PALS Peer Leader

Reference
1094792

Branch
University of Salford

Start date
23/06/2025

Duration
Ongoing

Hours and days
3 hours per week as agreed with the hiring manager

Dress code
Smart Casual

Rate of pay
£12.67

Holiday rate
£1.53

Role

Peer Assisted Learning at Salford (PALS) is a new scheme which creates learning communities to support first-year students through their transition to university. As a PALS Leader, you will facilitate small, informal groups of first-year students on your programme to help them reflect on their course content, share knowledge and develop their skills and confidence.

You will work in partnership with other Peer Leaders to plan and deliver PALS sessions, ensuring that these are active, friendly and inclusive.

You will undertake a minimum of 3 hours of work per every 2 weeks during term time. You must also attend a mandatory 8 hours of paid training before term starts in September 2025. This is an hourly-paid role for students of the following programmes only: Accounting and Finance; Business Management with Economics; Business Management with Human Resources; Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Interior Architecture, Pharmaceutical Science, Biochemistry, Fine Art, Dance, Criminology and Sociology, and Psychology with Criminology.

Duties and responsibilities

As a PALS Leader, you will

• Plan and facilitate active, student-led PALS sessions for first-year students using a range of activities and discussions in small groups. These activities will be shared in the Peer Leader training course.
• Share appropriate advice and support on independent learning, good study habits, and other learning strategies to your group without teaching the students.
• Collaborate with other Peer Leaders and the academic Link Tutor to ensure the PALS sessions support student learning and complement the curriculum.
• Promote the PALS scheme to first-year students.
• Motivate the students in your PAL group to actively participate in their learning, including attending lectures, seminars, and tutorial sessions and signpost students to university support services as appropriate.
• Take a proactive approach to sustaining attendance by and participation by maintaining an accurate record of session attendance, gather and share student feedback with the Link Tutor.
• Develop your reflective skills as you attend initial PALS training and other development opportunities to enhance your leadership and mentoring abilities.
• Maintain a professional attitude when handling sensitive matters related to student confidentiality, marks, complaints or concerns.
• Comply with the personal health and safety responsibilities specified in the University Health and Safety policy.
• Promote equality and diversity for students and staff and sustain an inclusive and supportive study and work environment in accordance with university policy.

Skills and experience

• No previous experience necessary!
• Friendly and enthusiastic
• Ability to work with others in a team
• Have good communication skills
• The potential to effectively facilitate small group sessions – you are not already expected to possess facilitation skills as training will be provided to develop this skill!
• Good organisation and time management
• A genuine desire to help others succeed.
• Knowledge of the areas covered in your programme at level 4
• Good digital and IT skills

Location
University of Salford

Additional information

• You must currently be a Level 4 student studying one of the following programmes: Accounting and Finance, Business Management with Economics, Business Management with Human Resources; Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Interior Architecture, Pharmaceutical Science, Biochemistry, Fine Art, Dance, Criminology and Sociology, and Psychology with Criminology.

 

• You must be on track to pass your studies Level 4 (120 credits). Successful candidates will be asked to provide an academic reference.

Start date:Full training will commence in June (2 hours online training) and continue in welcome week Monday 8 September (for 6 hours in person on campus). Candidates must be available to complete the online training by the end of June and attend the in-person training. You will not be qualified to perform the role unless the mandatory training is completed.

• This is a paid role. The rate of pay is £12.67 per hour (Spine point 11) with holiday pay of £1.53 that accrues for each hour worked.

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