Professional Practice Advisor

PURPOSE OF POST 

The postholder will contribute to the day-to-day support and administration of an efficient end to end Professional Practice service to students working across both the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the School for Allied and Community Health. 

The postholder will be the key administrative and customer support contact to staff and students around professional practice administration including placement allocation, database administration, registration and pre professional practice tasks.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  

1. Manage a portfolio of professional placement providers and students to ensure students professional practice experiences are fit for purpose and meet compliance requirements.


2. To support the Professional Practice Manager to achieve the day-to-day tasks supporting colleagues to ensure that all tasks and services are supported therefore contributing to team metrics/KPI’s.


3. To establish and maintain good working relationships with all stakeholders, providing advice, information, signposting and sharing specialist knowledge with all team colleagues relating the NHS Trust or professional practice provider they have been allocated to work with.


4. To play an active role in ensuring that the team provide excellent customer service, contributing to the continual enhancement of services offered by highlighting processes, procedures or policies that are not easily administrable, identifying any barriers and possible solutions.  


5. Providing accurate and timely responses to all queries relating to their portfolio and working directly with academic colleagues, escalating complex queries or concerns as appropriate.


6. Supporting the successful delivery of all aspects of professional practice, including but not limited to;  attending mapping meetings, placement allocations and maintaining a central database, processing of Disclosure and Baring Service (DBS) checks, Occupational Health (OH) checks, recording the status of both DBS and OH checks, notifying of any failures or concerns, applications and distribution of Uniform and ensuring all information is accurately recorded on the placement manager and University systems.


7. Working collaboratively with Student Administration to track and record any student interruptions, withdrawals and failures at Examination Boards and supporting all follow actions to support the student upon their return to University or in successfully completing retrieval placements.


8. To support the smooth running of activity that takes place during and post a professional practice placement, including placement audits, administering evaluation reports of students and mentors, signposting to LSBU services such as Student Support and Wellbeing, advice around placement expenses, bursary support, directional statements and finally PIN registration.


9. Working as a team to help plan and deliver services in line with deadlines set by the Academic Calendar and contribute into discussions around these deadlines.

This list is not exhaustive. The postholder will be expected to carry out relevant and related tasks as commensurate with the current grade and agreed with the Head of Employability and Placements or their nominee.

N/A

Experience  

• Practical administration experience (E) working in a higher education setting (D), supporting and resolving students/customer concerns both face to face and online (E).


• Experience of maintaining accurate records, (E) the use the IT systems/software to input, store and where appropriate gather data (E).


• To be able to use own initiative to plan (E), prioritise and organise own varied workload, in a timely manner (E), to approach challenges/problems in a creative and proactive way (E).


• To operate flexibly either as part of a team or independently (E).


• Excellent organisational and administrative skills (E) and to cope with high volumes of work and work as a team during stressful periods in the academic year in a calm and efficient manner (E).


• Good customer service/relationship skills (E), dealing sensitively with enquiries from a diverse range of individuals, and de-escalate and manage potentially difficult or conflict situations calmly and with confidence (D).


• Experience of servicing committee meetings, both in preparation and minute taking, and following up matters as a consequence of meetings (D).


• To be committed to and have experience of the application of ICT in administration (E). Knowledge of word processing, databases and spreadsheets (E) and of the use of the web (D). Willingness and ability to learn new packages in order to carry out the duties of the role (E).

Behavioural Framework

Student and Services Orientated 

Understands who their customers are and puts themselves in their shoes. Manages customer expectations in the appropriate manner. Actively seeks and uses feedback to continuously improve student and customer experience. Adapts communication style, tone and language to engage audience. Demonstrates openness and honesty with customers.

Seeing the Bigger Picture

Is open to new ideas, learns from best practice and seeks diverse ideas from inside and outside of the organisation. Embraces change and is open to the potential of using new technologies and working methods. Actively engages with internal and external networks to share best practice and bring innovative ideas back to LSBU. Keeps up to date with the latest thinking in their professional area.

Taking Ownership  

Takes personal responsibilities for decisions and actions and delivers on commitments to others. Shows consistency between words and actions. Keeps track of commitments and holds each other accountable. Understands where decisions can be made and when they need to be escalated. Is confident to share thoughts and opinions and challenge ways of working.

Inclusive Working

Takes time to celebrate successes and gives praise for work well done. Values diversity and treats every person with respect and dignity. Seeks to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders. Takes time to listen and understand before developing solutions. Considers how their actions impact others.

Outcome Focused

Manages information and data so that it is accurate, easily located and reusable. Understands that all actions have a cost and chooses the most effective way to do something in a resource efficient way. Identifies and seeks solutions to common problems or weaknesses. Works in partnership across the organisation to develop and deliver service outcomes.

Changing and Improving

Learns new procedures, seeks to exploit new technologies and helps colleagues to do the same. Co-operates with and is open to the possibilities of change and considers ways to implement and adapt to change in own work role. Responds positively to new ways of working.

Leading and Communicating

Listens to and respects the value of different views, ideas and ways of working. Promotes the work of the department/division and plays an active part in supporting LSBU values and culture. Expresses ideas effectively, both orally and in writing, with sensitivity and respect for others.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The nature of this role means that the postholder will be involved in regulated activity with vulnerable adults.