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Are you seeking a new opportunity to develop a career in Higher Education? Are you passionate about providing first-class support to disabled students and ensuring they have access to the resources they need to succeed? We have a vacancy for a temporary Disability Support Assistant to join our client, a leading Milton Keynes-based education institute, where you will play a vital role in supporting disabled students and helping them achieve their academic ambitions.

Role: Disability Support Assistant
Employer: The Open University
Location: The Open University, Milton Keynes / Hybrid
Hours: Shift pattern between 8:00am and 6:00pm, Monday to Friday
Duration: Until 31st May 2025
Salary: £12.00 per hour
Start date: As soon as possible

About the Role:

As a Disability Support Assistant, you will be part of the Student Additional Support team, providing essential administrative support to disabled students and offering advice for prospective students. Your role will involve assisting students with their progression through the University and ensuring they are provided with the best support to complete their qualifications.

Key Responsibilities:
Deliver excellent customer service to students and colleagues through various channels, including telephone calls, emails, letters, and webchat, regarding disability support services.
Confidently engage in proactive outbound calls with students to encourage early declaration of their requirements and applications for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA).
Provide students with information on the benefits of completing the Disability Support Form to help them access the appropriate services and support for their studies.
Refer students to specialist staff within the Disability Support team as part of the Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) model, ensuring smooth interactions with the University.
Liaise with Disability Support colleagues and other departments to facilitate further discussions and support for students.
Accurately record and maintain student details on University systems, handling sensitive information in line with legislative requirements.

Skills and Experience:

Essential:
Experience in inbound and outbound calling in a complex customer service environment.
Strong oral and written communication skills, including effective telephone techniques and the ability to write clearly and concisely.
Flexibility and adaptability to changing duties, work practices, and systems, with the ability to quickly learn new information.
Good organisational skills and ability to handle heavy workloads and meet deadlines.
Ability to work as part of a team while maintaining professionalism at all times.
Strong problem-solving skills, including following documented procedures and using initiative within defined boundaries.
Numeracy, accuracy, and attention to detail in processing and managing confidential data.
Compliance with legislative requirements and a commitment to equal opportunities and diversity.
Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and the ability to learn various in-house and customer management systems.
Desirable:
Knowledge of Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) and the Equality Act 2010.
Additional Information:

The role requires working an agreed shift pattern between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Leave may be restricted during peak periods, typically in August, September, October, and January.

About us and our client

As a flexible employee of Pertemps Recruitment Partnership Ltd, you will be joining a Company that holds the distinction of being one of the largest and most successful independent recruitment agencies in the country. Our pioneering spirit and ability to tap into the uniqueness of everyone's talents has enabled us to open doors for our employees, our clients, and our applicants too. Our philosophies and rewards are built very much on mutual trust and respect within the style of a partnership in which we hope you will feel both fulfilled and valued as a person.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential.  We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.  We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks