Assistant Houseparent (Residential)

About the role

This is a full-time, residential, non teaching role across a 34 week academic year, which will be based in a Senior House. 

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.

Boarding is central to life at the Purcell School. House-parents play a vital role in the wellbeing of our students, taking full responsibility for their welfare during term time.  

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

You will be living within the boarding community and share responsibility for the welfare of students. 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 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 need a flexible approach to your duties, overnight and weekend supervision will be required and a willingness to ‘muck in’. This is not a post for someone who counts working hours and is a challenging but hugely rewarding role.

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 and qualifications to the interview.

JOB TITLE: Assistant Houseparent 

REPORTS TO: The Houseparent and The Director of Boarding.

This job specification sets out the duties of the post at the time of drafting. Specific responsibilities are as follows:

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 boarding 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, and via the duty rota.  Up to three nights overnight “on call” will be required per week.
• To provide cover where needed within the boarding duties.
• 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 be in residence for 48 hours prior to and after the end of each term to assist with the preparation and closing of the House.
• To participate in School inset day meetings.
• To contribute to the School’s extra-curricular programme in the evenings and at weekends.
• To assist occasionally at whole School events such as Open Day.
• To assist with emergency situations outside of duty hours if necessary.