Boarding House Assistant

**JOB TITLE**: House Assistant (Matron) Maternity Cover

**LOCATION**: Giggleswick School

**RESPONSIBLE TO**: Housemaster/Mistress

**HOURS OF WORK**: 20 hours per week, Monday to Friday

(10.00am to 12.15pm). Term Time only (33 weeks)

**SALARY**:Grade A.2 Points 5 £18,187.01 per annum, pro rata to £8,420.30 for 0.46 FTE.

**ANNUAL LEAVE**: 25 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays)

**CLOSING DATE**: 2 January 2023
- _______________________________________

**JOB PURPOSE**

As part of Giggleswick School’s Boarding Team, this role is specifically focussed on providing pastoral care, supervisory and administrative duties.

**Main duties and responsibilities**

**THE POST**:
**1. Summary of the role**

The House Matron is an important part of the House staff team. The successful applicant will work closely with the Housemaster and the resident & non-resident tutors to ensure the smooth day to day running of the House. They will liaise closely with the Domestic and Properties departments.

A commitment to the values and expectations of this boarding community and to the welfare of the pupils is a vital component of the job.

**2. Main duties & responsibilities**

**Main Duties**

The House Matron will
- assist the Senior House Staff and tutors in maintaining high standards of behaviour;
- work closely with Senior House Staff as a key member of the pastoral team sharing responsibility for the wellbeing and security of pupils;
- be expected to liaise with the Domestic Manager and the domestic staff assigned to the House, and with the Property Manager on behalf of Senior House Staff;
- be expected to assist the Senior House Staff in maintaining high standards of personal appearance and tidiness of the pupils;
- at times be expected to communicate with parents on behalf of Senior House Staff.

**Pastoral Care**

The House Matron will always have the wellbeing of the boys in house in mind. More specifically the role will include:

- Being a responsible adult to act as an additional ‘listening ear’ for the boys’ concerns;
- Encouraging high personal standards such as respect for others and for personal property within the House;
- Keeping a watchful eye on all members of the House, especially younger pupils and those far from home;
- Encouraging personal tidiness and organisation, especially in terms of dress and the personal and communal spaces in House;
- Attending any sick pupils in bed in the House in liaison with Medical Centre staff.

**Domestic Organisation**

The House Matron will be responsible for overseeing the day to day tidiness and upkeep of the House. More specifically this will involve:

- Ensuring that pupils put their clothes into the laundry at the correct times and checking that clothing is clean and in good repair;
- Arranging for clothing to be sent to the Sewing Room for mending or dry cleaning and issuing school shop chits for new items of clothing where appropriate;
- Checking that beds are made daily and that sheets are changed regularly;
- Checking the tidiness of study bedrooms; asking boys or girls to tidy up and where necessary supervise them doing so;
- Regularly checking study bedrooms and common rooms for minor maintenance issues and keeping a House maintenance log;
- Noting defects and liaising with boys/girls, domestic staff, the School Shop, the Domestic Manager and the Properties Manager to rectify any problems;
- Overseeing the fair distribution of break time snacks and making sure that pupils tidy up after themselves;
- Assisting when and where able in the organisation of hospitality for House events for parents and pupils;
- Playing a significant role in the end of term tidying arrangements;
- Preparing the House for the start of a new term, airing rooms, checking that they are clean and well-presented;
**Administration**

The House Matron will assist the Housemaster in routine matters of House administration; this may involve making telephone calls to parents as well as helping to run the House Office.

More specifically this will involve:

- Updating notice boards;
- Supervising the distribution of House mail;
- Distributing pocket money;
- Receiving and passing on House related messages during the hours of work;
- Helping to organise travel arrangements, communicating with the Travel Co-ordinator.

**Other**

2. Be fully knowledgeable of the Health and Safety regulations in the area of responsibility.

3. Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not have been identified. Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from the Head to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.

4. This job description may be amended at any time following discussion between the Bursar, Facilities Manager and member of staff and will be reviewed annually.

5. You will be expected to be fully conversant with and implement the School’s range of