AddressAbout The Role
Contract Dates - 04/07/2024 - 12/08/2024
The Role
SBC Assistant House Parents take an integral role in the pastoral care of students, supporting House Parents with the day-to-day running of boarding houses and the safety and welfare of the students within them. It is vital that they present the flexibility, enthusiasm and communication skills necessary for a role working closely with many members of staff and students. Assistant House Parents will often be the first point of call for students pastoral and welfare needs. As such it is imperative they have the skills to build open, supportive and trusting relationships with children and young people.
SBC Canford Summer School is located in the stunning campus of Canford School, near the seaside city of Bournemouth - which is the most popular city for learning English outside of London. SBC Canford's magnificent facilities are some of the best of any school in the country, offering students a chance to do a fantastic range of activities. SBC Canford is for students aged 11-15 and the capacity is approximately 290 students per week.
Ways we support our Assistant House Parents:
- Fully paid DBS check
- Extensive, paid, on-site training prior to student arrival
- All meals and accommodation included
- CPD and Appraisals
- Staff Wellbeing Initiative
- Access to Employee Assist Programme (EAP)
- Continual support for all staff from the Head Office Team, both on the ground and via phone/email
- Online safeguarding and prevent training
- Professional, fun and supportive environment
Additional Role Specific Support
- Paid attendance of a certified First Aid Course
Remuneration: Paid weekly, one week in arrears. The weekly rate received for Assistant House Parents is £560 PLUS any accrued holiday to be paid at the end of contract)* Food and accommodation are included for all residential SBC staff.
Assistant House Parents are required to work intermittently throughout the day, beginning with wake-up duties, and finishing with lights-out. Assistant House Parents work six days out of seven and will have one full day off per week.
Main Duties:
- Working across boarding houses to support, supervise and account for all students through the daily routine
- Encouraging positive social interaction between students
- Be available and approachable to all students, addressing student behavioural issues in a professional, empathic & positively reinforced manner
- Attend to students with any issue, including, but not limited to, illness, hygiene, homesickness, friendships, management of belongings, phone use, etc.
- Work with all staff to develop strong house identities and ethos incorporating values of respect, tolerance, comradery and community
- Help to plan and deliver in-house activity nights for the students in your houses, supported by the other staff in your team
- Attend pre-course House Parent training & complete a First Aid course (arranged by SBC) to act as a school First Aider
- Be committed to the safeguarding and welfare of students in your care
- Adhere to all Health and Safety measures (including COVID safety measures, risk assessments and other policies and procedures)
- Help with student transfers to and from the airport for any arrivals and departures
- Be on call/overnight duty up to 6 times per week
- Help transfer students to and from the airport if needed
- Actively supervise and interact with students during meal and break times
- Encourage students to successfully engage in the programme while helping develop independence, confidence and social skills
- As with all residential work, be able to show a large degree of flexibility
- Help ensure that the students do not breach the rules of the school
- Engage with the students at all times, in a friendly but professional manner
- Be committed to the safeguarding and welfare of students in your care
About You
SBC PERSON SPECIFICATION
All members of staff employed by SBC will be expected to bring certain key qualities to the operation. There must be a professional interest in working with young people and particularly international children. Safety and welfare of the students is of paramount importance at SBC and a practical enforcing of this belief should be a quality exhibited by all staff.
We look for staff who are:
- Approachable & empathic to the needs of students
- Enthusiastic & engaging
- Diplomatic, responsible & motivated
- Flexible within the summer school environment
We expect all SBC staff to be able to communicate effectively with our students, using an appropriate level of language to suit the group. SBC staff must demonstrate patience, empathy and an emotional awareness towards students both individually and in within a group setting. We expect all staff to take control of students and to manage discipline and behavioural issues in a firm, positive and constructive manner.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Essential
- Experience working with children in a professional capacity
- Experience of, and genuine enjoyment of working with children
- Strong communication skills, ability to work under pressure, flexibility
- Ability to take control of and lead a group of children in house, on activities and during excursions
- The ability to build strong sense of community and togetherness while working with groups of young people
- A strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and processes in practice
- The ability to work collaboatively with students and taking a strenghts based approach to help students develop their self esteem, confidence and resilience
- Strong organisational skills
Desirable
- Experience of residential international summer schools
- Experience of the UK boarding environment
- Experience of working within the education sector
About Us
Founded in 2008, Summer Boarding Courses have united students from around the world through education. Delivering award-winning, future-focused courses that strike the perfect balance between academic and social enrichment.
Our courses unlock potential and ignite a spark for long-term success.
Our residential summer courses take place at some of the UK’s top boarding schools and university college campuses, including Eton College, Oxford University Colleges and Headington School. We carefully select our campuses to ensure that they provide the perfect environment for our students to live and study.
Over 15,800 students from 152 nationalities have been welcomed to study with us to date.
Whether it’s preparing for future studies, developing 21st–century skills or building confidence, the knowledge gained on an SBC course allows students to go forward and apply what they have learnt to other areas of their education and beyond; giving them the necessary skills to achieve their future goals.
The EL Gazette publishes a league table based on British Council inspections, and SBC have been ranked Number 1 from 2018 to 2023. We are very proud of this achievement and will continue to grow and develop our courses to offer students extraordinary experiences.
SBC is the only multi-campus summer school provider in the UK to have achieved a perfect 15/15 areas of strength by the British Council. A true hallmark of educational quality.
TO APPLY
We want to make sure we do all we can to set candidates up for success in this process. If you require any adjustments to help you at interview and/or you have any questions at all, please contact us at: recruitment@summerboardingcourses.co.uk
Please note, as this post involves direct contact with vulnerable children, it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.However, amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected'. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account.
SHOULD YOU BE SUCCESSFUL
- Any gaps in your CV will be enquired about and must be explained satisfactorily
- You will have to prove your Right to Work in the UK
- You will provide the details of two recent and relevant referees who we will contact and specifically ask about your suitability to work with children and any concerns.
- You will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS), and equivalent if you live, or have lived, outside of the UK
- You will be asked to state that you have no known reason why you cannot work with children
- Official identification and certificates will be required for our records
Please be aware that SBC may conduct online searches for shortlisted candidates as part of our legal duty to meet out safeguarding duties.
SBC SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
Summer Boarding Courses is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We have a comprehensive Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and procedures in place which all employees, volunteers and contractors are expected to adhere to.
SBC EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT
We operate a policy of equal opportunities and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of sex, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin or disability.
