Job Description
David Game College
Residential House Parent - Job Description
Appointment from September 2023
Purpose and Scope of the Post
All House Parents are line-managed by the Head of Boarding, and are responsible for the pastoral care in the Residential Boarding House.
All House Parents are supported in their role by Assistant House Parent.
1. The Role
All House Parents must create a positive atmosphere within the House which is supportive of the College as a centre for teaching and learning. They should foster a culture which is based on high standards and expectations, are both caring and demanding and show commitment to the needs of all students.
2. Responsibilities
To be responsible for the organisation of a Residential Boarding House by:
i. Taking direct responsibility for the pastoral care of students in the House and reporting any issues to the Head of Boarding as appropriate;
ii. Holding regular meetings with the house staff and students, encouraging student engagement with their environment through Student/Boarders Voice, and inviting input into the management of the House from house staff;
iii. Attending weekly House Parent Meetings;
iv. Conducting a regular audit of the facilities and furnishings in the house, reporting any
concerns to the Properties Services Manager for any action;
v. Maintaining an overview of Health and Safety issues in the House;
vi. Contributing to the pastoral reports to the Head of Boarding and contributing to the Colleges Development Plan;
vii. Having the overview of the welfare and academic achievements of all students in the
House.
3. Pastoral
i. To act in as loco parentis and to be an appropriate role model for boarders.
ii. To encourage the development of each boarder; socially, emotionally, academically and spiritually.
iii. To communicate regularly and effectively with the boarding and wider Pastoral team on issues relating to the general welfare of boarders, in particular matters causing concern.
iv. Be aware of all aspects of Safeguarding and attend relevant training; make appropriateness for rules to the schools designated Safeguarding Lead for Boarding.
v. Establish and maintain appropriate standards of boarders’ behaviour in support of the schools reward and sanction policy.
vi. Demonstrate care, compassion, availability, common sense and above all reliability and accountability.
vii. Work with the College Nurse to ensure students medical needs are fully met by the boarding team; including attending hospital and doctor appointments when the necessary to assist the boarding team.
viii. To attend meetings which will promote support from reach boarding students’ progress.
ix. To encourage a culture of learning creativity and development in the boarding house, to ensure that the conditions supervision to the evening study are conducive to academic progress.
x. To be aware that they progress of students and to communicate with respect and teachers any areas of concern.
xi. To enter into or supervisory and duties as required by the schedule events and activities, according to the Duty Rota.
xii. To work flexibly in accordance with the requirements of other members of the boarding team in order to ensure a harmonious and professional environment.
xiii. To oversee the order of the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen and boarders’ common room, assisting boarding students to develop healthy and independent use to their own personal space and person.
xiv. To complete waking up duties, which include final check every evening of the students at the time of lights out, so as to ascertain that each student his account of four and precautions are taken in case of an emergency during the night.
Overseeing the safety, good discipline, pastoral well-being and academic performance of
students by:
i. Ensuring that the Colleges’ boarding policies on safeguarding and behaviour are fully understood by the staff and students and adhered to;
ii. Being aware of the implications of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools and OFSTED Boarding Inspection criteria;
iii. Ensuring that a full understanding of the circumstances of each student in the House, their strengths, weaknesses, aptitudes and abilities are clearly identified and shared with relevant staff so that individual talents and potential are developed and maximised;
iv. Co-ordinating and contributing to a full and varied programme of enrichment activities and trips ensuring that every student has the opportunity to participate;
v. Monitor welfare, health and emotional issues through Individual Welfare Plans;
vi. Ensuring that concerns for a student’s welfare are referred to the appropriate internal staff;
vii. Ensuring that appropriate travel arrangements for students are in place in advance at the beginning and end of each term and half-term, remaining resident in the building until all students have departed, or make alternative provisions for their welfare and safety.
viii. Liaising on all medical issues involving students in the House and the administering of medicines;
ix. Accompanying students to medical appointments when the chaperone is not available.
x. Ensuring, where appropriate, that teaching staff know of students’ background
circumstances which might affect their academic performance;
xi. Communicating regularly with parents of students, including responding promptly as a matter of courtesy to all email or phone communications by parents i.e. within 48 hours;
xii. Encouraging a healthy and positive use of students’ free time;
xiii. Overseeing the arrangement of House teams and participation in Inter-House
competitions.
xiv. Recording the students’ achievements, academic mentoring and misconduct in School Base;
xv. Agreeing and implementing the House’s Academic Mentoring programme with the Head of Boarding, being aware of the academic progress of each student in the House, their Target-Grades, most recent Working-Grades and their latest Predicted-Grades where relevant;
xvi. Supporting students in maximising their private study time so that they achieve the best that they can academically and providing guidance, support and advice for progression routes at all levels where able.
xvii. Supporting International Boarders where possible at Parents’ Consultation and
Information Evenings.
4. Expectations
House Parent are expected to take a proactive role in the managing of the House by being present as much as possible and having a flexible approach to duties including:
i. Being on duty on the last evening and last day of each half-term regardless of time-off.
ii. Being on duty on the evening before the start of each half-term regardless of time-off.
iii. Being present at all major school events including Annual Prize-Giving, GCSE/Sixth Form Dinners, Christmas dinners/discos and any other significant events;
iv. Being present at least once per week in assembly.
v. House Parents must ensure the delivery of practice laid out in the Staff Handbook.
vi House Parents are responsible for the leadership, training and support of the House staff and work with the Head of Boarding in the implementation of school’s policies.
Vii House Parent are expected to evidence research informed improvements over a sustained period of time.
Supervision of the House at all times will be the responsibility of the House Parent.
5. On Call
The House Parent will be ‘on call’ each night when not on duty.
Other
i. Being responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people for whom he/she is responsible or comes into contact with.
ii. To undertake any other reasonable duty at the request of the Co-Principal or Head of Boarding
iii. To adopt professional dress codes whilst on duty and behave in a professional manner at all times
iV. Attend college Inset Days as published in the Calendar.
The above job description relates to your core function and is not exhaustive and can be subject to change depending on context and needs.
David Game College is both a Day and Boarding and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment – applicants must be willing to undergo appropriate screening including a DBS check.
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: From £30,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 10/05/2023
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