Details
1114621
University of Northampton
20/09/2026
Other - See Job
Flexible working hours - mostly evenings - Mon - Fri
Casual
Pay
£13.45
£1.96
Description
Role
Working as part of the Residential Life Team, the Residential Life Assistant provides a friendly, professional and approachable peer support service for students living in University halls. The role helps residents settle into university life, build a positive community and access the support available to them. This includes engaging with students through regular drop-ins, flat meetings, events and campaigns, promoting respectful shared living, and signposting students to appropriate services when needed. You will also support community initiatives, offer practical advice on communal living, and work occasional evenings and weekends as required.
Duties and responsibilities
• Provide visible, approachable support to students living in halls during allocated shifts, offering guidance, reassurance and signposting where needed.
• Build positive working relationships with residents across University of Northampton accommodation and help create a safe, welcoming and respectful living environment.
• Carry out regular engagement activities such as drop-ins and flat meetings, including offering advice on shared living and kitchen hygiene where appropriate.
• Respond appropriately to student concerns, including low-level issues such as noise complaints, and escalate matters when further support is required.
• Support the planning and delivery of events, campaigns and initiatives that promote community, wellbeing and positive behaviour in halls.
• Maintain an up-to-date awareness of University and accommodation support services so that students can be referred to the right help at the right time.
• Attend training, team meetings, briefings and other sessions relevant to the role, contributing ideas, feedback and observations from your work with residents.
• Work within your role boundaries, recognising when to seek advice or pass concerns on to the Residential Life Team.
• Act as a positive role model by upholding University expectations, accommodation regulations and professional standards at all times.
• Support the Residential Life Team in promoting the wellbeing, safety and positive experience of students living in accommodation.
• Keep clear, accurate and timely records of significant interactions or incidents, while maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive information appropriately.
• Contribute to awareness campaigns, engagement events and community-building activities that support student wellbeing and positive shared living.
• Provide additional support during key times in the student journey, including arrivals, departures and other busy periods within the academic year.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the role, as reasonably requested by your line manager or the Residential Life Team.
• Work collaboratively with the Residential Life Team, site staff and other University colleagues, maintaining positive communication and professional working relationships.
• Develop a working knowledge of relevant University services and processes, and support wider team activity when reasonably requested by your manager.
• Handle confidential and sensitive information responsibly and in line with University policies and expectations.
• Comply with relevant legal, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion requirements in all aspects of the role.
• The job description may be altered in the future, in line with the level of the post, to meet changing institutional requirements and only following full consultation with the post holder.
The duties listed are not exhaustive and may be varied from time to time as dictated by the changing needs of the University. The post holder will be expected to undertake other duties as appropriate and as requested by their line manager, second line manager or members of the Residential Life Team.
Skills and experience
Current University of Northampton Student until Summer 2027.
Have previously lived in University of Northampton student accommodation.
Experience of providing excellent customer service.
An ability to approach situations and students fairly and professionally.
Confidence and stability to handle sensitive and difficult situations.
Good mediation and communication skills with understanding and empathy when appropriate.
General office experience, including answering face-to-face enquiries, phone enquiries and email queries.
Experience of working as part of a team.
Good communication skills in writing and orally at all levels.
Able to work under pressure.
Flexible and positive attitude.
Location
Waterside Campus, St Johns and Scholar's Green
Additional information
Please only apply for this role if you are a student at the UON and will be for the 26/27 academic year.
You will be working part time, mostly 3 hour shifts Monday - Friday (Occasionally you will be asked to support with events)
Start date 20/09/26 - 30/06/27
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