Assistant Head (Boarding and Pastoral Care)

Position:             Assistant Head (Boarding and Pastoral Care)

Reporting to:   Deputy Head (Boarding and Pastoral Care)

Post:                   Full Time

About St Andrews College:

St. Andrew’s College, Cambridge has been offering both UK and international students the opportunity to study in central Cambridge for over 40 years. What makes us different is we are a small school with dedicated staff who are committed to helping students to achieve success and have a successful future. Our administration team and many of our teachers have been working with St Andrew’s for more than 10 years and this means we all have the experience needed to help and support the students in every aspect.

The college has six of its own halls of residence, all within walking distance of the academic and administrative buildings. Each residence has a live-in House Manager who looks after the welfare of the students, providing an excellent level of care and support.

Main Purpose of the Role:

The Assistant Head (Boarding and Pastoral Care) will collaborate with other members of the Senior Leadership Team, in supporting the Principal in the effective day-to-day running of the college’s boarding and pastoral care departments. They will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team. He or she will be directly responsible to the Deputy Head (Boarding and Pastoral Care).

The Assistant Head (Boarding and Pastoral Care) is of central importance to the College and its onward success. The post-holder will be tasked with overseeing all aspects of student safeguarding and welfare at the college alongside being a leading and visible member of the college community, supporting the Principal in setting the tone throughout the college on areas such as manners, presentation, and behaviour.

The role will require evening and the occasional weekend work and on-call duties.

Duties and Responsibilities:

·        It is expected that the post holder will be a key member of the Safeguarding Team for the entire College. In this role, he or she will undertake Level 3 safeguarding training at two-yearly intervals in addition to any other training or accreditation required by law or suggested by best practice.

·        He or she will ensure that the College and all its staff remain committed to safeguarding and child protection; and that all members of staff have appropriate training and guidance to ensure that they are equipped to discharge their responsibilities in this respect.

·        The post holder has overall responsibility for the pastoral care of the College’s day and boarding students and will have oversight of the Personal, Social and Health Education provision within the College. He or she will discuss any significant issues with the Deputy Head (Boarding and Pastoral Care at the earliest opportunity and agree with him appropriate strategies for their resolution.

·        To oversee the organisation duty rotas of boarding staff.

·        To share responsibilities as emergency on-call SLT member during weeknights during term time and share weekend cover.

·        To be aware of the implications of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding.

·        To collaborate closely with Dukes Education senior staff to ensure an annual audit of the NMS is undertaken.

·        To ensure that boarding staff, students, and parents, understand the aims and objectives of boarding in the house, and the principles on which, community life in the house is based.

·        To ensure that a full and varied programme of extra-curricular activities is available, and students are appropriately occupied especially at weekends

·        In association with the Principal, to use every opportunity to cultivate contact and communicate with parents/agents, to ensure that they are fully informed about their child's progress and welfare.

·        To keep suitable records of students' progress, welfare, health, emotional problems, achievements, and misconduct; to provide such reports and references as may reasonably be required.

·        To counsel students, at a time and place which is conducive to good communication, concerning any emotional, academic, social, or behavioural problems they may have.

·        To ensure that all members of the boarding staff team are familiar with the college's policies and procedures for child protection, countering bullying, substance misuse, health, and safety, and are aware of the appropriate response needed in these areas.

·        To plan and run an induction for new boarders within one week of the beginning of term.

·        To be in residence at the starts and ends of term to ensure that the arrival and departure of boarders is suitably staffed.

·        To consult with Admissions staff regarding the arrivals and departure of students, ensuring UKVI regulations are met.

·        To ensure there is appropriate adult supervision at all times during term time on the campus.

·        To take responsibility for reporting on Health & Safety matters within the boarding community. Reporting any concern to the college H&S Lead.

·        Assist the Deputy Head (Boarding and Pastoral Care and others in the recruitment and selection of boarding staff.

·        Work together with the Principal and Admissions to promote and market boarding at the College.

Qualifications and Experience:

·        Experience of managing in a boarding school environment.

·        Experience/knowledge of National Minimum Standards.

·        Experience in child protection and safeguarding.

·        Undertaken Boarding Schools Association Professional Training desirable.

·        An ability to work in high intensity, demanding environment with demands placed upon you at every and any hour of the day.

·        A sense of humour to get you through.

·        To be sympathetic to worried students.

·        To be flexible in all matters.

Salary

 A competitive salary will be offered.

 Applications

St. Andrew’s College is committed to safeguarding and child protection and an enhanced DBS check and Right to Work will be required.