College House Boarding Assistant

Location: Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College, Woodhouse, Leics
Hours: Full-time, Mon-Fri, Term Time only (38 weeks per year). 8 am to 4 pm 4 days per week, 7 am to 4 pm one day per week on a rota basis.
Contract Type: Fixed term for a 1-year period
Holidays: Academic-Year holidays (14 weeks holiday)
to April 2016
Package: Living Wage – £26,000 per year. Contributory pension scheme, life assurance.

Background:
Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College opened in September 2005, replacing the Army Sixth Form College at Welbeck, North Nottinghamshire. TQ Education & Training Ltd (part of Pearson) are responsible for curriculum and education, the management of all educational learning resources, sports and pastoral care. The College is situated in the Leicestershire countryside at Woodhouse, 5 miles from Loughborough and provides state-of-the-art facilities.

The Defence Sixth Form College is an independent, co-educational boarding Sixth Form College with an annual intake of 175 students. It provides a selected cohort of highly motivated students with high quality, residential teaching and learning in order that they may pursue a career, via a university degree, in the Armed Forces or the Civil Service as part of the MoD’s Defence Technical Officer and Engineer Entry Scheme (DTOEES).

As part of a pilot trial of 12 months we are seeking 5 House Boarding Assistants to provide day time, week day support to House staff. These posts will play a pivotal role in maintaining the first class pastoral supervision which is in place and which was described recently by the Independent Schools Inspectorate as ‘excellent’. House Boarding Assistants will also play a key role in providing welfare support to students.

Job Description:
Successful candidates will have the maturity and suitability for a role in supporting the care of young people living away from home. They will have experience of working with young people and be passionate about supporting them at this key stage in their lives. Successful applicants will be expected to demonstrate outstanding interpersonal skills and the highest levels of discretion, confidentiality, tact, diplomacy and integrity. Successful applicants will clearly require sensitivity, compassion and understanding. Duties will include:

• Oversee each house during teaching time to ensure appropriate standards of behaviour are maintained.
• Support and provide an initial point of contact for students for day time periods when house staff are teaching or on other College related activity, remaining alert to issues related to wellbeing and emotional health.
• Refer matters requiring pastoral advice or expertise to house staff as outlined by the Vice Principal Pastoral (VPP).
• Assist House staff in paperwork associated with the administration of the house.
• Assist in the tracking of students deemed absent from registration/lessons.
• Liaise direct with the College Medical Centre (CMC) for any instances when medical related issues arise or first aid is necessary.
• Remain fully conversant with National Minimum Standards (NMS).
• Be able to provide routine, not safeguarding related advice, to students as circumstances warrant. (House Boarding Assistants will be trained in safeguarding.)
• Flag low level issues relating to academic matters and military training to House staff so that they can inform tutors and military staff as appropriate.
• Assist in ensuring house maintenance issues are identified and actioned in consultation with House staff and the Maintenance Manager.
• Assist with Room March Ins and Room March Outs under the guidance of the respective House Parent.
• Work with cleaning staff to ensure rooms are ready for programmed cleaning.
• Undertake one breakfast supervisor duty per week, linking in with catering staff as required.
• Assist with coordinating the organisation of student laundry for staff with laundry responsibilities.
• Provide additional trip cover for student day trips by prior agreement of VPP.

Role Requirements:

– The maturity and suitability for a role in supporting the care of young people living away from home.
– Experience of working with young people.
– The highest levels of discretion, confidentiality, tact, diplomacy and integrity.
– Sensitivity, compassion and understanding.
– An understanding of emotional health and wellbeing.
– Sound levels of literacy and numeracy with GCSE/O levels in English and Maths preferred.
– Outstanding interpersonal skills.
– The emotional intelligence to empathise, identify and refer as circumstances demand.
– An awareness of the challenges of social media.
– Computer Literacy (ECDL/European Computer Driving Licence advantageous but not essential).

, 5 pm.

The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Additionally, this post is exempt from the provision of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and applicants will be expected to undertake an enhanced disclosure through the DBS (previously CRB).