Student Support Lead (Mental Health & Wellbeing)

Student Support Lead (Mental Health & Wellbeing)

Hybrid - within commuting distance of one of our campuses in Beckenham, Blackburn, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Doncaster or Redcar

Fixed term contract for 4 years due to funding

Help shape the support and wellbeing experience of trainees throughout their programme, and ensure our services, policies and processes deliver an outstanding student experience.

About us

At the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT), we believe teaching is a fundamental societal good, both a privilege and a responsibility. We are looking for an experienced and compassionate Student Support Lead (Mental Health and Wellbeing) to lead student support in the areas of mental health and wellbeing for our Initial Teacher Education programmes and on behalf of our partners for the High Performance Initial Teacher Training programme.

The NIoT vision is a school system that nurtures the talents of teachers and leaders at all stages of their careers, so they can provide children with the excellent education they deserve. This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to make a tangible and immediate impact to improve the quality of teacher and leader development at a system level.

About the role

This is a pivotal new role at the National Institute of Teaching, shaping the support and wellbeing experience of trainees throughout their programme. You will lead on all aspects of mental health and wellbeing, ensuring trainees can access the help they need to thrive. You will also work with colleagues across the Student Support team to ensure a coherent support offer with the delivery of wider student support services including disability and inclusion.

Working closely with colleagues across NIoT and Teach First, you will be a key point of contact for student support services relating to mental health and wellbeing. You will provide expert advice, oversee casework, manage relationships with external support providers, and help ensure our services, policies and processes deliver an outstanding student experience.

This role would suit someone with significant experience in mental health, counselling or wellbeing services who combines sound judgement, empathy and professionalism with the ability to build strong partnerships and drive service improvement.

Essential criteria

• A genuine commitment to the aims of the National Institute of Teaching.
• An interest in the education sector and a belief in the value of teachers and school leaders.
• A degree or equivalent.
• Significant experience of working in student services, in particular in mental health and wellbeing services in higher education.
• Experience of implementing process and policy improvements in relation to mental health and wellbeing.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and Prevent.
• Experience of interpreting procedures and regulations and providing specialist advice and guidance to others.
• Experience of delivering high-quality student-facing services.
• A commitment to student success and supporting students to fulfil their potential.
• Strong relationship management skills, including communication, engagement, facilitation and negotiation.
• Knowledge of data protection regulations and best practices in handling sensitive information.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience of managing complex processes in an educational setting.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office software packages, such as Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to problem-solve to resolve both operational and strategic issues.
• Experience of designing and delivering improvements to processes and/or services.

Desirable criteria

• A professional qualification in one of the areas of student support (counselling, mental health practitioner, mental health social work etc.), or equivalent work experience.
• Further postgraduate training related to student support, wellbeing, counselling or mental health support and interventions.
• Membership of a relevant professional body.
• Experience of policy development and implementation.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Experience of using a management information system or CRM system.
• Experience of working in or with the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) sector.

Key benefits

• Generous annual leave – 27 days’ holiday a year (plus 8 bank holidays), rising to 33 days after five years’ service.
• Flexible working – we offer flexible start and end working times, with hybrid working in place for all roles.
• Pension - Entry to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Salary sacrifice schemes – we offer salary sacrifice schemes for bikes, cars and tech!
• Lifestyle benefits – We offer discounts on gyms, cinema, retail and much more!
• Parenthood leave – We offer above the statutory minimum for maternity, adoption and paternity leave.
• Working environment – We have a stimulating, supportive and rewarding working environment with a dedicated team of like-minded professionals.
• Support: Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provides confidential support for employees on personal or work-related matters.
• Development: We fully support the development of our staff and ensure that you have a high level of continuous professional development.

We think a wide range of different work and educational experiences could support you to be successful in this role. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. 

This post involves occasional travel and overnight stays, which will be paid/reimbursed by the NIoT.

How to apply

If you have any queries about this role, please email us at recruitment@niot.org.uk.

Closing date: 14 August 2026.

Interview date: 27 August 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Candidates must already have the right to work in the UK, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

As a condition of employment this post requires a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) with a Children’s Barred List Check and an Occupational Health Check.