House Parent Job Description

BABSSCo runs courses for two sets of students: ‘B Course’ students, aged 13-17, at Harrow School, and ‘A Course’ students, aged 8-12, at Mill Hill School. Male and female students are housed separately.

House Parents are employed principally to foster a safe, caring and happy environment for the students accommodated in the boarding houses. Students are generally in lessons or on activities/excursions during the daytime, so the role is principally focussed on evening/night-time supervision and routine morning duties.

Main Roles and Responsibilities

Prepare the Boarding House with signage etc prior to the students' arrival.
Supervise students during the evening and night-time period. You are responsible for general student welfare during this period
Ensure night-time discipline of students
Ensure that students know where to find you in case of night-time emergency
Ensure students are ready for bed and in their own rooms by the agreed curfew time
Perform a daily morning roll-call before breakfast, and if necessary, room checks to ensure all students have left the House.
Manage and liaise closely with other summer school staff who are scheduled to assist with evening residential duties
Undertake Personal Appliance Testing for all portable electronic equipment brought in by students. Training will be provided for this role.
Perform daily room checks to ensure that damages are spotted and reported promptly and that daily cleaning has been completed satisfactorily
Deal with minor domestic emergencies (e.g. changing lightbulbs)
Liaise with the Summer School Course Office and Cleaning Supervisors with regards room allocation as and when necessary
Liaise if necessary with any permanent Harrow staff resident in the House (Matron, House Master, Tutor)
Coordinate students’ weekly personal laundry collection and redistribution
Carry out fire drills for incoming students
Help students familiarise themselves with their accommodation and with the layout of the Boarding House
Advise new arrivals on the safe-keeping of valuables and pocket money, with particular emphasis on demonstrating the use of the personal safes present in each room
Assist the Course Director in providing a basic entertainment programme for new arrivals (e.g. videos, board games etc)
Performing other general duties as directed and required by the Course Director. All staff are required to be cooperative and flexible
During the period of employment, you must be contactable by mobile at all times

Other information:

Salary	Salaries start from around £80 per day.
Benefits	Full board and accommodation (if required) are offered free of charge.
Hours of Work	Working hours will generally be 7.30am-11am and 6.30pm-11pm daily. A large degree of flexibility is expected. On some days, for instance, it may not be necessary to start evening duties until 8.30pm, but on other days it may be necessary to work an hour or two in the afternoon. It is anticipated that House Parents work an average of 8 hours per day, and an average of 12 hours per day on student arrivals days. An additional sum will be paid for each arrivals day worked.
Holiday	Paid Holiday Entitlement will be given during the period of employment at the rate of approximately one day for every week worked. Holiday dates will be determined in advance by the Course Director.
Child Protection	It is the post holder’s responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact and to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Child Protection Policy Statement at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School s/he must report any concerns to the Head of Department or the School’s Child Protection Officer.

The above list is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties within their capability. All staff are required to be co-operative and flexible.

Person Specification – House Parent

Qualities/Qualifications/Experience	Essential	Desirable
Boarding School Matron
Experience working with children
A caring disposition and an empathy with and understanding of young people
Ability to motivate and work with children
Ability to develop a culture of mutual respect with children
First-aid qualified
Capable of managing younger staff
Ability to work well in a team
Ability to work quickly and calmly under pressure
High level of discretion
Flexible, adaptable and proactive
Enthusiastic

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