APPLEFORD SCHOOL JOB DESCRIPTION

Title of Post: Assistant Houseparents
Current Incumbent: / Start Date:
Line Manager: Sarah Dubique (Head of Boarding) / Basic Salary On Assumption of Appointment:
Job Description:
  • To be responsible for helping the Houseparents in the day to day running of the boarding houseand for the pupils, overseeing their welfare and organisation. To work in conjunction with the otherHouse Parents in taking reasonability for the overall care and welfare of all the pupils. Full first aid trained.

Skills/responsibilities
  • Excellent listening skills for both parents and pupils, liaison with parents of prospective pupils.
  • Counselling is required with individual pupils as and when support is required. The assistant will have to be sensitive to the needs of all pupils in their care and will jointly oversee the tracking of the pupils Social Independence Plans (S.I.P) or any behaviour modification plans that may be recommended at the weekly Boarding House meeting.
  • Ability to create a stable working and pastoral environment. Assist and lead in the creation of suitable standards of behaviour of the pupils in their care.
  • Deal with the medical needs of all the pupils during ‘Medical Duty Days’, when visits to hospital and doctors may be required; evening and morning surgery as per rota.
  • Supervising playground duty as per boarding house rota.
  • Attend weekly Boarding House meetings with Head, Head of Boarding and other boarding house staff.
  • Good understanding of basic administration and ICT skills; including record keeping.
  • Produce rotas and information for the pupils within the boarding house.
  • To be partly responsible for the transfer of all pupil records to school database and ensure incidents are correctly recorded and dealt with.
  • Be able to circulate information about pupils and parents to otherappropriate members of staff.
  • Drive a minibus (Max 17 Seats) at weekends.
  • Assist in the co-ordination of information for the pupil’s weekend arrangements. This information is then presented to the weekly Boarding House meeting. Any agenda items will be given to the Head of Boarding prior to the meeting taking place. Individual pupils will be discussed as will any areas of concern. All catering and laundry arrangements will be confirmed after consultation at the Boarding House meeting.
  • Understand the procedures for the upkeep and replacement of furniture and fittings in the boarding house. Be able to investigate damage and assess pupil culpability.
  • Taking the lead role in the running of Shrewton laundry and taking responsibility for the pupils clothing, liaising with the House Mother, Housekeeper and parents about replacement when worn or undersized. Work with the laundry staff to ensure that all clothing is appropriate and the correct size and type for laundering in the school laundry.
  • To assist the Houseparents in getting the pupils up each morning, supervising meals (on a rota basis), and ensuring that the pupils are settled down each evening by 9:00pm, or when the duty staff leave.
  • To be responsible for acquainting the Head and Head of Boardingwith special events, problems with pupils, or areas of concern that occur in the house on a daily basis.
  • It is essential that both houses are always working together towards the same aims and objectives and use similar schemes for encouraging self-independence and self-esteem.
  • Any Other tasks delegated to you.
Knowledge
  • They should understand how to manage the Health and Safety and wellbeing of the boardingpupils in their charge ensuring that health and safety standards within the house are met and recording risk assessments.
  • They must know how to plan and manage the day to day activities of the boarding house in consultation with the Head of Boarding.
Attitude
  • They must actively promote a homely atmosphere in their boarding house
  • They must actively look after the well being of the pupils
  • They must actively encourage all pupils to understand the right way of doing things

Other Details:
  • There is no such thing as a standard working week within term time. Assistant Houseparents are entitled to two days off per week, working every weekend (Except Exeat weekends) during term time. In accordance with the Working Time Regulations it has been assessed that houseparents work some 48 hours per week when an extended 52 week reference period is used – Houseparentsmay be required to sign an Opt-Out Agreement.
  • Working with other houseparents to organise social events.
  • There is a comfortable, first floor bed-sit available in Shrewton House, free of charge but with a small payment towards the use of the telephone. Food, if eaten with the pupils, is free of charge during term time.

Authorised by:
Headteacher: Date:

Nov 2012