About
The
Job.
Academic Unit of Medical Education
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health
Student Support and Assessment Officer
About
The
Job.
Pursue the extraordinary
Overview
About the Department
The Academic Unit of Medical Education at The Medical School provides undergraduate
education for over 1300 students, who graduate with the qualification of MBChB. The
medical degree programme is an intensive course, with students required to undertake
full-time study for 45 weeks a year from the third year of the course and to meet their
learning objectives through a range of clinical placements, centrally managed lectures and
tutorials and a range of formative and summative assessments. Students in The Medical
School also have an opportunity to spend a year working towards an additional research
degree (Intercalated BMedSci or a Masters Programme), with approximately 60 students a
year taking on a further year of study. More information about the department and its
taught
programmes
can
be
found
on
the
department’s
website:
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/medicine
Job Role
The current organisation of the student support and assessment functions is split across the
four MBChB Phase teams. This new post seeks to provide continuity, expertise and a
strategic overview in these important areas of the student experience. In terms of student
support, you will have a remit for developing the Health and Wellbeing strand of the
student experience which will include reviewing and reinvigorating the Personal and
Academic Tutor System (PATS), administration of the Enhanced Support Programme (ESP),
development of a Disability and Dyslexia database and a tracking system for unsatisfactory
professional behaviours.
Within the assessment strand of this post you will work closely with each of the Phase
Administrators and have responsibility for servicing the key committees through which the
assessment processes are managed: Curriculum Assessment Group (CAG), Internal Quality
Assurance (IQA) process for assessments and, linking in with the student support strand, will
be secretary to each Phase Extenuating Circumstances Board (ECB).
You will also support the Head of Teaching Administration in preparing responses for
Academic Appeals, Fitness to Practise investigations, hearings and appeals.
Job Description
Main Duties and Responsibilities
 Take responsibility for improving and regularly updating the student My Health and
Welfare pages on Minerva (the Medical School’s Virtual Learning Environment).

Support the Personal and Academic Tutor Scheme (PATS), reviewing and reinvigorating
the Scheme, identifying areas for improvement and implementing change where
necessary.

Support the Directors of Study and Phase Administrators in the organisation and
administration of the Enhanced Support Programme (ESP). This includes the
organisation of ESP interviews and ensuring onward referrals to Student Support
services and/or Occupational Health or other follow-up actions take place.

Design, develop and maintain a database to track students who have additional support
needs in liaison with the Disability Liaison Officer (DLO). You may be required to deputise
for the DLO, as and when necessary.

Design, develop and maintain a database to record and track students whose
professional behaviours are assessed as unsatisfactory, referring students with repeated
poor behaviour or those whose behaviour gives rise to serious concern, to the Fitness to
Practise Investigator.

Liaise with Undergraduate Co-ordinators in the Associate Teaching Hospitals (ATH)
ensuring that they are fully aware of the full range of student support mechanisms both
within the School and elsewhere in the University. Provide staff induction, advice and
training where necessary either onsite at the ATH or in Sheffield.

Organise and attend all Phase Extenuating Circumstances Boards ensuring anonymity,
impartiality and consistency throughout the programme. Ensure that outcomes are
accurately transmitted to each Examination Board through liaison with the Phase
Administrator.

Maintain the OSCE Examiner database. Ensure that training and refresher training needs
are identified. Organise appropriate sessions to fulfil training requirements. Keep records
of training undertaken and issue CPD certificates.

Service the Curriculum Assessment Group (CAG) which meets three times a year
including drafting agendas, preparing papers and taking and writing minutes.

Liaise with the Chair of IQA (Internal Quality Assurance) and Phase Administrators to
ensure that the internal review of all summative assessments are carried out in a timely
manner. Organise IQA Boards ensuring appropriate module and subject representation
at each Board.

Be the main School contact for formal University procedures; Academic Appeals,
Complaints, Discipline and Fitness to Practise. Investigate cases, collate background
information and draft responses for consideration by the Head of Teaching
Administration.

Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post.
Person Specification
Applicants should provide evidence in their applications that they meet the following
criteria. We will use a range of selection methods to measure candidates’ abilities in these
areas including reviewing your on-line application, seeking references, inviting shortlisted
candidates to interview and other forms of assessment action relevant to the post.
Criteria
Essentia Desirabl
e l
Qualifications and experience
1.
Educated to A level standard (or equivalent qualifications).
2.
A good honours degree (or equivalent experience).
3.
Significant experience of working in a Higher Education
X
X
X
environment in a similar professional services role.
4.
Excellent IT knowledge, including e-mail, Word and Excel.
X
5.
Previous experience of committee work including taking and
X
writing minutes.
6.
Experience of organising and creating materials for display on
X
the internet using the University’s Content Management
System (CMS).
7.
Knowledge of the National Health Service (NHS), its
X
organisation and structures.
Communication skills
8.
Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
X
9.
Excellent customer service skills, with experience of responding
X
efficiently and effectively to phone and email enquiries.
10.
Good listening skills with an empathetic approach in dealing
with the student in difficulty.
X
11.
Knowledge of Data Protection and an ability to deal with
X
confidential issues in a sensitive manner.
Team working
12.
A flexible approach to own work, along with the ability to work
X
as part of a team.
Supporting staff performance
13.
Experience of delegating work to other team members and
XX
ensuring that work is carried out to a high standard.
Problem solving and decision making
14.
Ability to identify areas for improvement and develop creative
X
approaches to problem solving.
15.
Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of
longer-term implications.
Project planning
16.
X
Ability to lead on projects, setting objectives and milestones and
evaluating performance against plan.
Personal effectiveness
17.
Experience of developing and maintaining a network of contacts
X
throughout own work area.
18.
High degree of numeracy and accuracy and an ability to
X
produce work to a high standard with great attention to detail.
19.
Excellent organisational skills.
X
20.
Experience of adapting own skills to new circumstances.
X
21.
Ability to use initiative and prioritise a varied workload to tight
X
deadlines.
Further Information
This post is open ended.
This post is full-time:
This role has been identified as a full-time post, but we are committed to exploring flexible
working opportunities with our staff which benefit both the individual and the University.
Therefore, we would consider flexible delivery of the role subject to meeting the business
needs of the post. See www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/wellbeing/info/wlb.html for more
information.
Benefits
Terms and conditions of employment: Will be those for Grade 6 staff.
Salary for this grade: £24,289 - £28,132 per annum. Potential to progress to £30,424 per
annum through sustained exceptional contribution.
More details on salaries, terms and conditions and our wide range of benefits for staff are
available at www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/reward/structures
Closing date: TO BE CONFIRMED BY HR
Informal enquiries:
For all on-line application system queries and support, contact:
e-Recruitment@sheffield.ac.uk
For informal enquiries about this job and department, contact:
Selection-Next Step
Following the closing date, you will be informed by email whether or not you have been
shortlisted to be invited to participate in the next stage of the selection process. Please note
that due to the large number of applications that we receive, it may take up to two working
weeks following the closing date before the recruiting department will be able to contact
you.
It is anticipated that interviews and other selection action will be held on XXX. Full details
will be provided to invited candidates.
The University of Sheffield is committed to achieving excellence through inclusion.
The University of Sheffield is proud to be a Two Ticks employer
www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/equality/support/twoticks/
The University has achieved the Athena SWAN award for Women in
Science, Engineering and Medicine.
The Medical School has achieved the Athena SWAN silver award for
Women in Science, Engineering and Medicine.
Pursue the extraordinary