Student Services Post Graduate Research Peer Guide

Peer Guides contact students directly and the communication may begin via the Vygo app/platform, telephone/MS Teams calls, or email before students start at university, in order to answer any queries they have, and to alleviate any of their anxieties. Peer Guides help new students settle into University life, build friendships, help foster a sense of belonging and support engagement with campus activities.

In particular a PGR Peer Guide will provide support to doctoral students who may be at any stage in their research degree. Doctoral study comes with its own unique and varied set of challenges. Doctoral students may be seeking advice on community and development aspects of their doctoral study, including career aspirations, successful supervision relationships, work/like balance and the demands of research.

Successful applicants will work as part of a team to provide confidential support, advice, and guidance to students, supplementing non-academic wellbeing support provided by Professional Services and Academic staff at the university. Peer Guides will be trained to help students with their general mental health and wellbeing, and be a key contact for any concerns, or queries a new or returning student may have, signposting students to relevant services within (and outside) of the University, as appropriate.

Typical activities a Peer Guide may undertake include:

• Engaging with all students prior to arrival, answering questions and helping them to prepare for arrival and engage with induction
• Assisting students with identifying relevant support services as required during the Induction period and general transition to university during the first semester and beyond
• Attending information sharing ‘events’, e.g. induction, online events, stalls, and information fairs
• Delivering group activity to develop community and facilitate engagement e.g. quiz, activities, tours across the university or for departments and faculties
• With the approval of the Student Communities Team, providing 1 to 1 mentoring to students where this is identified as a need
• Working on other initiatives which may include: Student Services events such as conferences, panels, support with community building initiatives; working at Options Fair(s); transition events for students (including at local colleges if required); substance and alcohol addiction support.
• Working in a cooperative manner with the Student Communities Peer-to-Peer Support team and faculty-based Student Experience Officers to support students and improve their university experience and engagement

• Contributing to the delivery of specific wellbeing activities and campaigns alongside University staff
• Providing time-limited support to individual students as referred by the Peer-to-Peer Support team
• Assist with the promotion and delivery of communications to raise awareness of peer-to-peer support schemes, wellbeing support, disability support, study support and other available services for students
• Contribute to Student Voice initiatives and student belonging activities led by staff and students, including our own Student Associates and the Inclusive Communities Team
• Undertake training by external organisations such as Student Minds, Tender or the Mental Health Foundation to facilitate peer-led mental health, drug and alcohol use/harm reduction workshops/sessions to open up conversations about mental health, addiction, harm reduction and tackle stigma, and provide practical tips and support to increase student knowledge and resilience in managing mental health, substance use etc.

Being a Peer Guide is a key role within the University and it is important that you:

• Maintain appropriate boundaries with students you support, recognising the purpose of the Peer Guide role, immediately referring to the Learning Communities Peer-to-Peer Support team any concerns for the welfare or wellbeing of a student
• Recognise your own limitations and work within these, seeking further advice and guidance as necessary
• Ensure you observe University and Campus Services Policies and Procedures as communicated to you, including Health and Safety Policies
• Peer Guides have responsibility for ensuring appropriate handling of confidential and sensitive data, keeping accurate records and adhering to the University’s data protection policy, in line with GDPR
• Undertake the required Peer Guide training, and any other specific training provided to support you in the role and to attend meetings as required with the Student Communities Peer-to-Peer Support team
• Act as a role model, in personal standards of conduct and appearance
• Act as an ambassador for Student Services and the wider University
• Proactively check student email and Microsoft Teams accounts for messages from the Peer-to-Peer Support team and respond in a timely manner
• Complete all administrative tasks required, including (but not limited to), recording data on Microsoft Excel, communicating through Microsoft Teams and completing timesheets