As MPW London prepares to open boarding for the first time in January 2023, we are now searching for Resident Houseparents. Boarding at Queens Gate House, opposite the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, will house 71 boarders from a variety of nationalities, and this role is a unique opportunity to shape what will be second-to-none, 21st century boarding in the heart of London.
Our Houseparents will live in brand new studio apartments in our building on Queens Gate, in the heart of Kensington, surrounded by restaurants, shops and the famous museums across the road from our boarding house. All meals will be included with the role, and accommodation will be provided free of rent and utilities. Houseparents will work 44 hours front line duty per week, with one day off during the working week and every third weekend off.
Our Houseparents will provide top quality pastoral care to students, understand National Minimum Standards for boarding schools, and will have due regard for health, safety and student wellbeing. They will have excellent written and verbal communication and administration skills, and be interested in supporting trips and activities for our boarders.
We are looking for staff with experience of working with international students who have a genuine interest in pastoral care. A global outlook, supportive approach and sense of empathy and initiative are important traits for these roles. Full training will be provided.
More information is available on the job description, and prospective application are welcome to email us to request an informal conversation with the Vice Principal (Boarding), John J. Taylor.
Mander Portman Woodward (MPW) London was founded in 1973 and is one of London’s best-known independent colleges. Situated in South Kensington, the college is Leading fifth- and sixth-form college offering a wide range of GCSE and A level subjects in a socially relaxed yet highly academically disciplined environment.
Renowned for exceptional university placements, outstanding accreditation and bespoke approach to education.
If you feel this role suits your next career move and you wish to join our strong team, we would love to hear from you.
Please email: Londonhr@mpw.ac.uk
The college is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Place of work
MPW London
Hours of work
44 hours per week, on a rota as agreed with the Vice Principal (Boarding), plus overnights on call. One 24 hour period off per week plus one in three weekends off (5pm Friday to 4pm Sunday)
Salary
£18-22k per annum
Benefits
Life assurance, income protection, annual season ticket loans, pension scheme. Meals provided during term time, single studio accommodation in Queens Gate House, free of rent, utilities and Council Tax.
Holiday entitlement
40 days per year to be taken the week before, during or after half terms, during Christmas holidays, or during Summer holiday. NB: due to the nature of boarding, it may not be possible to take bank holidays.
Responsible to
Vice Principal (Boarding)
Main duties and responsibilities:
Pastoral Care
- Working closely with Directors of Studies and other key pastoral staff in college, to provide the highest possible pastoral care to boarders
- To ensure that the boarding house provides a ‘home from home’ atmosphere to all boarders
- To promote boarders’ health and wellbeing and to act upon concerns about boarders including, but not limited to, concerns regarding sleep patterns, work ethic, unhealthy habits, personal hygiene, medical and mental health concerns, and to support all boarders, offering personal support.
- To contribute to the boarding induction programme fully by providing activities and support for boarders settling into boarding
- To follow all safeguarding policies and requirements
- To contribute to the collection of Boarders’ Voice, collaborating with colleagues to feed boarders’ views into the Boarding Development Plan
- To take particular care of a group of boarders within the house (Huddle), meeting at least weekly with the group and undertaking room visits once weekly with the students in the Houseparent’s Huddle.
- To provide emergency first aid to boarders as required, including accompanying boarders to medical appointments or A&E as required.
- To join boarders for meals as often as is practicable
- To work with boarders’ DOS, attendance officer and the Vice Principal (Pastoral) on issues related to attendance and timekeeping for lessons.
Health and Safety
- To undertake registers as required, including morning registers and evening registers
- To liaise with security to ensure that the building is secured in evenings
- To undertake regular visual checks of the boarding house, checking for electrical safety, hygiene and cleanliness
- To undertake room searches in line with college policy as required for disciplinary or pastoral reasons
- To regularly check REACH boarding software to ensure boarders are signed in or out of boarding appropriately, taking immediate action with discrepancies and following the Missing Student policy immediately in any cases of missing pupils.
Communications
- To oversee boarders’ prep when on duty and to communicate with teaching staff as required, including oversight of boarders’ prep via Firefly and regular meetings with DoS as appropriate.
- To communicate regularly, effectively and professionally with boarders’ parents, educational guardians and agents as required.
- To ensure good communication with colleagues and teaching staff
- To liaise with marketing to promote boarding events and activities on social media and in termly boarding newsletters
- To attend weekly boarding meetings, chaired by the Vice Principal (Boarding)
Administrative duties
- To ensure compliance with National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools (Sept 2022), contributing to Boarding Self-Evaluations and Development Planning.
- Assist in the management of the boarding house, including arranging boarder travel details and room inventories
- To maintain boarders records as appropriate, including keeping accurate records as required in National Minimum Standards such as major sanctions, room searches, pastoral concerns, medical records and confiscations.
- To ensure that boarder snacks and stocks are kept up to date, including undertaking checks of house kitchens regularly
- To oversee the provision of boarders’ laundry
- To report maintenance issues as appropriate
- To take part in the process of auditing of boarding, annual reviews and procedures
Trips and Activities
- To assist with the organisation and planning of boarders’ in-house activities, cultural celebrations and trips programme
- To attend trips with boarders as available and as required
- To arrange termly ‘Huddle trips’ for boarders in the charge of the Houseparent
Appropriate training will be provided.
You may also be required to undertake such other comparable duties as MPW requires from time to time.
| Person Specification: Boarding Houseparent | |||
| Essential | Desirable | Method of assessment |
|
| Qualifications: | · A good university degree |
· Postgraduate / Masters degree · Further qualifications in pastoral care, first aid, mental health first aid |
Application form Interview
|
| Experience: |
· Experience of working with teenagers, preferably from international background · Experience of supporting young people · Experience of residential settings |
Experience of working in boarding schools or summer schools specifically Experience of organising and running activities and trips for teenagers Experience of gathering and responding to student voice Experience of leading tours |
Application form interview |
| Skills: |
· Strong communication skills · Strong organisation and administration skills · Creative thinking · Strong IT skills (eg. Outlook and other database systems) |
· First aid · Mental health first aid / suicide prevention training · BSA courses undertaken · Customer service skills |
Application Interview Desktop exercise |
| Knowledge: |
· An understanding of National Minimum Standards for Boarding schools · Health and Safety knowledge · Understanding of safeguarding |
· Knowledge of global citizenship and international affairs |
Application Interview Desktop exercise |
| Personal competencies and qualities: |
· Flexibility · Willingness to learn · Genuine care for the wellbeing of children and young people · A global outlook · A warm, approachable and personable manner of dealing with young people, parents, guardians, staff and external persons · Initiative · Empathy, diligence, observant · A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion |
Application Interview |
|
Interviews will be held as applications are received.
Please email: Londonhr@mpw.ac.uk
