Job Description - Boarding House Gap Matron 2017
JOB DESCRIPTION - BOARDING HOUSE GAP MATRON 2017
Main Purpose:
The Matron is part of a team that works within the boarding house to ensure the welfare and happiness of the children. The Matron supports the Houseparents and Senior Matron, assists the Dorms Takers, takes a pride in the presentation of the house and is responsible for the care of the children in house. The Matron must work in conjunction with the policies of the school and is responsible for being familiar with them. The Matron needs to communicate professionally and confidently with parents, Houseparents and all staff. The Houseparents are the direct line managers, to whom this post is ultimately accountable, with the Senior Matron being the immediate supervisor.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Routine
The Matron is responsible for assisting in supervising the children’s routine in House and at mealtimes and is involved in at least an hour of sport or extra curricular activity in school each week. They may also opt to become involved within school during their free time.
The duties in house include assisting the Houseparents with:
- Getting the children up and putting them to bed
- Taking meals with the children and instigating good table manners
- Providing activities for children each week and being prepared to talk and play with the children in their free time
- Arranging and supervising birthday teas
- Distributing morning break and afternoon tea
- Tuck distribution
- Supervising of changing for games and showers
- Organising the tidiness of dormitories, recreational and public areas and being actively involved in helping the children in this process
- Ensuring public areas and children’s bathrooms and toilets are clean at weekends (cleaners only work Monday to Friday)
- Assisting with weekly catering orders, house entertainment requirements and other catering arrangements
- Help with ordering toiletries
- Keeping a record for accounting purposes of children’s purchases e.g. toiletries, stationery etc
Clothing
- Being responsible for laundering and repair of children’s clothing
- Helping with the provision for overseas children e.g. footwear, clothing etc.
- Organising of packing and unpacking of trunks
- Accounting for all uniform throughout the term and organising lists for laundry and dry cleaning at the end of each term.
Communication
- Using the Boarding House Communication Book to record all relevant information
- Recording all telephone conversations
- Relaying all messages taken during their time on duty to relevant members of staff and children
- Communicating with children, staff and parents professionally and in conjunction with school policy
- Communicating daily with Houseparents in all that concerns the children, life in the boarding house and with regards to all the above points
- Being fully aware of the school’s Child Welfare and Protection Policy
Health and Welfare
- To assist in children’s overall cleanliness (teeth, showers, etc)
- Liaising with Health Centre nurses re. medical advice
- Liaising with Health Centre nurses re. dental, hospital, optician and doctor appointments
Supervising showers (daily and after games)
Nit checks
Providing pastoral care for the children and being available for them at all times when on duty and at night
To use the medical record book as instructed so that it is always kept up to date and accurate and making sure that medications are stored in accordance with the Health Centre's requirement.
- Taking children to the doctor, dentist, and optician etc as required
- Caring for any sick children in the house (including clearing up if they have been sick - day and night)
- Giving out medicine as required in a morning and evening surgery and seeing to minor aches and pains during the day
The duties and responsibilities highlighted in this Job Description are indicative and may vary. Post holders are also expected to undertake other duties and responsibilities that may be relevant to the nature, level and extent of the post and the school.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Salary: £7,513.39 a year
- Hours: 45 hrs per week
BENEFITS:
- In normal circumstances the Matron will have 1.5 days off each week and free time each day as agreed by the Joint Heads of Boarding. Occasionally free time may have to be sacrificed due to unforeseen circumstances, particularly in the last week of term, although every endeavour will be made to provide alternative time off instead.
- The Matron is entitled to a minimum of 13 weeks holiday, to be taken during school holidays.Bank Holidays may be working days, depending on when they fall.
- The Matron is required to work three days before the beginning of each term and three days after the end of each term.
- The Matron is given furnished termtime accommodation in the boarding house and all heating, lighting and meals are provided free during the term time only, inclusive of the three working days either side of the holidays (estimated worth approx. £10,000 a year)
- Accommodation is only available during holidays with the prior discretionary agreement of the Headmaster
- The Matron is required to observe the security and fire regulations of the house and school and comply with these at all times. Visitors would normally be expected to leave by 11 o’clock and the Matron may not entertain overnight guests. The Matron may not smoke anywhere in the school and should maintain a high standard of behaviour, as guided by the line manager, and set a good example to the children.
The Dragon School Trust Ltd is registered as a company, number 524331 and as a charity, number 309676 in England and Wales at Bardwell Road, Oxford, OX2 6SS
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Key to assessment methods; (a) application form, (i) interview, (r) references, (o) others e.g. case studies/visits; (c) certificates
Requirement / Essential / Desirable / Assessed by:- Personal qualities
b)Resilience and demonstrated ability to work in a variety of settings
c)Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
d)Sensitivity to the needs of others
e)Openness and willingness to address and discuss relevant issues
f)Ability to work harmoniously with colleagues and pupils of all cultures and backgrounds
g)Ability to work under pressure and with competing priorities
h)Willingness to become involved in the wider school community / (a); (i); (r)
- Skills
b)Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children
c)Ability to create a happyand effective boarding environment
d)Ability to establish productive partnerships with pupils, parents, carers and the wider community of the school
e)Ability to demonstrate honesty and integrity and uphold public trust and confidence in the school
f)Ability to be adaptable and solve problems
g)Strong interpersonal skills
h)Ability to communicate, both written and orally
i)Ability to persuade, influence and negotiate
j)Ability to prioritise and juggle multiple tasks simultaneously / (a); (i); (r)
- Knowledge and understanding
b)Confident use of information and communication technology (ICT) / (a); (i); (r)
- Experience
b)Evidence of working successfully as a member of a team
c)Evidence of school, business, voluntary or community involvement / d)Evidence of living or working away from home
e)Basic first aid / (a); (i); (r); (c)
5. Other requirements / a)Knowledge of a second language / (a); (i); (r); (c)
The Dragon School Trust Ltd is registered as a company, number 524331 and as a charity, number 309676 in England and Wales at Bardwell Road, Oxford, OX2 6SS