Disability and Inclusion Officer

The Harper & Keele Veterinary School is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Disability and Inclusion Officer and Occupational Therapist to lead and oversee disability and inclusion matters across the School.

The postholder will provide specialist advice, assessment and support for students with disabilities and additional needs, working collaboratively with students, academic and professional services colleagues, placement providers and University support services to ensure an accessible, inclusive and supportive learning environment throughout the veterinary programme.

Reporting to the Director of Admissions and Student Experience, the Disability and Inclusion Officer will act as the central point of expertise and coordination for reasonable adjustments across Harper & Keele Veterinary School (HKVS), supporting students from initial enquiry and admission through to graduation.

The postholder will ensure that disabled students and those with long-term health conditions receive timely, consistent and effective support both in the academic and clinical/placement environments, working across the two partner universities' student services functions and with the practices that host students on clinical placements.

As a qualified Occupational Therapist, the postholder will bring clinical insight to the assessment and design of reasonable adjustments, the triage of Occupational Health referrals, and advice given to placement providers, in addition to a coordination and secretariat role for the School's Student Management Group.

This is a Grade 6 professional services post with no direct line management responsibility; the postholder will coordinate the input of others across Student Services, the Preceptor/Placement team and Occupational Health without formal line authority over them.

The appointee will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the School's aim of widening access to the veterinary profession for students from all backgrounds, and to embrace and engage in the School's culture of innovation in teaching and learning.

The appointee will be primarily based at either the Harper Adams University or Keele University campus; however, the role will require regular travel between Harper Adams and Keele University for delivery of teaching and learning activities, collaboration with staff across the school, and for relevant administrative duties.

The Harper & Keele Veterinary School is committed to operating flexible working practices wherever possible. The School values equality and diversity across its workforce and welcomes applications from individuals of Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds for all roles.

A unique partnership between two outstanding universities, the Harper & Keele Veterinary School brings together two distinctive institutions with a track record of excellence in teaching and student experience. Together, Keele and Harper Adams universities have 186 years of heritage in the animal and human health areas. Both institutions are recognised for their strengths in employability, student satisfaction and first-class teaching, and have a shared commitment to research in food security and sustainability.