Boarding House Assistant (Residential)

Are you a flexible and enthusiastic team player who enjoys working with young people? Would you like to use your skills and experience to support the pastoral, behavioural and welfare needs of a group of exceptional teenagers? We have a fantastic opportunity for you to join our close-knit team to support the day-to-day smooth running of the girls’ boarding house at Bedales School. Your work will be challenging and rewarding in equal measure and you will be working in an environment where we maintain a strong safeguarding culture, where pupils are listened to, respected and involved in as many decisions as possible.

Bedales is set in 120 acres of South Downs National Park in Steep, near Petersfield, Hampshire. The estate includes playing fields, orchards, woodland, pasture and a nature reserve; the countryside comes right to the heart of the school. Bedales is progressively liberal in approach, not for the sake of being different, but because we believe it is important for a properly rounded and relevant education. There is no uniform, and staff and students address each other by first names – just two features of a culture that values the individual, with mutual respect its cornerstone.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual to provide support and assistance for the students and Houseparent team at our Girls’ Boarding House Steephurst. Residential Boarding House Assistants undertake a vital, hands on role during the evenings and weekends within the School’s Boarding Houses.

House Assistants are the constant presence in the Houses managing the day-to-day running of the House, triaging and dealing with issues as they arise. Residential House Assistants are required to be resident in the Boarding House, with self-contained accommodation available throughout the year and all meals provided on duty days. House Assistants are able to have family members living/ staying in the accommodation with them (subject to safeguarding checks). Applicants will need excellent communication and caring skills, along with enthusiasm and good flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. Calmness, a great sense of responsibility and commitment are also key to the role. You will work with the team to ensure the safe, effective and efficient management and smooth day-to-day running of the boarding house and care of students in line with the Boarding National Minimum Standards and the School’s needs and requirements.

Experience & Background

The successful candidate will be a confident user of Microsoft Office and ensure that the administrative side of Steephurst runs smoothly. You will also fulfil the primary duty of handling the students’ domestic and health arrangements, reporting directly to the Houseparent team on all matters concerning the boarding house and the students.

Duties

You will be responsible for:

• Supporting the students’ health and wellbeing needs during working hours
• Providing supervision to the students in the boarding house during working hours
• Ensuring that spreadsheets for fire lists, dormitory allocations, travel arrangements, health appointments and sign-in lists are kept up to date
• Fielding calls/emails from teachers and parents relating to students in the boarding house
• Managing the stock and billing of the “basics” shop where students can buy toiletries
• Dispensing medication including controlled medication to students
• Working closely with the domestic team and facilities department to ensure the boarding house is well-managed
• Providing effective handovers to the fellow House Assistant who covers days

This post is Regulated Activity.

Hours of Work

The post is for 38 hours per week, term time plus, to be worked Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (17:00 to 22:00), Saturday (08:00 to 22:00) and Sunday (09:00 to 22:00). You will also share in the rota of being on-call overnight and for morning wake-ups, as well as being required to attend INSET (staff training) days outside of term time.  

Salary

The full-time equivalent salary is £26,163 per annum. The pro-rata salary is £16,274 per annum (inclusive of holiday pay).

Benefits

• Self-contained accommodation (all year)
• Meals provided on duty days during Term Time
• Free on-site parking
• Funded Healthcare Cash Plan
• Pension with Royal London
• Salary Extras Benefits Platform
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Assurance
• Personal Accident Cover

How to Apply

To find out more about this opportunity, candidates can contact Michelle Gillmore, Senior Houseparent at Steephurst at mgillmore@bedales.org.uk

For further detail and to apply, please visit the recruitment portal on the Bedales Schools website: https://www.bedales.org.uk/our-schools/about-bedales/job-vacancies

CVs cannot be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application form.   

Closing date: 9.00am on Monday 4 November 2024.

Application review discussions will be held online via MS Teams on Wednesday 6 November 2024.

Interview date: Monday 11 November 2024.

Pre-Appointment Checks

All candidates will undergo a Safeguarding Suitability Interview and application for an Enhanced DBS and Barred List check and be asked to provide evidence they are eligible to work in the UK on an ongoing basis at the shortlist stage of the selection process.

Safeguarding Statement

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

Candidates will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Prohibition from Teaching Checks, and Prohibition from Management Checks.

The safeguarding responsibilities of the post include:

• Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
• Fostering a culture of openness, safety, equality and protection
• Providing a safe and welcoming environment where both children and adults feel secure, able to talk and believe that they are being listened to
• Playing a key role in the prevention of harm and an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may indicate a child is at risk of harm
• When concerned about the welfare of a pupil, acting in the best interests of the pupil

All staff have a key role to play in identifying concerns early and in providing help for children and are expected to act in accordance with the School’s Safeguarding & Child Protection Policies.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and the School is therefore permitted to ask job candidates to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.