Student Community Officer

Please note that this post is funded for the 2026/27 academic year onwards so the successful candidate would not be expected to commence in post prior to August 2026.

Do you have a passion for working with young people in a vibrant education setting?

We are looking for an experienced youth work professional who is able to work in close liaison with the enrichment team/wider Student Services and curriculum colleagues based at the main Kingston Hall Road site.

Kingston College is seeking a Student Community Officer to support Curriculum, Student Services and Security Teams in the positive engagement of students, particularly those considered ‘at risk’ or ‘hard to reach’.

You’ll play a pivotal role in providing a positive ethos within the College community, encompassing enrichment and the wider holistic Student Services on offer. You’ll provide an engaging, welcoming onsite presence during the College Day, signposting enrichment and promoting positive attitudes, inclusivity and behaviour and provide an early intervention support strategy for identified students ‘at risk.’

As our Student Community Officer, we’d like you to hold a Level 3 qualification or above in a relevant discipline (for example, youth work, youth justice, social care) and have experience of outreach/detached youth work or similar and have knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures. You’ll have experience of working with young people in a school or College setting with an understanding of issues that may affect a student’s ability to attend College and comply with appropriate standards of behaviour as set out in Group Policy.

Able to establish positive and effective relationships with young people whilst maintaining appropriate personal boundaries, you’ll have the knowledge and experience of managing challenging behaviour, behaviour management techniques and interventions, including de-escalation, negotiation, restorative approaches/conflict resolution. Organised with a strong ability to work successfully as an individual and collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary Service and College team, you’ll have experience of IT and online data administration systems in relation to student records with the ability to produce accurate, timely written reports and statements.

The successful candidate will be eligible for any increase in salary as a consequence of the annual cost of living review that will be implemented in the new academic year.

Closing date for the return of completed applications is 29th May 2026.

The benefits package includes generous annual leave of 27 days plus up to 8 additional days over Christmas/New Year as well as an additional 5 days Wellbeing leave to enhance employees’ physical and mental health. There is an excellent pension scheme that receives a significant financial contribution from the employer (Teachers Pensions or Local Government Pension Scheme), subsidised sports facilities and professional development and training plus a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

South Thames Colleges Group is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

As outlined in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

As part of our due diligence checks on prospective employees, successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, an online search and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

The South Thames Colleges Group is made up of Carshalton College, Kingston College, Merton College and South Thames College, which merged on 1 August 2017. South Thames Colleges Group is one of London’s largest providers of post-16 education and training and is an ongoing and significant contributor to its local communities. We aim to put students’ success at the heart of everything we do.

We are looking for hard-working and collaborative people who can join our team and help challenge our students to progress and achieve.