University of Essex
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title and Grade:
Contract:
Community Assistant (Residence Life)
Grade 2
Fixed Term – 41 weeks (16/9/2015 –
24/6/2016) with potential to continue on-call
over the summer break.
Hours:
200 hours, starting at £8.39p/h, over the 41
week period plus on-call allowance of £25
(weekdays) or £37.50 (weekends).
Department/Section:
Student Support
Responsible to:
Head of Residence Life
Reports on a day to day basis to:
Area Residence Life Co-ordinator
Purpose of job:
To build inclusive residential communities
and assist in the creation of an environment
in which students can live and learn by
supporting teams of Residents’ Assistants to
provide information, support and social
opportunities.
Residence Life has seen significant development over the past 4 years using student development
theory and intentional social and educational events to help students to integrate and adjust to
University life. Residence Life Co-ordinators are full-time members of staff who are responsible for
each accommodation areas. In light of changes to Residence Life, Community Assistants will be
employees of Residence Life and paid an hourly rate for active hours and an additional on-call
rate.
Residence Life Community Assistants help to build inclusive residential communities and assist in
the creation of an environment in which students can live and learn by supporting teams of
Residents’ Assistants to provide information, support and social opportunities.
The role of Residence Life Community Assistant requires maturity, self-discipline, strong
communication and interpersonal skills along with the ability to maintain a calm demeanour, deal
with complex cases, and supervise Residents’ Assistants. Members of Residence Life are the first
to return and the last to leave when university residences are open and are a consistent and
visible point of contact for University of Essex students.
Community Assistants will work in area teams and be led by a Residence Life Co-ordinator. All
members of the Residence Life team report to the Head of Residence Life and Student
Development who is responsible for managing and developing the department of Residence Life.
Please note successful applicants will be required to attend training during their probationary
period.
Residence Life
Residence Life is part of Student Support. Through our network of Resident’s Assistants,
supported by Community Assistants and Residence Life Coordinators, we support students in
Essex accommodation by:

Creating a sense of community though social opportunities and befriending

Providing an out-of-hours on-call service responding to residents in need of support and
addressing anti-social behaviour

Facilitating flat agreements, problem solving and dialogue within student accommodation

Building the Essex community through campus wide events

Personal and professional development opportunities for our staff and volunteers
Duties of the post
The requirements of the role may vary according to the needs of Residence Life, typical duties
are:
Support the Co-ordination of Residents’ Assistants (RAs)

Assist the Residence Life Co-ordinator to co-ordinate, supervise, monitor and support a
team of Residents’ Assistants ensuring that duties are allocated fairly and all necessary
tasks undertaken.

Promote team development and motivate RAs within their roles

Arrange bi-weekly team meetings for between 5 and 15 RAs to provide support, discuss
issues of concern and to develop good working relationships

Attend training sessions as required and assist with recruitment and training of RAs
(Training hours count towards the hours included in the annualised contract).

Supporting RAs in establishing and maintaining a good understanding of campus services
and advising them in signposting students to appropriate support.

Demonstrating and promoting a positive attitude to RAs and supporting their personal
development.
Develop a positive community for living and learning

Support the creation and development of a sense of community within the accommodation
by assisting with Arrivals’ Day, helping the RA’s to positively plan events for students and
interacting with students who have been identified as needing extra help or support.

Assist the Residence Life Co-ordinator to support and record activities of RAs in their
assigned flats, including flat meetings and facilitation of informal social events.

Promote an inclusive culture within the residences and help to create a sense of community

Participate in large scale events throughout the year

Develop positive and proactive working relationships with key staff, e.g. within Student
Support, Accommodation Essex, Patrol Staff and other support services.
Working with and responding to students

Participate in an on-call rota with other Community Assistants covering every day of the
year to provide a back-up level of support to the Residents’ Assistants. This includes
providing support and advice by phone and attending in person where there is a serious
incident or the RA requires further support.

