House Matron

The Opportunity

JOB TITLE: House Matron

CONTRACT: Permanent, predominantly Term Time only (see below)

LOCATION: Giggleswick School

RESPONSIBLE TO: Housemaster/Housemistress

HOURS OF WORK: 10.00 am to 12.15 with 30 minutes unpaid break, then 12.45 pm to 2.30 pm. Total of 4 hours per day, 20 hours per week. 33 weeks per year at 20 hours per week, plus a floating 54 hours.

House Matrons enjoy normal school holidays, except during the week prior to the start of each term when they are expected to work for up to 18 hours in preparation for the arrival of pupils and these hours should include attendance at relevant boarding and pastoral INSET and staff meetings.

SALARY: Grade A.2 Point 7 £22,436.96 per annum, pro rata to £10,385.11 for 0.46 FTE (for full academic year).

1 FTE ANNUAL LEAVE: 25 days paid holiday (plus 8 Bank Holidays)

CLOSING DATE: Tuesday 13 August 2024

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Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Role

Giggleswick School is seeking to appoint a House Matron in one of our senior houses for pupils aged between 13 and 18. It is an excellent opportunity for an energetic, enthusiastic and well-qualified individual wishing to play a significant role within this lively co-educational boarding school environment. The position will be incredibly rewarding, but is one that requires patience, resilience and a keen eye for detail.

The ability to encourage high standards, develop a positive rapport with pupils and parents and maintain a calm and caring atmosphere is essential. Sound judgment, excellent communication skills and a good sense of humour will also be invaluable!

A commitment to the values and expectations of this boarding community and to the welfare of the pupils is a vital component of the job.

On occasion, the Matron may be moved to a different boarding house, depending upon the needs of the School.

Main Duties

The House Matron will:

• Assist the Housemaster and tutors in maintaining high standards of behaviour.
• Work closely with the Housemaster as a key member of the pastoral team sharing responsibility for the wellbeing and security of pupils.
• Be expected to liaise with the Domestic Manager and the domestic staff assigned to the House, and with the Estates Bursar on behalf of the Housemaster.
• Be expected to assist the Housemaster in maintaining high standards of personal appearance and tidiness of the pupils.
• At times be expected to communicate with parents on behalf of the Housemaster.

Pastoral Care

The House Matron will always have the wellbeing of the pupils in house in mind. More specifically, the role will involve:

• Being a responsible adult to act as an additional ‘listening ear’ for the pupils’ concerns.
• Encouraging high personal standards such as respect for others and for personal property within the House.
• Keeping a watchful eye on all members of the House, especially younger pupils and those far from home.
• Encouraging personal tidiness and organisation, especially in terms of dress and the personal and communal spaces in House.
• Attending any sick pupils in bed in the House in liaison with Wellbeing Centre staff.
• Accompanying pupils to the GP surgery/hospital appointments, if necessary.

Domestic Organisation

The House Matron will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day tidiness and upkeep of the House. More specifically this will involve:

• Ensuring that pupils put their clothes into the laundry at the correct times and checking that clothing is clean and in good repair.
• Arranging for clothing to be sent to the Sewing Room for mending or dry cleaning and issuing school shop chits for new items of clothing where appropriate.
• Checking that beds are made daily and that sheets are changed regularly.
• Checking the tidiness of study bedrooms; asking pupils to tidy up and where necessary supervise them doing so.
• Regularly checking study bedrooms and common rooms for minor maintenance issues and keeping a House maintenance log.
• Noting defects and liaising with pupils, domestic staff, the Domestic Manager and the Estates Bursar to rectify any problems.
• Overseeing the fair distribution of break time snacks and making sure that pupils tidy up after themselves.
• Assisting when and where able in the organisation of hospitality for House events for parents and pupils.
• Playing a significant role in the end of term tidying arrangements.
• Preparing the House for the start of a new term, airing rooms, checking that they are clean and well-presented.

Administration

The House Matron will assist the Housemaster in routine matters of House administration; this may involve making telephone calls to parents as well as helping to run the House Office.

More specifically this will involve:

• Updating notice boards.
• Supervising the distribution of House mail.
• Receiving and passing on House related messages during the hours of work.
• Helping to organise travel arrangements, communicating with the Senior Master.
• Helping to oversee paperwork and logs associated with international pupils and their identity documents.

Other

1. Other tasks may develop and been added to this role, following suitable training and subject to time available.

2. Be fully knowledgeable of the Health and Safety regulations in the area of responsibility.

3. Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not have been identified. Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from the Head to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.

4. This job description may be amended at any time following discussion between the Manager and member of staff and will be reviewed annually.

Probation Period

The first full academic year of employment will be probationary. The probationary period may be extended at the School’s discretion.

Health & Safety

You have a legal duty to take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others and you are expected to be familiar with, and adhere to, Giggleswick School’s Health and Safety policy.

Equal Opportunities Employer

We are an equal opportunities employer and are seeking applications from suitable candidates from all backgrounds. We are dedicated to creating and sustaining an environment that values individuality and difference and celebrates the diversity of both staff and pupils by fostering perseverance, tolerance and integrity. We believe in equal opportunity for everyone, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.

If you have any queries about the application process or any problem with submitting your application online, the HR Team will be happy to help. Should you require any reasonable adjustments to be made or facilities provided to enable you to apply online, please do not hesitate to contact us on humanresources@giggleswick.org.uk so we can make adjustments accordingly.

Employment decisions will be made on the basis of each applicant’s job qualifications, skills, experience, and abilities. Applicants or employees with questions or concerns relating to discrimination for any of the reasons listed above should contact Joann Cole, Head of HR; jlcole@giggleswick.org.uk

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

Giggleswick School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to, reference checks with past employers, an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (including Barred List information), an online search and, where applicable, Prohibition checks.

If you are successful in your application, you will be required to complete a DBS Disclosure Application Form. Any information disclosed will be handled in accordance with any guidance and/or Code of Practice published by the DBS. The School is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings (including those which would normally be considered as “spent” under the Act) must be declared, subject to the DBS filtering rules. It is a criminal offence for any person who is barred from working with children to attempt to apply for a position at the School.

Giggleswick School expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment by complying with the School’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct at all times.

If in the course of carrying out your duties you become aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the school, they must report any concerns to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, or to the Head.

School Values

Ensure your work, communication and approach conforms brand values and style of the School. You will need to be aware and comply with the Giggleswick School rules, policies and procedures at all times, as detailed in the handbook you will be provided with at induction.