Group Head - Wellbeing and Student Mental Health

Role: Group Head – Wellbeing and Student Mental Health Support

Location: Multi-Site – Role will be based across all campuses

Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £47,972 and £62,099 per annum DOE and Qualifications, 35 days annual leave plus Bank holidays, Local Government Pension Scheme, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week – 52 weeks per year

Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

We are currently seeking a Group Head in Wellbeing and Student Mental Health Support to join our Student Services department at The Bedford College Group.

As a Group Head, you play an important role in the success of our students through the following responsibilities:

• Strategic Mental Health Leadership – Lead the development, implementation and continual enhancement of a whole‑college mental health and wellbeing strategy, ensuring a proactive, trauma‑informed and inclusive approach across all campuses.
• Operational Oversight & Service Management – Oversee wellbeing services, early help and intervention pathways, crisis response, risk assessments and case management systems, ensuring safe, timely and compliant support for vulnerable students.
• Collaboration, Partnerships & External Liaison – Build strong relationships with CAMHS, mental health services, social care, local authorities and external organisations, representing the College at multi‑agency meetings and coordinating holistic support.
• Training, Staff Development & Wellbeing Culture – Design and deliver mental health and trauma‑informed training for staff, support curriculum teams, provide reflective practice opportunities and embed wellbeing within the learning environment.
• Quality, Governance & Compliance – Monitor wellbeing data, drive continuous improvement, lead quality assurance, maintain policies, ensure regulatory compliance (KCSIE, Prevent, GDPR) and uphold safeguarding, EDI, health & safety and training responsibilities.

• Qualifications & Professional Expertise – Level 5 (or equivalent) in mental health, wellbeing or a related field, or substantial managerial experience, supported by a solid general education including English and Maths.
• Mental Health & Wellbeing Experience – At least three years’ experience delivering mental health/wellbeing support, working with children, young people and vulnerable adults, and handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Leadership, Partnership Working & Multi‑Agency Practice – Experienced in managing peripatetic or multi‑site teams, collaborating with external agencies, completing referrals and supporting directorate‑wide wellbeing objectives.
• Interpersonal, Creative & Professional Skills – Excellent people skills, strong relationship‑building ability, calm and professional handling of sensitive issues, and a creative approach to developing life skills and wellbeing provision.
• IT, Record‑Keeping & Mobility – Strong IT capability (Word, Excel, databases, CPOMS), excellent record‑keeping and willingness to travel across sites weekly as required.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held: TBC

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork – We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously – We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred – At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive – We celebrate differences and diversity,…