Matron

The School

Vinehall is a co-educational day and boarding prep school for children aged 7 to 13 which includes a nursery and pre-prep department for children aged 2 to 6.  The school upholds high standards of academic achievement as well as a very full range of co-curricular opportunities.  It is a vibrant, busy and happy school with high expectations in all areas.

It is set within 47 acres of beautiful Sussex countryside and hosts a number of outstanding facilities including an all-weather pitch, tennis courts, indoor swimming pool, nine-hole golf course and a number of well-maintained sports pitches.

The site comprises a number of impressive buildings including a modern classroom block, theatre, pre-prep and sports halls.

Job Title:        Matron

Reporting to: Senior Houseparent and Bursar

Liaison with: All academic and support staff

Person Specification

• Pastoral care is an integral part of this role and we are looking for a well-organised, energetic, and flexible person who is good at building relationships with both children and adults.  

• No formal qualifications are necessary; however any pastoral and First Aid qualifications are an advantage as are numeracy, literacy, communications and IT skills.  The post holder will be required to attend courses related to pastoral care, First Aid, COSHH and the use of cleaning equipment;

• Applicants must be reliable, flexible, punctual and take pride in their work.

• Experience in a cleaning and pastoral background will be an advantage.

• A full driving licence and car is essential.  Applicants must have, or be prepared to obtain, a First Aid Certificate.  You will work under the direction of the Senior Houseparent and Bursar.

• Availability to cover nights in the event that the Senior Houseparent or Assistant Houseparent are unwell/absent.

• For working in dispensary, applicants will be trained to administer medicines, including controlled drugs, record keeping, and infection control, reporting injuries (incident forms and head injury forms) and when to contact parents.

• Please indicate in your application whether you would be willing to work weekends, as there is an additional opportunity to support the weekend boarding life.  

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Cleaning & House Maintenance

The Matron oversees and assists with all cleaning and maintenance aspects of the House.  It is important that the team are well-managed and that all areas of the House, including the children’s bedrooms, are cleaned to a high standard and well maintained.  This will include the following responsibilities:

• Assisting with “soft furnishings” etc – house décor, posters, picture frames etc.

• Before term starts and after the end of term supervising the clearing up and cleaning of the house; carrying out a check of all bedding, furniture, fixtures and fittings, preparing a list of maintenance and repair items as well as advising on the replacement and renewal of bedding, fixtures and fittings to go to the Estates Manager.

• Ensuring dormitory furniture is in a good state of repair and curtains are hanging correctly.  

• Ensuring that the environment in the House is presentable at all time.

• Checking and reporting maintenance requirements to the Maintenance Manager.

• Ensuring that staff have a neat and hygienic appearance, including wearing the uniform provided.

Child Welfare and Administration

• Help prepare the boarding house at the beginning and end of term.

• Help making up beds.

• Ordering and naming uniform for new children.

• Selling and organising the second hand shop.

• Assisting with welcoming parents at the beginning of term.

• Assisting with and contributing to the supervision and care of the boarders.

• Monitoring pupils’ habits and discussing lifestyle choices (diet, cleanliness etc) where appropriate.

• Bringing to the attention of the Senior Houseparent issues of concern regarding children’s health, safety or welfare discovered in the course of duties.

• Helping children with personal administration – organisation of rooms/tidiness.

• Liaising with the Nurse and Senior Houseparent on all health matters, including administering medicines or referring an unwell child; dispensary duties and care of sick children in the absence of the Senior Houseparent or Nurse.

• Dispensary cover to be agreed with the Senior Houseparent.

• Accompanying children to medical, dental or other appointments, as required.

• Assisting with unpacking and packing at the beginning and end of terms.

• Making up or stripping down ‘temp’ beds.

• Meeting with the Senior Houseparent and Nurse weekly.

• Training and first aid sessions as required.

• Supporting the organisation of events as required, ie birthday parties, boarding themes.

• Checking for wet beds every morning when necessary.

• Daily marking of dormitories for neatness – dormitory competition.

Laundry

• Organisation of laundry including washing and ironing of children’s clothes, including uniform, sports kit and home clothes.

• Washing all bedding and towels.

• Washing and ironing the catering laundry, including cookery club aprons and tablecloths, gym and swimming kits, drama costumes.

• Occasional washing of sofa covers and curtains.

• Sewing on name tapes and repairing clothes.

• Ensuring the Sans are clean and tidy, and beds are stripped after discharging children.

• Ensuring there are laundry baskets, flannels and mesh laundry bags or sock clips outside boys’ and girls’ washroom each evening.

• Distribute home clothes.

General Salary and Conditions

This post is term time, including staff INSET days, plus an additional nine days per year; of these six are ‘clean up’ days, to be agreed with the Senior Houseparent, and three other days (one each half term) for general jobs around the Boarding House.

The hours of work will be five per day, 9.00am-2.00pm.  Any additional hours worked will be paid as overtime, to be agreed in advance by the Senior Houseparent. As mentioned above, there is also the opportunity to support the Boarding House at the weekends, so please declare your availability for weekend work in your application.