Assistant Houseparent (Helen Wright Upper Sixth House) Fixed Term to start as soon as possible until February Half Term 2027
The Role
The role of Assistant Houseparent at St Mary’s Calne is pastoral and administrative role, supporting both the pupils and House team to provide a nurturing and happy boarding environment. The Assistant Houseparent will primarily be based within the boarding house, ensuring adequate supervision of pupils, as well as supporting the pupils’ pastoral needs, and the wider House administration needs. The role helps to underpin 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 Housemistress who runs the House and Tutor Team.
Our school (St Mary’ Calne, St Margaret’s 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 pupils’ health and wellbeing, laundry and house supplies.
- Secondly, the Assistant Houseparent will provide support for the Housemistress with a wide range of administrative duties relating to pupils and their parents, including pupil logistics and travel as well as monitoring House compliance.
- 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 favouritism 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 Housemistress, Deputy Housemistress, 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 liaise with the logistics and catering managers and parents regarding pupils’ travel and catering;
- To communicate 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;
- 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 Housemistress and Deputy Housemistress.
Working in the wider School
- Working under the direction 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 2 bedroom apartment located in 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.
- 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:
- One 24-hour period and one further night.
- 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 provided that any duties (eg supper duty) and weekend activities are properly staffed.
- 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.
Interested in joining our school community? We welcome applications from enthusiastic and dedicated individuals who are passionate about making a difference in an independent boarding school environment. To apply for this role, please follow the link below.
Receipt of an application will be acknowledged as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive sufficient suitable applicants.
Please note: We are also currently advertising for a School Nurse. If you are interested in this opportunity, please see our separate vacancy advert for further details.
