Assistant Houseparent

The Role

The role of Assistant Houseparent at St Mary’s Calne is purely pastoral, underpinning the School’s vision to provide outstanding pastoral care and support within a full boarding community. The Assistant Houseparent will work in support of the House Team to ensure every pupil is valued and well-cared for and that the Boarding House provides a safe and ambitious environment for pupils to grow and develop.

The Assistant Houseparent will be primarily responsible to the Houseparent who runs the House and Tutor Team.

Our school (St Mary’ Calne, St Margarets Calne and St Mary’s Calne Sports Club) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Key Responsibilities

• Primarily, the Assistant Houseparent will provide direct support to pupils and staff, assisting with managing all aspects of the health, welfare and pastoral care of pupils, adhering to relevant school policies at all times.

• Secondly, the Assistant Houseparent will provide support for the Houseparent with a wide range of administrative duties relating to pupils and their parents.

• Thirdly, the Assistant Houseparent will work closely with the operational management team to ensure that the House maintains domestic and maintenance standards, in accordance with School policy and operating specifications.

It is essential for the Assistant Houseparent to be able to demonstrate empathy with and understanding of children and young people. The Assistant Houseparent will have a genuine concern for the pupils’ well-being and active involvement in their personal development.

The Assistant Houseparent is required to positively encourage the pupils, without discrimination or favoritism in their interests and activities, and to develop a professional and nurturing relationship with them. As a member of the House team, they must help maintain morale, standards and the efficient operation of the House. At times they will also be required to be firm with pupils, reminding them, when necessary, of the need for appropriate manners and courtesy.

Duties

Looking after the pupils

More specifically, the Assistant Houseparent will need to demonstrate a full knowledge of safeguarding policy and current legislation relating to DFE safeguarding policy, as defined in the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education policy. The Assistant Houseparent will be expected to work closely with other staff in the House and School to provide comprehensive pastoral care for the pupils; such care is of paramount importance for all. They are encouraged to be involved in a myriad of activities with the pupils and are required to ensure that the School’s pastoral care and behavioural policies are adhered to at all times.

The Assistant Houseparent is expected:

• To maintain close liaison with the Houseparent, Deputy Houseparent, Tutors, Teachers and Senior Staff where appropriate; to consult about pupils and inform them of any reason for concern noticed within the House, using the communication structures in place;

• To help supervise the pupils and ensure that the House is clean and tidy at all times;

• To ensure that rotas for the various duties in the House to be performed but the pupils in their care (such as clearing of common rooms, etc.) are adhered to;

• To assist in the organisation and running of extra-curricular activities;

• To provide continuity of care for the pupils’ health;

• To liaise with the Health Centre staff, informing them of any causes for concern and provide escort duty where required;

• To dispense everyday medication (e.g. paracetamol) and administer First Aid when necessary;

• To ensure pupils have good personal hygiene and, in common with all members of staff, to ensure the tidy appearance and the wearing of correct, clean school uniform (including hair and nail checks and clean shoes);

• To attend and represent the House Team at meetings where the Houseparent cannot be present, as appropriate;

• To liaise with the logistics and catering managers and parents regarding pupils’ travel and catering;

• To communication effectively with parents of the pupils in the House;

• To supervise bedtimes and remain on duty as required as part of the House Team;

• To be on call overnight as part of the overnight team, in case girls are ill, need assistance or are arriving back late or leaving early (you may request time off in lieu for overnight disturbances);

• To see that bed linen and clothing are changed when necessary; organising the collection and dispatch of linen and clothes to the School Laundry; ensuring laundry is distributed on its return to the House;

• To act as an escort when necessary, including for emergency hospital visits.

Looking after the House

• Checking that the House is in good repair, reporting any defects or breakages.

• Ensuring all administration is up-to-date for the House with efficient records kept.

• Taking part in all training related to boarding duties and Health and Safety, in order to promote and safeguard the welfare of pupils in the House.

• Being present until pupils have left school at the start of Fixed Exeats and Half Terms, to check the House thoroughly at these times for tidiness, ensuring that everything is switched off and that windows and doors are closed.

• Taking a turn on rotation during each academic year at covering for late leavers and early returnees at Half Term, along with the Houseparent and Deputy Houseparent.

Working in the wider School

• Working under the director of the Deputy Head Pastoral playing an integral part in the wider Pastoral Team.

• Playing a role in the weekend activity programme, as required.

• Being aware of and actively promoting the School’s Health and Safety Policy in all respects.

• Taking part in all training related to boarding duties and health and safety, in order to promote and safeguard the welfare of pupils in the House.

Attending meetings, as required.

• Part of the commitment to the wider school includes working in the school holidays in areas such as holiday camps, as an example.

Accommodation

The Assistant Houseparent will be required to reside in the Boarding House during term time and accommodation is provided all year round. Meals will be provided during term time. The post of Assistant Houseparent comes with a 2-bedroom flat within the Boarding House.

Working Hours

The Assistant Houseparent’s work is not of a nature which lends itself to the rigid definition of hours. However, certain principles do apply.

• House Staff must expect to be in school for at least 48 hours before and after the beginning and end of terms; all should be back on duty at least half an hour before the earliest time girls may return on the evening of return from Fixed Exeats and Half Terms.

• While on duty, they must at all times be immediately accessible, whether in the House or elsewhere in the school.

• The Assistant Houseparent can expect to have dedicated time off each week, as follows:

o One 24-hour period and one further night.

o There is also a degree of flexibility built into the rotas to enable staff to have short breaks during the evening and at weekends by agreement with the other staff on duty and overseen by the Housemistress/master provided that any duties (eg supper duty) and weekend activities are properly staffed.

o In the Autumn Term, no one will take time off in the first and last weeks of term. In the Spring/Summer Terms, at the start of term, those with Tuesday as a day off will work, and those with Thursday will have the day off, while at the end of term those with Tuesday as a day off will have the day off and those with Thursday will work.

Person Specification

Essential Requirements

• A desire to work with young people and their parents

• An ability to work flexibly in a team

• Good, demonstrable organisational skills with the ability to prioritise, and manage time effectively

• Excellent communication skills with pupils, parents and staff

• Good IT skills (Word, Excel, etc)

• An ability to show an empathetic approach

• An ability to define appropriate boundaries

• A willingness to contribute to the wider school community

• To be committed to continual professional development including acquiring knowledge of the school information system (iSAMs) and BSA professional development

• An ability to work in an enthusiastic manner bringing new ideas and suggestions

• The desire for excellence in all areas

Desirable requirements

• Experience in a similar residential role or pastoral equivalent

• A BSA qualification

• A First Aid qualification

• A clean driving licence and ability to drive a minibus

Receipt of an application will be acknowledged as soon as possible. Long list and short list interview times will be confirmed and we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive sufficient suitable applicants.