School Matron / ELSA Support

We have an exciting opportunity for an engaging and passionate School Matron / ELSA to work with our children across the Bedales Prep and Pre Prep school, supporting the mental health and wellbeing support of our pupils, with a focus on emotional wellbeing and social skills, as well as supporting the day to day medical practice and administration of controlled medicines.

You will have the initiative to support the introduction and development of the ELSA support programme at our school, creasing one to one and small group interventions to provide the very best care for our pupils. You will have an understanding of the school environment, working with pupils with diverse emotional and social needs and you would ideally have attended the ELSA training course, or be willing to undertake the relevant training. You will need to be warm, patient, sensitive, have great interpersonal skills with children and adults and able to build trusting relationships with children.

Bedales School is a unique educational establishment, set in the beautiful Hampshire countryside. Our aim is to create an environment where questioning, divergent thinking, and freedom to learn from mistakes are all encouraged. Central to our success is the sense that each person is a member of our community whose voice is entitled to be heard and treated with respect. Both our staff and students expect of each other the best kind of relationships – co-operative, authentic and trustful.

Experience & Background

The successful candidate will need to be a reliable and capable individual, who can use their own initiative, as well as work as part of a team. Experience of working with children and young people as a matron, nurse, social care worker, or similar profession would be of benefit. This position offers an exciting opportunity to play a key role ensuring the care of pupils at Bedales Prep and Pre-Prep schools, Dunhurst and Dunannie. 

About us

Situated in the rolling hills of Hampshire, Bedales is known as one of the most progressive, creative schools in the country. ODW has been a cornerstone of the school since its inception in 1893. We are renowned for running an ethical and sustainable farm/smallholding of 50 acres, that has education at its heart. Our aim is to create an environment where questioning, divergent thinking and freedom to learn from mistakes are all encouraged. Central to our success is the sense that each person is a member of our community whose voice is entitled to be heard and treated with respect. Both our staff and students expect of each other the best kind of relationships – co-operative, authentic and trustful.

Duties

You will be responsible for:

• Provide support for identified pupils’ mental health and wellbeing, in liaison with Deputy Head (Pastoral), Head of Learning Support and Head of Wellbeing & Mental Health.
• Supporting children with emotional and behavioural difficulties to enable them to effectively access the curriculum and develop positive social interactions.
• Supporting the introduction and development of the ELSA support programme at the school to provide the very best care for pupils.
• Planning and delivering programmes of support to those pupils that require some development of their emotional literacy – this may be one-to-one or with small groups.
• Supporting School Matron - Controlled Medicines, in the day-to-day medical practice and administration of controlled medicines within Dunhurst.
• Undertaking initial and routine first line health care of the pupils in Dunhurst and Dunannie, to include holding daily surgeries at times agreed, attending GP surgeries and providing emergency first aid when required.

This post is Regulated Activity.

Hours of Work

This post works on a fortnightly rota. One week would consist of 33 hours per week of work. The second week would consist of 31 hours per week. 

Salary

£12,315 up to £13,725 annual starting salary plus £2,089 up to £2,329 holiday pay based on the above hours and weeks of work which is pro-rata of the full-time equivalent salary of £22,237 up to £24,782 per annum.

What’s in it for you? The benefits:

• Free on-site Parking
• Funded Healthcare Cash Plan
• Pension with Royal London
• Salary Extras Benefits Platform
• Lifeworks Employee Assistance Programme
• Free breakfast, lunch and supper is provided during term time 
• On-site nursery (subject to availability)
• Gymnasium & swimming pool

How to Apply

For further details on how to apply, please visit the recruitment portal on the Bedales School website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 9.00am on Monday 12th June 2023.

Interviews will be held on a rolling basis during the advertising period. 

A TEAMS call will take place with all suitable applicants who have submitted a completed application form. Those who are successful at this stage will progress to a formal interview. 

Bedales Schools reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any time, therefore please do complete and submit your application in good time. 

Pre-Appointment Checks

All candidates will undergo a Safeguarding Suitability Interview and application for an Enhanced DBS and Barred List check and will be asked to provide evidence they are eligible to work in the UK, on an ongoing basis, at the shortlist stage of the selection process.

Safeguarding Statement

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Candidates will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Prohibition from Teaching Checks, and Prohibition from Management Checks.

The safeguarding responsibilities of the post include:

• Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
• Fostering a culture of openness, safety, equality and protection
• Providing a safe and welcoming environment where both children and adults feel secure, able to talk and believe that they are being listened to
• Playing a key role in the prevention of harm and an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may indicate a child is at risk of harm
• When concerned about the welfare of a pupil, acting in the best interests of the pupil

All staff have a key role to play in identifying concerns early and in providing help for children and are expected to act in accordance with the school Safeguarding & Child Protection Policies.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.