Suite 17, Danzig House
8-12 Torphichen Street
Edinburgh, EH3 8JQ
0131 229 5465
info@hdscotland.org.uk
www.hdscotland.org.uk
ACADEMIC COURSES ADMINISTRATOR
APPLICATION PACK
Improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of individuals, families and communities
Human Development Scotland is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Charity No: SC043664 | VAT No: 162 8100 33 | Registered Office: Suite 17, Danzig House, 8-12 Torphichen Street, Edinburgh EH3 8JQ
Academic Courses Administrator
Home-based with some travel in Central Belt
18 hours per week
Two year fixed term in the first instance
£24,000 pro rata
Human Development Scotland (HDS) delivers academic and professional training in
psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy and counselling. We seek an experienced
academic administrator to work with our tutors and students. This key role in our small and
friendly organisation is responsible for the smooth running of courses including liaising with
partner universities and institutions.
You will use your experience of higher education administration to provide an efficient,
timely, effective and accurate service. Working closely with the HDS General Manager and
programme organising tutors you will manage all aspects of course administration. You will
act as a first point of contact, liaise with partners on quality assurance and validation, and
provide comprehensive support to tutors and students at all stages of the academic cycle.
Human Development Scotland (HDS) is a Scottish charity providing a range of training,
professional education and short courses and offers a counselling and psychotherapy service.
This is an ideal opportunity for someone with an interest in emotional wellbeing to gain
experience of working in the 3rd sector.
For a job description, person specification and application form, visit our website at
www.hdscotland.org.uk and follow the links from the home page.
For an informal discussion about the role please contact HDS Chief Executive Hilary Robertson
on 0131 229 5465 or email h.robertson@hdscotland.org.uk
Applications must be submitted by email.
Closing date: Friday July 31, 2015 at 12 noon.
Interviews will take place in Edinburgh in August.
Human Development Scotland is Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Charity no: SC043664
Job description and person specification
Job Title:
Academic Courses Administrator
Location:
Home based with some travel within the Central Belt
Hours:
18 hours
Salary:
£24,000 pro rata
Overall Purpose
To hold primary responsibility for the efficient, timely, effective and accurate academic
administration of three Human Development Scotland’s postgraduate academic and
professional training programmes:
 Professional Doctorate in Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
 MSc in Psychoanalytic Observation and Reflective Practice: Therapeutic Work with
Children and Young People Course
 Diploma in Human Relations and Counselling
Working closely with the HDS General Manager and programme organising tutors, you will
manage all aspects of course administration. You will act as a first point of contact, liaise
with partners on quality assurance and validation, and provide comprehensive support at all
stages of the academic cycle.
Reporting to the HDS General Manager, you will work closely with organising tutors and
staff teams to ensure the smooth running of the programmes. Specifically the post holder
will:
Operational activities
Pro-actively manage academic administrative processes during the academic cycle
including:
 Liaison with, and support for, students
 Administrative support to organising tutors and staff teams
 Liaison with academic partners
 Student registration and support
 Management of coursework submission and assessment procedures
 Attendance monitoring
 Organising course-related meetings and events
 Timetabling
 Maintaining and updating student records
 Management of online platforms and information systems
 Maintaining and updating course-related literature e.g. student handbooks, student
progression materials and programme prospectuses
 Liaison with other relevant Human Development Scotland courses and activities
To carry out such other work as required by the organising tutors or HDS General Manager.
Quality Assurance Activities
 Student/staff feedback systems: collation of data and assistance with preparing
reports
 Assistance with compilation and quality assurance of documentation for
accreditation and reviews; (re)validations and responses; and annual programme
monitoring
 Provision of information for course management and reporting.
Committee Activities
 Support course training committees by arranging meetings, circulating papers and
minutes, liaising with the committee chairs and members
Customer Care
 Act as a point of contact, information and assistance for students, staff and general
enquiries.
Other Duties
To become fully conversant with data protection requirements, copyright and other
relevant policies.
To carry out any other specified duties related to the courses as directed by the organising
tutors or General Manager.
To provide general cross-organisational support as required (eg holiday cover, sickness
cover, peak periods).
Hours:
HDS offers flexible working. The pattern of hours will be agreed at the time of appointment.
At busy times of the year, working patterns may change to accommodate peaks in course
activity and additional hours may be required to accommodate the needs of individual
programmes and of this small organisation. Occasional evening and/or weekend working
may be required. Changes to normal working hours will be agreed in advance with the post
holder. Time off in lieu will be granted.
