About the Role

Role Title: SU Connections Lead

Hours: 35-hours per week (to be worked flexibly)

Salary: £30,368.01 - £34,345.68 (Band C)

Reporting to: Head of Student Opportunities & Wellbeing

Role Purpose

You’ll lead the way in developing our student-focused social prescribing service – helping students boost their wellbeing by connecting them to non-clinical, community-based support that really works for them. Working closely with students, SU teams, University staff and local services, you’ll build a service that’s flexible, welcoming and shaped by what students actually need. A key part of this role is contributing to the Students’ Union’s strategic goal of eradicating loneliness by creating a person-centred approach where students feel able to co-create their own pathways to feeling better and more connected.

Main Responsibilities and Activities

• Lead on the design and implementation of a sustainable social prescribing model for students that addresses loneliness, isolation, and barriers to engagement.
• Use data, feedback, and insight to shape service design and ensure continuous improvement.
• Lead on the development of wider wellbeing and community-building strategies across the SU and University.
• Embed a culture of early intervention and holistic student support through partnership working.
• Provide day-to-day leadership of the service, ensuring staff deliver high-quality, student-centred support.
• Embed values of compassion, empowerment, and inclusivity into service delivery and team culture.
• Develop and deliver an offer of coaching, training, and development to a team of Student Connectors.
• Encourage collaborative practice across teams and stakeholders to ensure an integrated approach to student wellbeing.
• Lead service evaluation and reporting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage referral pathways, triage, and student engagement processes to ensure safe, effective, and timely support.
• Ensure all sensitive information is collected, handled and stored in line with Union Policy.
• Lead the recruitment, training and supervision of student staff involved in delivery.
• Identify and connect students to a broad range of internal and external activities that promote social connection and wellbeing.
• Design and oversee the delivery of a programme of regular workshops, campaigns and engagement opportunities to promote the service and student wellbeing.
• Support regular quality assurance and audit processes to uphold safety and service standards.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with University teams, academic staff, and community organisations. In partnership with the University identify targeted student groups to engage in the service, co-producing specialised programmes of work when required.
• Act as a key liaison for the service across campus, representing the SU in wellbeing and mental health forums.
• Support students to lead and shape their own community-led initiatives as part of the wider social prescribing approach.
• Work with local partners to expand the reach and relevance of available support options.
• Ensure compliance with the Union’s policies, University policies and all relevant legislation – including Health and Safety, 1992 Education Act and Data Protection.
• Help our Full Time Officers achieve their manifesto commitments.
• Actively engage in student-facing projects and activities of all kinds as required.
• Be an enthusiastic advocate for student leadership and the organisation’s values.
• Maintain your own professional networks and promote the Union on a local and national level.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience designing or delivering a social prescribing, wellbeing, or community referral model.
• In-depth knowledge of student wellbeing issues and barriers to participation in Higher Education.
• Experience of managing or supporting staff and/or volunteers in a support-focused setting.
• Experience of partnership working with health, education or community organisations.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, risk management, and referral protocols.

Skills and Abilities

• A demonstratable understanding of how to build trust and empower individuals to take action for their own health and wellbeing.
• Able to demonstrate ability to manage sensitive data in line with relevant policies.
• Able to demonstrate strong leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to motivate and develop others.
• A demonstratable understanding of how to build and sustain effective partnerships.
• Able to interpret and present complex information clearly to a range of audiences.
• Able to demonstrate ability to manage timelines, resources and competing priorities.
• Able to apply insight and data to drive improvements.

Values and Behaviours

• A demonstrable commitment to Salford SU’s values, mission and purpose.
• A strong commitment to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Comfortable working in a democratic, student-led environment and being an enthusiastic advocate for student voice and representation.

Apply Now!

To apply for this role, please complete the application form here: SU Connections Lead Application Form and send an email to su-hr@salford.ac.uk with the subject line "SU Connections Lead" with a copy of your CV. 

This role is set to close to applications on the 27 August 2025 at 9am