Acting as first on call when RAs are absent over the holidays (note callouts are generally
reduced in these periods).

Support the co-ordination of the rota for Residents’ Assistants.
Training
Mandatory (paid) Training includes:

June 11th 2015- Residence Life Training (all team members)

Moodle training course over summer 2015

3 days CA training week commencing 14th September 2015

Attendance at RA training 21st-25th September 2015

Attend additional training where appropriate
Administration

Ensure that accurate records are kept of all incidents

Assist the Residence Life Co-ordinator to maintain accurate records of RA events and event
expenditures. Monitor RA event spending to ensure fiscal responsibility

Where applicable manage budgets in line with Residence Life procedures.

Assist with general administration of Residence Life or Student Support/Accommodation
Essex if required (e.g. photocopying, issuing of key cards, distribution of posters and
notices)
Other duties/general

Attend regular meetings with the Residence Life Co-ordinators/Head of Residence Life and
Student Development and occasional meetings with other Community Assistants

Be aware of Student Conduct rules and report breaches

Be available at agreed times during term times and vacations to undertake duties required.
To assist Residence Life Coordinators or other staff as appropriate when out of hours
emergencies occur

Undertake duties of RAs if necessary (e.g. during vacation periods or other absence), and
deputise for senior staff if requested.

Follow procedures and protocols in all aspects of the role, using common sense and good
judgement as circumstances require.

Carry out other duties as requested from time to time by senior members of Residence Life
or Student Support.
University of Essex
PERSON SPECIFICATION
JOB TITLE: Community Assistant (Residence Life)
Experience/Knowledge
Essential




12 months previous experience of working in a
similar environment in a paid or voluntary capacity
Good knowledge of welfare and support systems for
students at the University of Essex
Experience of working for Residence Life
Desirable
X
X
X
Experience of co-ordinating a team or supervising
the work of others
X
Skills/Abilities
Essential










Commitment to equal opportunities, confidentiality and
customer-focussed services and an understanding of their
relevance to student support services
The ability to relate to students from backgrounds and
cultures other than your own, with an open minded
approach to diversity
The ability to develop a sense of teamwork in a team
The ability to work proactively and, where appropriate, use
your own initiative
The ability to respond appropriately to distressed or angry
students and to remain calm and professional in a crisis
Good time management and organisational skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills,
including good listening skills and the ability to quickly build
rapport
The ability to work with and manage groups of people. i.e
responding to flat meetings and responding to party
situations.
Willingness to work unsocial hours and to participate in on
call rota (including during university vacations)
Availability to commit to the Community Assistant position
for the entire contract period (September 2015 - June
2016)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Desirable
Terms of Appointment:
For a full description of the terms of appointment for this post please visit:
http://www.essex.ac.uk/personnel/CondServ/default.htm
Working Arrangements:
1. Payment Rate
The Community Assistant position will be appointed for a 200-hour annualised contract over a 41
week period (UG term-time) with the potential opportunity of continuing on the on-call system over
the summer vacation. In an annual hours system an employee works a certain number of hours
over the whole year, but with a certain degree of flexibility about when those hours are worked.
Normally, a period of regular hours or shifts forms the core of the arrangement, with the remaining
time left unallocated and used on an 'as needed' basis.
The hourly rate paid will be appointed at a Grade 2 with a starting hourly rate of £8.39 which is
inclusive of holiday pay.
The hours of work for any particular week are to be agreed between the Community Assistant and
the Residence Life Co-ordinator taking into account the needs of Residence Life. We would expect
that Community Assistants work a minimum of 3 hours a week during term time and 1 hour a week
during the vacation periods.
In addition, participation in the out of hours on-call rota will be paid a fixed amount per shift. This
amount will be £25 for weekday evenings and £37.50 for weekend days/bank holidays and
University closure days. This is expected to be 1 in 4-6 days but may vary according to need.
Just as it currently is, students here on a Tier-4 visa would be required to adhere to the 20 hours a
week maximum for employment and/or volunteering.