Assistant Houseparent (Non-Residential, Non-Teaching in a Senior House)

About the role

Please download an application form from our website and submit with a covering letter to recruitment@purcell-school.org

No CVs please.

Boarding is central to life at the Purcell School. Assistant Houseparents play a vital role in the wellbeing of our students, taking full responsibility for their welfare during term time and acting as role models for students and colleagues alike across the School.

You will be managing and administrating the day-to-day care of boarders ensuring their wellbeing and safety, promoting a fulfilling educational experience and encouraging a caring, positive and productive ethos in the House.

You will be working within the boarding community and will provide a visible and inspiring presence within your House. You should have the ability to develop and maintain warm, respectful and valued rapport with young people, whilst understanding the professional boundaries that must exist between staff and students. You should provide a positive role model, demonstrating self-motivation and mature interpersonal skills.

You will need the ability to negotiate and manage complex events in a professional, effective manner and an understanding of community partnerships and organisation. Imagination, creativity, enthusiasm and a warm sense of humour are all essential!

You will need effective communication skills (oral and written) and the ability to deal with students, parents and staff across the whole school. We expect you to maintain high personal and professional standards, including recognition of the confidentiality issues impacting upon work in a school. You will be an efficient and effective administrator and be prepared to show initiative as well as work under instruction.

You must be able to demonstrate an awareness of safeguarding and child protection legislation and issues and will be expected to uphold a full commitment to the best safeguarding practice. You will be committed to professional growth and development, especially in the area of safeguarding and student wellbeing.

You will need a flexible approach to your duties and a willingness to ?muck in' is essential. The Non-Residential Assistant Houseparent takes full oversight of their House during the working day (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday), ensuring that students have an outstanding experience in every regard, advocating for them when necessary and proactively supporting them however they might need. You will be supported to achieve this by other members of your House team (the make-up and number of which vary according to the House size and requirements).

Boarding is provided across three Houses: a Junior House (Years 7-9, mixed); a Senior Girls' House (Years 9 and above) and a large mixed House (Years 10 and above). This position is for one of the Senior Houses.

If you genuinely enjoy the company of young people and are passionate about making a significant difference to their lives, this could be the perfect job for you. You need to be prepared to put the students first during term time and thrive on developing and maintaining a House culture which supports the School's aims and each individual in your care. If this sounds like you, we would be delighted to hear from you.

You will report to the Houseparent and the Director of Boarding

Specific responsibilities for the role:

• To provide the day-to-day care of boarders in their charge and to safeguard their welfare.
• To be aware of and comply with current health and safety, safeguarding and child protection legislation and procedures, and to uphold the School's policy on child protection.
• To ensure that daily registration is carried out effectively and according to School policy.
• To attend to administrative duties as required in the day-to-day running of the House, such as answering e-mails and queries from parents, dealing with phone-calls and the basic management of the House.
• To encourage every student in their House to develop to their full potential, academically, musically and socially, and to promote their personal development, including leadership, consideration for others and courtesy.
• To help ensure that boarding staff, parents and students understand the aims and objectives of boarding in the House and the principles on which community life in the House is based.
• To help maintain good order and ensure a high standard of discipline within their House, according to the School's behaviour policy.
• To consult with appropriate staff, tutors, parents and guardians over issues involving students in their House so that their diverse learning, social and emotional needs are met.
• To help maintain all records as required including students' individual files and to write the requisite pastoral and other reports as appropriate.
• To help manage the staffing, organisation and resources of the House efficiently, ensuring that appropriate adult supervision is provided at all times when students are in residence.
• To ensure compliance within the House of the requirements of all current legislation (including the National Minimum Boarding Standards and Independent School Regulations) and all School policies.
• To support the smooth running of the House by being a proactive presence in the House throughout each week.
• To undertake housekeeping duties during the day such as checking rooms, reporting maintenance issues and working with the domestic team to ensure cleanliness throughout the House.
• To participate in School Inset day meetings.
• To assist occasionally at whole School events such as Open Day.
• To assist with emergency situations outside of duty hours if necessary.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS This is a full-time, term-time only post across a 34 week academic year plus INSET days. Working hours will be 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. The salary will be based on the School's salary scale, according to the successful candidate's experience, with a contributory pension scheme.

Meals are available and free of charge in the School dining hall during term time.

There is a sixth month probationary period, with notice of one term on either side, after which the post will be confirmed, with a notice period of two terms. This post is subject to regular appraisal.

HOW TO APPLY If you wish to apply, please complete the School's Application Form (available on our website) and send it with a supporting Personal Statement to the Principal as soon as possible. Please do not send a separate curriculum vitae.

Personal statements should outline your experience and evidence your achievements. If you have a specific area of specialism or industry experience, please demonstrate how this enables you to contribute to an outstanding student experience.

Interviews will explore pastoral experience, the ability to relate appropriately to students and a willingness to contribute to the whole School community. Candidates will be required to bring evidence of identity to the interview.

The Purcell School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.