Dames Assistant

**Role Introduction**:
We are looking for a motivated and passionate Dame’s Assistant to support the Dame with the pastoral care of the students, as well as supporting central teams with the day-to-day running of the House, ensuring its cleanliness, tidiness, and comfort, and that high levels of health and safety are maintained. You will have frequent contact with the students and in addition to your job role, you will be able to take an interest in the activities of the house such as sports, plays and musical productions.

You will work flexibly and collaboratively with the Dame to ensure that students’ needs are put first, and that you can both take appropriate rest breaks. At all times you will be a visible presence in the House when on duty. Our boarding houses are integral to the students’ lives, and you will have a direct impact on their experience of life at Eton College.

**Main Duties**:

- Develop positive relationships with the new pupils, inducting them into the ways of the house by setting expectations about cleanliness of rooms, dealing with laundry, and respecting their environment, as well as encouraging them to be polite, well mannered, friendly and presentable.
- Supervising laundry, sending students’ clothing and sheets to laundry once a week; checking return of these items and reporting numbers of missing sheets and pillowcases.
- Supervising Messing Teas, at all times ensuring that health and safety requirements are adhered to, and also taking the opportunity to get to know the pupils, set standards and to provide pastoral support.
- Assisting the Dame with the general health and wellbeing of pupils in College, liaising with School medical staff as appropriate in order to share any health or medical concerns.
- Escorting pupils to routine appointments at the School Health Centre or local hospitals as required, responding and providing support during medical emergencies.
- In the absence of the Dame, liaising with parents on medical, domestic or logistic matters.
- Supporting the Dame and House Master at functions and events.
- Ensuring that appropriate standards of cleanliness are maintained in allocated rooms and areas of the house by cleaning in line with the expectations and standards set out by the Central Cleaning team. Your cleaning tasks, including relevant training in this area, comes under the supervision of the Housekeeping Supervisor.
- Commitment and promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion;
- All positions at Eton are classed as ‘regulated activity’ as per the Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021 guidance, therefore a good understanding of safeguarding procedures is essential;
- Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including by not limited to, completing safeguarding training as required, and ensuring any safeguarding updates issued by the College are read and understood;
- Understand and comply with procedures and legislation relating to confidentiality.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

- A flexible approach to work and a ‘can do’ attitude;
- A high standard of verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to flex your style to communicate with a variety of different people;
- The ability to nurture good working relationships with other departments;
- The ability to work using your own initiative whilst also being happy to take direction from the Dame House Master and Housekeeping Supervisor;
- Confidence in your own abilities and to deal with challenging situations;
- Previous experience of handling administration and good computer skills - particularly Word, Excel and Outlook;
- An understanding of when to resolve a problem on your own, and when to ask for help.
- The flexibility to work within a dual reporting line structure.

Ideally, you will also have:

- Previous experience of working in a pastoral role for children or young adults
- An awareness of the Children’s Act and Safeguarding and Child Protection;
- First Aid or relevant medical training;
- A clean and valid driving license.

**Benefits**:
Eton College offers a wide range of benefits, including an 11% employer contribution to your pension (with 4.9% employee contribution), Employee Assistance Programme, enhanced Maternity / Paternity scheme, free eyecare vouchers, a cycle to work scheme, subsidised lunches during term time, free access to the College’s sport and leisure facilities and discounts at local retailers and businesses.

**About the College**:
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