Travel:
HDS courses are currently delivered in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Cupar. The postholder will
be required to meet course organising tutors, usually in Glasgow or Edinburgh. The
frequency of face to face meetings will be agreed between course tutors and the postholder
but is expected to be at least once per term. The postholder will also attend HDS staff
meetings, either in person or by video-link/Skype. Occasional travel to Cupar may be
required.
Person Specification:
Essential
Desirable
Education
Education
Educated to degree level
Good numeracy and English
A relevant postgraduate qualification
Knowledge & experience
Knowledge & experience
Experience of working in higher
education and experience/familiarity
with academic timetabling, student
progression, and quality assurance
processes
Experience of working in a customer
contact environment
Experience of introducing and
maintaining appropriate
administrative systems & processes
Knowledge of the NHS and/or social
care; knowledge of children’s services
Experience of working remotely as part
of a virtual team
Knowledge/experience of therapeutic
training
Skills
Skills
Good written and oral communication
skills; good interpersonal skills
Accurate typing (40 wpm min)
Budgeting & budget monitoring
Computer literate (Microsoft Office Word, Excel, knowledge of database
packages)
Knowledge
of
online
platforms such as Moodle
Event organising
learning
Speed and accuracy under pressure
Abilities
To learn quickly & adapt to change
To work on own initiative, balancing
competing demands and anticipating
the needs of courses and tutors
To maintain a high standard of
accuracy under pressure
To work as part of a virtual team
Abilities
Personal
To work flexibly, in line with the job
description, undertaking new tasks at
quiet periods, and helping out with
work from other areas of the
organisation.
To be comfortable with change and
able to cope with job variations.
To be committed to personal
professional development.
Personal
ABOUT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SCOTLAND
Human Development Scotland (HDS) is a charitable organisation working to improve the
mental health and emotional wellbeing of individuals, families and communities in Scotland,
regardless of context and means, and to increase the effectiveness of organisations.
We deliver academic and non-academic training courses for professionals working in the
public, private and voluntary sectors so that they will be better able to:

Work as appropriately accredited practitioners in psychological therapies,
counselling, coaching and related fields in ways which respect individual
needs and values

Understand the importance of personal and professional relationships and
their impact on people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing

Work effectively demonstrating compassion, continuity, clear communication and shared decision-making, in order to relieve distress and suffering

Increase the resilience and capabilities of the individuals, groups and
communities they work with
For professionals caring for people in, or at risk of, mental or emotional distress or suffering,
and those working with potentially vulnerable individuals, HDS offers a range of continuing
professional development (CPD) and learning opportunities, for example conferences and
seminars, coaching, short courses and team/leadership development.
Human Development Scotland also delivers a range of accessible and affordable therapeutic
services including counselling and psychotherapy directly to individuals and families in need.
The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) awarded HDS the status of a Scottish
Charitable Incorporated Organisation in December 2012 after it was formed to carry on the
work of the Scottish Institute of Human Relations (SIHR). The expertise built up in the SIHR is
now concentrated in Human Development Scotland.
Dr John (Jock) Sutherland and a number of other psychoanalysts, psychiatrists, social
workers, psychologists and educationalists founded The Scottish Institute of Human
Relations (SIHR) in 1971 as an educational trust with the aim of developing the application
of psychodynamic thought in Scotland. Over the years, the Institute’s members developed a
range of interests reflecting their breadth of knowledge and experience.
The first training at SIHR was in analytic groups. Subsequent courses allowed a wide range of
individuals to learn about themselves in a group context and apply their learning to their
work settings. SIHR’s first psychoanalytic psychotherapy training, established in 1973, was
the first formally recognised training of its kind in the UK outside London.
Training at HDS now encompasses academic courses in psychotherapy and counselling for
adults, children, adolescents and families at Diploma, Masters and Doctoral levels and a
range of short courses for professionals working in the NHS, social care, education and faith
groups.
Alongside these experiential programmes, we offer organisational consultancy, applying a
psychodynamic understanding of organisations to a wide variety of settings, and a range of
psychotherapy and counselling services to individual clients.
Across the caring professions, awareness has increased of the need for good quality
supervision to help workers develop their skills and competency and we have substantial
experience of supervisory relationships and currently offer supervision services to a number
of individual and organisational clients.
Over the years, hundreds of professionals passed through the Institute’s doors and have
used the experience gained here for reflecting on their work, themselves and others. Some
students have gone on to senior positions in their own fields, many have become members
of HDS, sharing their experience with colleagues and so adding to the body of knowledge
within the organisation. Conferences, seminars, published books and papers have all added
to learning and research.
