Residential Houseparent – Job Description

Houseparents (HPs) play a central role in the life of this busy and friendly boarding and day school. HPs will be expected to live on site when boarders are in residence (this includes the half-term breaks) and share overnight duties as outlined by the boarding rotas. Houseparents will be responsible for the welfare, safety and attendance in lessons and activities for all the boarding students in their House, acting in loco parentis.  This is a residential role and an apartment will be provided within the Boarding House.

The successful candidate will be expected to support the Head of Boarding in the development ofthe vibrancy of boarding life at Chase and in developing our relationships with agents and families overseas.

There are three Houses: Tylecote, Parton and Lee, each of which look after approximately 20 boarders. The HP will provide leadership for the staff who perform duties in their own House and support for those working in the other Houses.

Houseparents are part of the wider staff team, acting on behalf of the Principal and in the best interests of the School. This role would be perfect for a person with a “can do” attitude who is passionate about quality pastoral care.

Line Manager: Head of Boarding

General Responsibilities

The main responsibility of all residential staff is to provide opportunities for students’ progress and wellbeing. This will include assisting in the daily care and supervision of boarders, helping to monitor their daily wellbeing and academic progress, as well as encouraging a developing maturity in each boarder commensurate with their age.

Staff are expected to get to know boarders individually and to care for them appropriately. This role requires an understanding of child/teenage development, a degree of patience, tolerance and understanding, as well as a commitment to discipline where necessary, in accordance with the rules and protocols of the school. Staff are assigned groups of students for whom they have particular responsibility. They will monitor these students, acting as ‘parents’ during disciplinary interventions, welfare and academic matters as well as write pastoral reports at the end of term or at other appropriate times.

Key Responsibilities:

The HP will:

• be in harmony with Chase’s aims and ethos and strengthen the reputation and success of the school
• have the desire to see every student and member of staff fulfil his or her potential
• provide vision and inspiration for the future development of the school
• attend training courses necessary to the role and provide leadership and training for other staff
• participate fully in the school’s Professional Development and Appraisal system
• work with the Head of Boarding to ensure the continued academic and cultural development and success of CGS
• promote the continual review and raising of standards across the school
• be proactive in suggesting and developing new initiatives and opportunities for staff and students
• lead on key events and trips, overseeing, planning and managing them efficiently
• represent and market the School in a professional and exemplary manner
• meet with visitors and prospective parents, providing tours as appropriate
• work with the Head of Boarding to oversee assigned budgets and allocations to ensure the effective financial management of the School
• lead, participate in and support various Enrichment activities and trips run in evenings and weekends
• deal effectively with student, parental and staff complaints, trying to ensure that they are resolved at the informal stage
• ensure that students are aware of and follow the school’s rules and policies
• ensure that the National Minimum Standards for boarding schools are fully met in accordance with inspection regulations as set out by ISI
• advise on health and safety in House
• liaise with teachers and parents to ensure that boarders fulfil their academic potential and to inform staff of any issues relating to boarders’ performance
• contribute to the aims and objectives of the House and the School
• be responsible for the care and welfare of the boarders in House and to engender a feeling of respect and trust between boarders and the staff
• present a corporate response, sharing responsibility for collective decisions and taking the lead as and when required
• lead and attend Boarding Meetings
• work as part of a team and have a very visible presence in the House
• carry out duties assigned as per the Boarding Duty Rota
• be readily available to students and supervise students throughout the relevant duty period and available to the students in your House overnight, in case of emergency
• supervise Prep, Private Study, Activities, and Weekend Trips as per the Boarding Rota
• supervise mealtimes according to the duty rota
• be in residence at School three days before the academic staff team returns, for the start of term
• be conversant with the rules and protocols of boarding and undertake such training as required
• be conversant with the school site and to have appropriate keys for the fulfillment of duties
• be conversant with the procedures for Fire Alarms
• be conversant with procedures for dealing with accidents and emergencies, including knowledge of trained First Aiders, the siting of medicines, and the protocols for their use
• be conversant with the procedure for administering medicine, contacting local doctors, dentists and opticians and supporting the healthcare of students
• be conversant with the procedures for record keeping, and undertaking administrative tasks conscientiously
• liaise with other staff, and keep colleagues informed of matters, which may affect the well-being and progress of boarders, and listen to colleagues’ concerns about boarders, taking action where necessary

In addition to the list above, Boarding Staff should be willing to undertake any task reasonably requested of them by the Principal.

To carry out this role it is important that you:

• know your students
• write termly pastoral reports
• act as their advocate
• advise and guide on personal and academic matters, attending Parents’ Meetings with them
• take responsibility for ensuring a positive community atmosphere within the House
• present ideas that improve the quality of student life
• liaise with parents and students through regular communications
• take an active but sympathetic interest in the discipline of your students
• maintain any pastoral or welfare records as requested and deemed appropriate
• take clear and active responsibility for your House, with particular regard to the NMS and H&S
• carry out any administrative or functional actions
• carry our checks, roll-calls and meetings as set out in the Boarding Staff Handbook

It is a prerequisite of this position to take meals with students when on duty, to fulfill the supervisory role expected. The Boarding Staff will appreciate that in a flexible, family environment, it is not possible to define exactly the hours required or wholly prescribe the list of duties. However, it is expected that morning hours will be between 07:15 – 08:40 (to wake students and help them prepare for school or activities), evening hours will be between 16:30 – 22:30 and days at the weekend between 08:00 – 23:00. You will share the responsibilities of overnight call, being available to students in case of any emergency.

Other Professional Duties

Appraisal

• Participating in any arrangements that may be made for teacher appraisal.

Further training and development

• Reviewing from time to time your methods of teaching and programme of work.
• Participating in arrangements for your professional development.
• Undertaking such training as may be reasonably required by the School to enable you to adapt to the changing requirements of the School and your role or as may be necessary to fulfill the School’s statutory or regulatory obligations.

Child protection, discipline, health and safety

• Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible and with whom you came into contact.
• Maintaining good order and discipline among the pupils and safeguarding their health and safety both when they are on the School premises and when they are engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere.

Staff meetings

• Participating in meetings at the School, which relate to the curriculum for the School or the administration or organisation of the School, including pastoral arrangements.

Administration

• Participating in administrative and organisational tasks related to such duties as are described above, including the management or supervision of staff and the ordering and allocation of equipment and materials.
• Attending assemblies, registering the attendance of pupils and supervising pupils, whether these duties are to be performed before, during or after School sessions.

Flexibility

• You may be required to undertake such other reasonable duties from time to time as the School may reasonably require.

Terms & Conditions

Pension: The School will contribute a percentage of pensionable salary towards a pension scheme.

School Fees Remission: any child of a HP who, having satisfied the entry requirements, and at the Proprietor’s discretion, is admitted as a student to the School will receive the benefit of the staff discount of 50% remission of the School fees

Working Hours: are set out as in the Boarding Rota, although the hours of work will reflect the fact that Chase is a busy boarding and day school and many events take place outside these regular hours. Exact hours will be confirmed by agreement with the Principal/Head of Boarding, to ensure that the responsibilities of the role are fulfilled. As a senior figure in boarding, attendance at key events is required, including availability as appropriate during School holidays.

Holiday Allowance: HPs will take the long Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays.

Probation Period: an offer of employment will be subject to a probation period of one year, during which employment will be subject to termination with half a term’s notice on either side.

Notice Period: following probation, the HP will be required to give the School one term’s notice

Free Meals: will be provided throughout the year when the School’s kitchens are open.

Accommodation: will be provided on campus for the use of the HP and his/her family, rent free. All reasonable bills will also be covered.