Head of Student Support Services

We are seeking an exceptional and experienced Head of Student Support Services to lead and develop our student support provision across the College Group. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring every student has access to outstanding support services that enable them to thrive academically, personally and professionally.

As the operational lead for safeguarding and student support, you will provide strategic direction and inspirational leadership across safeguarding, mental health and wellbeing, student welfare, bursary administration and care-experienced student support. You will play a critical role in creating a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where students can achieve their full potential.

As our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), you will be responsible for leading and embedding a strong safeguarding culture across the organisation, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and best practice. Working closely with internal teams and external agencies, you will oversee safeguarding interventions, staff training and reporting to senior leaders and governors.

You will lead and develop a dedicated Student Support Services team, driving high-quality, student-centred support that promotes positive outcomes, attendance, retention and achievement. You will champion mental health and wellbeing initiatives, strengthen partnerships with local authorities, NHS services and community organisations, and ensure students can access timely support when they need it most.

The role also includes strategic oversight of student financial support, including bursary administration and funding programmes, ensuring fair, transparent and compliant processes that support student participation and success.

We are seeking an experienced and inspirational leader with a degree-level qualification (or equivalent) in Education, Social Work, Counselling, or a related discipline. The successful candidate will bring significant leadership experience within student services, safeguarding, pastoral support, or a similar environment, alongside a proven track record of leading complex safeguarding cases and driving positive outcomes for young people.

You will possess extensive knowledge of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), and have substantial experience leading mental health and wellbeing initiatives within an educational setting. A strong understanding of student financial support and bursary schemes is also essential, together with excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills. The role requires someone who can build effective relationships with external agencies and strategic partners, ensuring a collaborative approach to supporting students.

The ideal candidate will also hold a leadership qualification and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification, although these are not essential. Experience working within Further Education or other post-16 settings would be advantageous, as would experience in budget management, quality improvement frameworks, and the use of safeguarding and case management systems such as MyConcern. Strong analytical and IT skills, including the ability to interpret data, produce reports, and monitor performance, will further enhance your success in this role.

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and strategic professional who is committed to safeguarding, student wellbeing, and delivering outstanding support services that enable learners to thrive.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and provide satisfactory references.

United Colleges Group provides education to over 11,000 learners a year, including 16-18-year-olds, adults, apprentices, and students with high needs, across our five campuses and two colleges; City of Westminster College and College of North West London. The Cockpit Theatre also forms part of the Group.

With an annual turnover of over £50m, we are one of the top 20 largest college groups in the UK. We offer education and training in almost all vocational areas at a variety of levels for a wide range of learners of all ages and starting points.

Our mission is to provide all our learners with the very best knowledge and to break down any barriers to learning. We pride ourselves on enabling our learners to meet their individual needs and aspirations and we deliver a learning experience that is unique, enjoyable and rewarding.