Human Development Scotland is a membership organisation governed by a Board of
Trustees comprising up to 10 members. Most trustees are elected from within the
membership with others appointed because of their specific knowledge or expertise.
More information about our training and services is available on our website at
www.hdscotland.org.uk
APPLICATION FORM
CONFIDENTIAL
HDS strives to be an equal opportunities employer and applications are welcome from all
sections of the community.
All information provided by applicants will be treated as confidential. We retain recruitment
files for six months following the date of interview, after which they are destroyed securely.
Additional information may be attached on extra sheets if necessary.
Please complete as fully as possible and return the form electronically to:
h.robertson@hdscotland.org.uk
CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATION:
July 31, 2015 at 12 noon
Application for the post of:
Part-Time Academic Courses Administrator
Surname:
Initials:
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(Home)
(Work)
Email Address:
(Home)
(Work)
Please indicate with an asterisk (*) your preferred contact method (home or work).
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Secondary Education
Particulars of Schools Attended and Exams
Qualification
Tertiary Education (College, University)
Dates
Institutions
Subjects
Results/Grades
Other Qualifications and Training
Details (including dates)
Qualifications
Membership of Professional Body
Name of Institution/Professional Body
Class of Membership
Length of
Admission
EMPLOYMENT
Present or Most Recent Employment
Name and Address of Employer:
Job Title:
Dates:
Notice Required:
Final Salary:
Brief description of duties and responsibilities
Previous Employment (most recent first) Continue on a separate sheet if necessary
Employer’s Name and Address
Dates
Job Title and Brief Details of Duties
EXPERIENCE AND SUITABILITY FOR THE POST
Please make a statement in support of your application including what attracts you to this
post and how your experience equips you for the role. Please refer to the person specification
and show how your skills and experience align with the qualities and qualifications sought.
Continue on a separate sheet if necessary.
REFERENCES
Give the names and addresses of two referees, at least one of whom should be relevant to
your most recent employment.
Referee No. 1
Name:
Position:
Address:
May contact be made prior to an interview?
* Please delete as appropriate
YES / NO *
Referee No. 2
Name:
Position:
Address:
May contact be made prior to an interview?
* Please delete as appropriate
YES / NO *
I certify that the statements and information provided in this application are, to the best of
my knowledge, correct.
Signed:
Date:
If you require this application form in an accessible format, please contact 0131 229 5465.
Suite 17, Danzig House
8-12 Torphichen Street
Edinburgh, EH3 8JQ
0131 229 5465
info@hdscotland.org.uk
www.hdscotland.org.uk
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORING INFORMATION
Human Development Scotland follows an equal opportunities policy in all its practice and
teaching. All applicants for training will be considered on the basis of suitability for a particular
course irrespective of disability, gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religion or social class.
Your help in completing the following questions will enable us to monitor the effectiveness of
our recruitment and admissions policies. The information you provide will be treated as
confidential information, and will be detached from your application form before short listing
candidates for interview.
If you object to providing this information please indicate this in the box provided.
Ethnic Origin (please tick one box only):*
White (10)
Asian or Asian British - Indian (31)
Irish Traveller (14)
Asian or Asian British - Pakistani (32)
Mixed - White and Black Caribbean (41)
Asian or Asian British - Bangladeshi (33)
Mixed - White and Black African (42)
Chinese (34)
Mixed - White and Asian (43)
Other Asian Background (39)
Other Mixed Background (49)
Black or Black British - Caribbean (21)
Not Known (90)
Black or Black British - African (22)
Information Refused (98)
Other Black Background (29)
Other Ethnic Background (80)
If you ticked number (29), (39), (49) or (80), please describe your ethnic origin using your own words
Additional Needs *
Additional needs include any disabilities or special needs that you may have. These include dyslexia,
blindness or partially sighted, deafness or hard of hearing, mobility difficulties (i.e. are you a wheelchair
user?), Autistic Spectrum Disorder or Asperger Syndrome, mental health difficulties, diabetes, epilepsy
or a heart condition etc. If you have no disability please enter ‘NONE’
Do you have any disabilities or special needs?
Please give further details of any disability or special needs
Are you registered as disabled?
Yes
No
Registered number (if applicable): ___________________________________________________
Please complete an electronic copy of this application and return by email to
h.robertson@hdscotland.org.uk
THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015 AT 12 NOON
INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD IN EDINBURGH IN AUGUST. PLEASE INDICATE IN YOUR
COVERING MESSAGE ANY DATES YOU ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW.
END OF APPLICATION FORM
THANK YOU