Houseparent

Job Description

Houseparent
with potential for further responsibility in boarding for the right candidate

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and
expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Pastoral Team

Post:

Salary:

Contract:

Houseparent

£27,900 per annum plus accommodation

Permanent

Reporting to:

Head of Upper School Boarding,

Working closely with:

Purpose of the job:

Vice Principal – Student Support, Deputy
Houseparent’s and other boarding team
colleagues, Health and Wellbeing staff, facilities
and domestic staff and relevant Artistic and
Academic tutors.

The  Houseparent  will  assist  the  Head  of  Upper  School  Boarding  and  other  colleagues  in  the
boarding  environment  to  look  after  students  who  reside  at  Elmhurst  Ballet  School  ensuring
excellent standards of pastoral care and the welfare of students.

The Houseparent  will  provide a  caring,  safe  and positive  environment  for  the young people  in
their care, working with the academic, artistic and pastoral teams supporting the wellbeing of all
students in House. The Houseparent will be responsible for managing the Deputy Houseparent
and resources in House.

As this role has boarding responsibilities attached, it comes with furnished accommodation that
is available for use all year round. Please note, due to the nature and size of the accommodation
provided, we are unable to accommodate families or pets.

Accountabilities:

Main Duties

Have a good understanding and working knowledge of the National Minimum Standards for
Boarding Schools in order to fulfil their requirements.

Work as part of a dedicated team to ensure high standards of pastoral care.

Supervise  the  Deputy  Houseparent  including clear  roles and  responsibilities,  and  carry  out
annual  Performance  Development  Reviews  (PDR’s),  the  induction  and  probationary
processes.

Ensure that the presentation and upkeep of the House is of a high standard. Reporting any
faults and damages in a timely manner and nurturing positive working relations with the
facilities and domestic staff.

Ensure that all stakeholders understand the aims and objectives of boarding in House, and
the  principles  on  which  the  School’s  community  life  is  based.  This  should  include  writing
annual  house  action  plans,  newsletters  to  parents  and  attending  any  required  meetings.
Taking  an  active  role  in  disseminating  information,  co-ordinating  activities  and  discussing
student welfare and progress as appropriate.

Ensure  that  the  personalised  needs  of  each  student  are  identified  and  communicated  to
appropriate  staff,  thus  ensuring  that  student  talent  and  potential  are  developed  and
maximised.

Work  with  the  Boarding  team  to  ensure  the  safety  and  security  (including  emotional)  of  all
students at all times.

To implement a set of ‘House rules’ and guidelines designed to safeguard as far as possible
the privacy, independence, dignity and rights of each student in line with school policy and
minimum boarding standards.

Respond to any medical or pastoral emergency as may arise.  This will take precedence over
other responsibilities.

Liaise  with  the  school’s  Health  and  Wellbeing  team  to  ensure  that  students’  medical
requirements  are  properly  catered  for;  and  students  are  encouraged  to  adopt  a  healthy
lifestyle.

Keep appropriate house records to include; house funds, student handover, safeguarding,
accident reporting and administration of medicines.

Organise and plan a range of social functions and activities for students both within the
House and the wider School.

Chaperone students for off-site activities, rehearsals, and performances and medical
appointments when required.

Oversee the progress and development of the students in your care across all faculties,
liaising closely with Progress Leaders and Ballet tutors.

Build strong, positive relationships with student’s parents/guardians ensuring regular
exchanges of information and reporting as appropriate any issues or concerns that may
come to light.  This will include face to face and online meetings, phone calls and emails.

Have a good working knowledge of and ability to follow and promote the School’s policies
and procedures including The Family of Safeguarding documents.

Promote ‘The Elmhurst Way’. Support the students in understanding the School’s
Disciplinary Policy.

Always follow Elmhurst’s Code of Professional Expectations and Practice.

Ensure that health and safety procedures are observed in your designated areas.

Undergo regular statutory training as well other as role-specific training such as Child
Protection, First Aid and Fire Awareness

Any other duties as may reasonably be required and that fall within the scope and range of
the job.

