GENERIC JOB SUMMARY
GRADE 7
JOB TITLE:
Disability Officer
DEPARTMENT/SCHOOL/UNIT:
REPORT TO:
JOB PURPOSE: To assist the Disability Services Team provide a quality support service to students
with disabilities and contribute to the development of Disability Services.
MAIN ACTIVITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Assess prospective and current students’ academic, personal and Assistive Technology
requirements to enable full participation in University life.
2. Prepare applications for Disabled Students Allowance or other appropriate funding.
3. Liaise with academic and other departments and outside agencies in the arrangement of
appropriate support and facilities. Provide information to staff regarding the support needs of
students with disabilities ensuring learning and teaching environment is fully accessible.
4. Assist with the provision of staff development programmes relating to disability awareness and
sensitivity training in relation to disabled students.
5. Assist in the preparation of awareness and publicity material relating to disability issues.
6. Refer and assist students in the arrangement of specialist support, such as note takers, Dyslexia
Support tutors etc.
7. Contribute to the development of policies and procedures in relation to disability issues to ensure
compliance with relevant legislation e.g. Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA),
Data Protection Act etc.
8. Assist in the development of appropriate management information systems in the tracking of
students from pre-entry to post qualification.
9. To represent the service internally and externally on appropriate forums and advisory groups and
to keep abreast of current initiatives influencing disability provision.
10. Research the most appropriate and recent advances in the ever-developing Assistive
Technology market and provide demonstrations/training to students and academic staff, where
appropriate.
11. Liaise with other educational institutions in promoting the services to students with disabilities
and keep-up-to date with any development within the Higher Education sector.
12. Carry out any other duties which are appropriate to the post as may be reasonably requested by
the Head of Service.
PLANNING AND ORGANISING:
 Contribute to short or medium term developments within Disability Services to support the
achievement of objectives.
 Carry out job-specific planning and prioritisation although some work is reactive and needs to be
prioritised daily.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES (e.g. People, Finance, Equipment):
 Oversee resources and offer input into the resource planning process to ensure that they are
appropriately and efficiently managed.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS:
 Daily contact with Supervisor and work colleagues.
 Regular contact with students and academic staff.
QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
See employee specification
EMPLOYEE SPECIFICATION – NON ACADEMIC POSTS
Post Title ____ __Disability Officer_________
School/Directorate__ ____Academic and Student Affairs
SAMPLE
Grade ______7___
Ref No_________________________________
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
1.
Education and Qualifications
A primary degree or equivalent.
2.
Experience
Minimum 3 years’ experience working of
working in the field of disability including
experience in assessing the needs of people
with disabilities.
3.
Other Skills/Knowledge
Extensive understanding and appreciation of
issues relating to people with disabilities in HE.
Experience of developing and delivering
training programmes.
Knowledge of appropriate legislation.
Knowledge of the range of adjustments
necessary to meet the needs of disabled
students including Assistive Technology
devices.
Able to use IT packages.
Good communication skills both oral and
written.
Able to communicate with and relate to people
at all levels both internally and externally.
4.
Presentation
5.
Personal Qualities
Able to work as part of a team.
6.
Special Factors and other Requirements
Must be willing to work outside normal office
hours on occasional basis.
COMPLETED BY: __________________________________ DATE: __________________
AGREED BY: ______________________________________ DATE: __________________
(Personnel Department)
HOW IDENTIFIED
(e.g. Application/CV, interview, presentation
etc.)