Disability Officer

Disability Officer

Reference number: JR256417

Location: Remote

Working Pattern: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Number of roles: 1

Salary: £28,000 per annum

We are looking for a Disability Officer to join our team.

Role Summary

The Disability Officer position sits within the Student Services department alongside our Student Support, Student Experience and Study Skills teams and will provide comprehensive advice, guidance and support to disabled students throughout their academic journey in support of their progression, retention and success.

The Disability Officer will ensure service excellence is maintained across an expanding portfolio of programmes and a growing student population through effective liaison and collaboration with a wide range of internal staff and external agencies and organisations, and the identification of appropriate and enhanced support for disabled students that meets our legal obligations and is in line with equality legislation.

A detailed job description can be viewed here. If the link does not work for you, please copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: https://tinyurl.com/3uzjnf7m

What you’ll bring to the role

Essential Requirements

• An undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification.

• Previous experience of regularly supporting disabled people or students in a frontline service setting with a passion for providing exceptional customer service, care and empathy.

• An understanding and appreciation of how a student’s disability can adversely affect their ability to study online.

• Knowledge of the Equality Act (2010) and in particular, protected characteristics and reasonable adjustments as outlined within the Act.

• In-depth knowledge of additional funding streams available to disabled students.

• Knowledge to act as a main point of referral for disability related queries, policies and procedures.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex information and concepts, including to those for whom English is a second language.

• Ability to work independently using initiative to prioritise and progress own workload, meeting deadlines and implementing improvements within own area of work.

• Ability to maintain high standards of confidentiality and discretion.

• Excellent IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Office, with a desire to embrace new technology.

  
  

Desirable Requirements

• Experience of providing support and guidance to individuals with disabilities or complex needs in a higher education environment

• A Postgraduate degree or equivalent qualification, or to be actively studying towards this.

• Mental Health First Aid training or equivalent

• Awareness of wider issues and changes within the higher education sector, such as innovations and changes in legislation/regulation which impact on the job.

What we do

Kaplan Higher Education UK is one of the world’s largest and most experienced providers of online degree education. We currently work with two UK partner Universities to deliver undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. Our students complete their studies through online learning using our interactive virtual classroom with rich multi-media resources which provide a gateway to a learning community supported by dedicated academic and professional services teams.

Our mission is to continue to transform students’ lives and careers by delivering and expanding our suite of innovative, industry led and career enhancing higher education programmes.

What we offer

As well as a competitive salary, hybrid/home working where possible, and paths for career progression, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• 28 days annual leave*

• Big discounts on Kaplan courses for you and your family

• 24/7 confidential helpline providing counselling and other support services

• Company pension contributions

• Maternity, Adoption, Shared Parental and Paternity/Partner pay which is well above statutory levels

• Medicash Health Cash Plan

*Please note that the annual leave entitlement will be calculated on a pro rata basis if the role is part time.

How to apply

If this sounds like the kind of job you'd enjoy, please apply with your CV and cover letter no later than 11pm on Thursday 2nd July 2026. Your cover letter should address the following questions and please use each question as a separate heading:

• Why did you choose to apply for this role and why do you feel you are a strong candidate? (100 words maximum).

• What is your experience of supporting students, clients, or individuals with disabilities (100 words maximum).

• In your view, what is the most important area of focus in disability support within Higher Education at the moment, and why? (100 words maximum).

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a preliminary phone call, with successful candidates being invited to attend an online interview via Teams. Following this, the final shortlisted candidates will be invited to an in-person interview at our offices in Leeds.

The in-person interview is a great chance to meet senior members of the Student Services Department and discuss your application further. Additional information and the option to discuss reasonable adjustments will be provided to successful candidates at each stage.

Additional Application Information 

A sponsorship licence is a legal requirement for employers seeking to hire individuals from outside the UK or those who require a work visa to work in the country. Unfortunately, Kaplan Higher Education UK do not possess this licence at this time.

Application Support  

If you require support completing your application please email the Recruitment Team kaplanstaff.recruitment@kaplan.com.

Disability Confident Scheme and Reasonable Adjustments 

At Kaplan International, we are committed to working in a diverse organisation and strive to provide equality of opportunity for all. We encourage and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or identity, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnership.  

Following the submission of an application, applicants will receive details of how to request their application be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme.  Applicants will also be given information on how to request reasonable adjustments if selected for interview. 

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