Assistant House Parent

The Assistant House Parent role is primarily to support the work of the House Parent in taking responsibility for the overall care and welfare of all the pupils in the boarding house.

Their job is to assist in maintaining our high standard of care and ensuring the welfare, happiness, safety and health of all boarding pupils. The Assistant House Parent must have the ability to help create a stable working and pastoral environment.

A significant timetabled contribution (including at weekends) to other areas of College life is essential e.g. Games coaching and teams management, supporting The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, College Cadet Force, Outdoor Pursuits, Co-curricular Arts. Specific training opportunities shall be provided for certain areas of responsibility and activity.

The Assistant House Parent will be line managed by the House Parent, who shall also conduct the Assistant House Parent’s annual appraisal and performance management review. Additionally, there is a close working relationship with the Assistant Heads who take overall day to day pastoral and academic responsibility for the pupils.

The postholder will contribute to and attend Playroom retreats, Masses and other aspects of the spiritual life of the College.

This is a full time, term time only position within a busy boarding school and you will work six days per week. In addition to the role, there is an expectation that staff will be involved in the wider life of the school, through co-curricular contributions, attendance at Masses and Parent events.

• Support the House Parent in ensuring high standards of discipline, tidiness and presentation among pupils.
• Take responsibility for the pastoral care and wellbeing of pupils in their care, as directed by the House Parent.
• Support the House Parent in coordinating and staffing leisure activities for pupils, as well as contributing in such ways as deemed appropriate to run co-curricular activities or games.
• Support the House Parent in ensuring National Minimum Standards for Boarding are met.
• The House Parent may also ask the Assistant House Parent to take on some routine administration. The Assistant House Parent is to be available to assist fully at the beginning and end of terms, at special events and on Parents’ Weekends as required by the Headmaster.
• Support the House Parent in ensuring all boarders have sufficient rest, and that bed-time and morning routines appropriate to the age group are established and maintained with care.
• Undertake as directed a number of specific tasks/duties within the boarding house.
• Be attentive to the needs of new pupils and help with new pupil induction.
• Attend and sometimes lead Playroom assemblies with the support of senior colleagues.
• Expect to undertake several specific tasks and duties within the Playroom.
• Be on the Playroom supervision duty rota. Always maintain an appropriate adult presence and to be alert to the welfare and wellbeing needs of all pupils.
• To take on some administrative duties within the Playroom as directed by the Assistant Heads and House Parent.

Boarding at Stonyhurst

Stonyhurst boarding is central to everything we do. At Stonyhurst we aim to provide a home away from home, with a lively, family atmosphere in a comfortable, informal and supportive environment.

Across the College, there are five boarding houses for boys and three boarding houses for girls. Each boarding house is run by a dedicated House Parent and Assistant, and a team of staff who support their work. Our House Parents live in the boarding house, and each house has its own unique, family atmosphere.

Stonyhurst is a 7-day-a-week boarding school, and boarders are grouped using a horizontal (year group) system, which allows the boarders to mix with pupils of the same age, learn and understand other pupil’s cultures and faiths, and make life-long friends by living in a thriving community based on mutual respect.

Each year group has a dedicated ‘playroom’ for both boarders and day pupils. The playrooms are common areas, which comes from the emphasis on drama in a traditional Jesuit education, where pupils could practise a play to perform at the end of the year, provided it had a moral message.

Person Specification

• A genuine enjoyment of working with others for the betterment of young people with a commitment to allround education
• Have excellent judgement and professional ethics
• A commitment to safeguarding the welfare of young people
• Ability to get things done in a timely, professional manner
• Strong organisational skills
• Ability to work under pressure, balancing a number of commitments
• Ability to work as part of a team
• A positive approach to problem solving with a positive mindset
• Excellent listening skills for both parents and pupils, liaison with parents of prospective pupils
• Experience within a boarding school