House Parent and Assistant House Parent

House Parent and Assistant House Parent

Appleford School is a specialist day and boarding school for pupils aged 7-16 with dyslexia and associated learning difficulties, set in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside in the village of Shrewton, just off the A303. Our ethos is to build children’s confidence through continuous support and the of their celebration of success. Rated ‘Excellent’ by ISI in all categories, the school has been providing the highest quality teaching for pupils with dyslexia for over 30 years.

JOB PURPOSE

The Boarding House Parent Assistant Houseparent is responsible for supporting the Houseparent in all matters relating to the pastoral welfare of the pupils in their care. This role is regarded in law as a position of trust in loco parentis between the school and parents and the other Houseparent’s’. Responsibility is key to ensuring the welfare and safety of children and young persons for whom they are responsible, or with whom he/she comes into contact. Boarding Parents must adhere to, and ensure compliance with, the school’s policies at all times.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

To be responsible for the care, welfare and support of all students within the boarding houses ensuring the safety and security (including emotional) of all pupils at all times when they are in the one’s charge (including mealtimes, prep time in the house and on trips and outings).
- To assist the boarding team with the smooth running of the boarding house, providing a homely and welcoming environment for all students, staff, and parents.
- To instruct and communicate with students regularly on the day’s issues, forthcoming events, reminders, and matters relating to school and the boarding house.
- To take an active role in ensuring that students have a full, stimulating, and regular programme of activities and taking the lead in creating and implementing activities.
- To ensure that pupils treat the belongings of others, and the fabric and furnishings of the house with respect: to fulfil the requirements of the school’s health and safety policy.
- To make provision for pupils’ clothes and personal belongings to ensure that it is clean and stored.
- To liaise effectively and fully with the boarding team over any problems, concerns or issues arising within the school or boarding houses.
- To be completely familiar with all standards, regulations and rules governing the pastoral supervision of students’ resident at The Hammond (Ofsted/Fire/Health & Safety/Safeguarding/LA/ National Minimum Standards, all school and School policies).
- To ensure that boarding and school policies are consistently adhered to by all boarding staff and students.
- To work within professional boundaries with children and young people and to communicate effectively whilst in the vicinity of students.
- To support the school’s disciplinary policy and, by encouragement and reward, and a clearly understood and fair system of sanctions, foster an acceptance of the code of conduct of the house and school.
- To attend appropriate training sessions for the purposes of maintaining quality, safe practice in the boarding environment, to understand the needs and legal obligations of boarding schools, and for potentially developing new working practices. To appreciate that these training sessions may need to take place on rare occasions out of term time or duty time.
- To perform any other key tasks which the Head may reasonably assign.

Hours to be discussed at interview, but standard are 7am-9am and 4pm-9.30pm during the week, plus some waking if needed and alternate weekends.

There may be opportunity to work in the school during school hours if you have the qualifications and desire to do so. This will be discussed at interview.