General:

Adhere to and work within Elmhurst School practices (The Elmhurst Way) and policies
including those relating to Equal Opportunities.

To be prepared to carry out any new task the Head of Upper School Boarding or Vice
Principal – Student Support may request after review, consultation and mutual agreement.

This job description is subject to change at the discretion of the Principal.

Responsible for:

Deputy Houseparent, both resident and non-resident (if applicable) members of the House.

Responsible to:

Head of Upper School Boarding, thereafter the Vice Principal – Student Support.

Person Specification:

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment

Essential
These  are  qualities  without  which  the  Applicant  could  not  be
appointed

Desirable
These  are  extra  qualities  which  can  be  used  to  choose  between
applicants who meet all of the essential criteria

Method of
assessment

Qualifications

Good general education appropriate to the post.

Relevant childcare qualification

Knowledge & Experience

Skills

Innovation

Personal competencies and
qualities

Evidence of a good working knowledge of the National Minimum
Boarding Standards.
Boarding school experience and understanding the needs of
children in a boarding environment.
Evidence and experience of responding positively to change.
Knowledge of Safeguarding Children Policy and requirements.
Able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the unique challenges
faced by young people in vocational education

Evidence of clear focused communication & active listening skills.
Command of English Language for record keeping.
Good ICT skills.
Pragmatic approach to problem solving.
Ability to build personal relationships – able to support students and
command their respect, providing a good role model.

Demonstrate the ability to be proactive and bring forward ideas to
improve working methods and activities to support the students and
ethos of the school.
Adaptable and flexible approach to work.

High level of personal integrity
Methodical
Well presented & personable
Genuine enthusiasm and the ability to work well within a wider staff
team.
Approachable.

Boarding School Association (BSA) certificate
First Aid Certificate
Hold a clean UK driving licence.
Experience of working in a complex environment.
Knowledge of dance training or understanding of an intensive and
specialised training environment.

Highly organised

Evidence of introducing new working methodologies leading to
measurable outcomes and improvements for young people.

Certificates

Application Form
Interview
Professional
references

Application Form
Interview
Professional
references

Application Form
Interview
Professional
references

Application Form
Interview
Professional
references

Embodying the ethos and vision of the House
Ability to motivate & persuade
Assertive
Sensitive
Confident
Able to remain calm and professional at all times

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY STATEMENT

Elmhurst Ballet School serves a diverse body of young people from different
communities, backgrounds and experiences, brought together by their love and
commitment to dance, their talent and their work ethic. It is a core value of this school
that dance is for everyone. In the same way, we deeply recognise the importance of a
diverse staff, which enriches our school with different experiences, ideas and ways of
thinking. We uphold that sense of belonging is a key part of wellbeing and believe also
that a diverse staff increases a sense of belonging for our diverse student body.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, ages, race, genders, sex,
sexual orientation, family circumstances, and from all faiths or none. If you share our
core values – caring, inclusive, inspiring, dynamic, courageous and proud – and you
have the relevant experience and skills listed in our person specification – we want to
hear from you! There is always more work to be done to make our school and
workplace – and the wider world we all live in – more inclusive and more kind. We hope
you can be part of this endeavour and that your own voice, experience and actions will
build our knowledge even further.

We aim to ensure that all people with whom we work are valued for their contribution
and are given the opportunity to realise their full potential within the organisation.
Elmhurst School believes that following a policy of equality of opportunity will benefit not
only the individual but will also benefit and enrich the whole organisation.

DISCLOSURE & BARRING SCHEME

This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with children or vulnerable adults
and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. An enhanced disclosure
will be sought through the Disclosure and Barring Scheme as part of our pre-employment
checks.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The job holder is required to contribute to and support the overall aims and ethos of the
school. All staff are required to participate in training and other learning activities, and in
performance  management  and  development  as  required  by  the  schools’  policies  and
practices.

The  duties  and  responsibilities  listed  above  are  provisional.    Further  details  may  be
supplied  when  the  person  is  appointed.    The  post  holder  is  expected  to  accept  any
reasonable alterations that may from time to time be necessary.