll provide specifically tailored, one-to-one support, helping disabled students navigate and overcome barriers to learning that arise from their particular impairment. You'll work with a diverse caseload, mentoring students with various and sometimes complex conditions. This includes, but isn't limited to, Autism Spectrum Conditions, ADHD, Mental Health conditions, communication or organisation difficulties, and medical conditions.

Your focus will be on equipping students with practical strategies and effective management techniques designed to promote their independence and autonomy. You'll build professional working relationships, combining a person-centred approach with a deep understanding of each student's condition to support their academic progress. Ultimately, you'll play a pivotal role in empowering students to develop the essential skills and self-awareness needed for successful learning.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Work with students on a one-to-one basis identifying barriers and strengths to provide a person-centred support program which facilitates the growth of independence. Such support will usually be provided weekly or fortnightly both face to face and online.

• Use evidence-based and creative strategies that support attainment and progression to help students respond to the challenges of university study. As part of this, help with prioritisation, and goal setting, including the production of targets and plans of work.

• Identify, monitor and assess risks associated with individual students and action accordingly. 

• Help students to reduce and cope with anxiety or emotional dysregulation through stress management approaches and techniques for well-being. In particular, to help students make transitions and deal with new situations. 

• Respond to students’ queries, signpost and support them to problem solve. Assisting and empowering the student to communicate with academic departments.

• Work collaboratively with staff including Disability and Mental Health Advisers to inform and receive direction on student progress, crisis interventions and coordinated approaches to support and communication with academic departments.

• Support the development and delivery of induction and transition support,  psychoeducation workshops, support groups and other service improvement activity.

• Keep accurate records of attendance and notes relevant to work undertaken following confidentiality and GDPR procedures. 

• Identify and undertake regular professional development that is relevant to the role.

• Attend monthly supervision and team meetings and proactively contribute to the work of the team to develop working practices. 

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification;

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on Week Commencing 3rd November 2025. This will consist of a short test activity and an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 27th October 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact the team at supportwork@sheffield.ac.uk, or by phone on: 0114 222 1413

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.

• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.

• Generous pension scheme.

• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.

• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).

• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.

• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; Professional Services Shared Skills Framework

• A range of generous family-friendly policies

  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies

  • support for those going through the menopause

  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment

  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Criminal record: A basic DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role (opens in a new window).

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

Closing Date : 22/10/2025 

The University of Sheffield is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our staff and students. It is an offence to apply for this role if you have been barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. Applicants will be subject to relevant safeguarding checks in line with the requirements of each role and the guidance from the Department for Education.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
- Childcare disqualification
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
- Medical
- Online and social media
- Eligibility to work
- Satisfactory references
- Suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Safeguarding policy

Employment of ex-offenders policy