Senior Matron

Cothill House 

Senior Matron - Job Description

Responsible to:  Head Matron, Head’s wife and Head

Responsible for: Pupils at Cothill

Working with: Team of matrons, school nurses, Houseparents

Aim of post:  To oversee and contribute to the care of pupils in order to continue the high standards of care 

Pastoral Care: 

• To prioritise the safeguarding, welfare, health and safety of pupils and to be familiar with statutory safeguarding and child protection needs and requirements as well as school policies 
• To report any concerns to the Head Matron or DSL or Deputy DSL
• To encourage appropriate standards of behaviour and consideration for others by the pupils
• To use the school sanction system for good or bad marks (with agreement from the Houseparents or Deputy Head Pastoral)
• To spend 2/3 nights per week overnight at school, in a comfortable flat, in order to be available during the night if needed by pupils.  Alternatively, the flat is available to live in full time.
• To work closely with Houseparents and boarding duty staff

Domestic:

• To ensure the pupils' clothes and personal belongings are used appropriately and stored neatly and to (in conjunction with other matrons) to ensure all belongings are clearly named and kept in good repair
• To help maintain tidiness, cleanliness and good repair in boarding areas and to report to the domestic team, maintenance or Head Matron any areas in need of repair
• In conjunction with the Head Matron, to help promote a high standard of tidiness and cleanliness amongst the pupils and ensure they are appropriately dressed at all times
• To oversee and supervise packing/unpacking for school trips and at the beginning and end of term
• To oversee gap students are completing boarding housekeeping tasks satisfactorily

Medical:

• To liaise with the school nurses and Head Matron to ensure the pupils’ medical requirements are met and to help run surgeries and administer first aid in the absence of a school nurse, or as necessary
• When on duty, to be First Aider and to have/complete appropriate qualifications and training
• To accompany pupils to medical appointments as required by the school nurses and Head Matron
• To look after pupils in sick bay, as necessary, in the absence of the school nurse
• To implement a good personal hygiene routine for the pupils as appropriate
• Completion of accident and medical forms as required.

Administration:

• To take accurate messages by phone and email and to contact and liaise with parents when necessary
• To help with the typing and printing of notices and labels, and other administrative tasks, as required
• To help maintain notice boards in the boarding area and dorms, ensuring notices are kept up to date
• To take an active role in the fire evacuation procedures
• To take part in the annual staff appraisal system
• To ensure continuity of care by handing over essential information (either verbally or written, as necessary) before going off duty
• To be responsible (in conjunction with the school nurse) for the off-games/absence register when the Head Matron is off duty

Other:

• To ensure pupils are on time for music practice wake-up  
• To ensure dorms are tidy, pupils have made their beds and are dressed appropriately before going downstairs
• To eat breakfast with the pupils when on duty and to encourage good eating habits.
• To supervise changing rooms for games and match sessions.
• Any other tasks which the Head Matron,  Deputy Head Pastoral, Head’s wife or Head may reasonably assign

Working pattern:

• The role requires flexibility on start and finish times, with a rota pattern of working likely
• To be available for work five days before the start of term (usually Saturday) and two  days after the end of term to help with the end of term tidy-up.  
• To take responsibility for ‘lost property’ at the end of term and to work with the other matrons and gap students to organise this. 

Safeguarding:

• To comply with the school’s safeguarding policy, procedures and our code of conduct
• To be fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the children’s wellbeing
• To ensure that any safeguarding concerns are reported in line with the school policy
• To take part in regular safeguarding training