As a resident Matron you are responsible to and work under the direction of the Deputy Pastoral Cares and Boarding. You also work with the Houseparent, other Matrons and In Mentors as part of a cohesive team with the aim of promoting the wellbeing of the students in your collective care.
The boarding house is a students’ home while at school, so your aim is to help to maintain an atmosphere in which the students lead purposeful, busy lives and yet find time to relax and enjoy one another’s company within a happy, inclusive and caring environment.
You also liaise with the School Nurses, to oversee students health and wellbeing.
Working in House
- Sharing with responsibility for the wellbeing of the students, communicating regularly as necessary with the Deputy Head Pastoral Care and Boarding weekly through the boarding staff meetings about items of interest concerning students in the House, illnesses, bereavements, major worries, particular achievements, relevant family matters etc.
- Being present in the House during duty hours, taking responsibility for students and ensuring that the House routine is followed each day.
- Houses should never be left unattended so ensuring there is always an adult in the House. Visits to the Medical Centre, Dining Room and events in School should be taken in rotation.
- Working with other Matrons in house and communicating events in house through the daily log.
- Ordering supplies such as food, stationary etc. for the House.
- Organising the distribution of supplies to the House kitchen.
- Organising the distribution of post and parcels.
- Ensuring bedrooms are kept clean and tidy and that these are checked daily.
- Ensuring communal areas (kitchens, bathrooms, Founders Bar etc) are kept clean and tidy.
- Seeing students off for early departures and seeing them back into House for late returns.
- Being present before the start and after the end of weekend and term to help with early arrivals and late leavers.
- Covering the House on your own, on occasions where needed.
- Carrying out the daily and weekly checks log and ensuring these are filled in appropriately.
- Organising and supervise in-house social activities and events in conjunction with other member of the House team to foster an atmosphere of pro-active inclusion and a sense of fun.
- Ensuring students attend lectures and seminar suppers, registering them as necessary.
- Making sure the House is ready for visits of prospective parents.
- Building and maintaining effective professional relationships with staff, studentss and parents to ensure every child is known and valued as an individual.
Working in House
- Playing an integral part in the wider Matron team.
- Being aware of and actively promote the School’s Safeguarding and Health and Safety Policies in all respects.
- Taking part in all training related to Safeguarding, boarding duties and health and safety, in order to promote and safeguard the welfare of Pupils in the House.
- To understand and put into practice all aspects of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding
- Attending meetings, as required.
- Being in school for agreed length of time (subject to contract) before the start and after end of academic term to assist in preparing and clearing of the House as instructed.
- Work on Sunday evening with other staff to welcome students back.
Looking after Pupils
- To effectively manage and proactively enhance the emotional health of students
- Going around the House at regular intervals during the day and evening, ensuring general tidiness and good conduct of Pupils.
- Ensuring good personal hygiene and, in common with all members of staff, to ensure the tidy appearance and the wearing of correct, clean school uniform (including hair and nail checks and clean shoes).
- Being a presence at bedtime and remaining on duty until everyone is settled.
- Being on call overnight in case students are ill, need assistance or are arriving back late or leaving early. (You may request time off in lieu for overnight disturbances.)
- Liaising with School Nurses in matters concerning the health of students and running the House Dispensary under the guidance of the Senior Nurse.
- Seeing that bed linen and clothing are changed as needed but at least weekly; organising the collection and despatch of linen and clothes to the Boarding House Laundry; ensuring laundry is distributed on its return to the House.
- Organising any necessary mending and naming of clothes.
- Ordering and distribution of birthday cakes.
- Acting as an escort when necessary including for emergency hospital visits.
Looking after the House
- Checking that the House is in good repair, reporting any defects or breakages in a timely manner.
- Ensuring all administration is up-to-date for the House with efficient records kept. This includes daily and weekly checks.
- Taking part in all training related to boarding duties and Health and Safety, in order to promote and safeguard the welfare of Pupils in the House.
- Helping prepare the house for weekends and holidays and check the House thoroughly at these times for tidiness, ensuring that everything is switched off and that windows and doors are closed.
- Although the Matrons have fixed duty times, there is an understanding that flexibility is required. There may be times when an extra hour or two is required to help out, and this will be rewarded with some time off on another occasion. This will normally be arranged and communicated prior to the event. All such arrangements - if they involve a significant number of hours - must be agreed with the Assisting Boarding and the Deputy Head Pastoral Care and Boarding.
- Matrons are encouraged to join in the life of the school and are welcome to accompany trips out, both on an individual House basis and as part of the School activities calendar, by arrangement with the Assisting Boarding and the Deputy Head Pastoral Care and Boarding. However, their first priority must be the House and their work in it.
Working within the School
- The post-holder is responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom he/she is responsible, or with whom he/she comes into contact. He/she must adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding Policies at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post-holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of the children in the School, he/she must report any concerns immediately to the School’s Safeguarding team.
This role also requires
- Flexibility
- Competent IT skills
- Good stamina
- Loyalty
- Empathy with the needs of adolescent young people
- A sense of humour
- Approachability
- Ability to work under pressure
- Willingness to undertake post related training
- Good understanding of confidentiality and trust within a school setting
Hours of Work
- To be discussed at interview. A normal schedule is 5 x 8 hours shift throughout the week either on an am or pm shift. The Resident Matron will be fulfilling their duties in conjunction with relevant Chinese labour laws. A spirit to contribute to the ethos and culture outside of these hours is strongly encouraged.
Offers of jobs at Benenden will usually depend on the letter of application, application form, references and performance over the interview process. For some posts, particular qualifications or skills are required. A Resident Matron needs to:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Good English language skill
- Have a good rapport with young people
- Have good IT skills - regular use of Outlook, Word, Excel and School based system are an everyday part of this role.
- Have good time management and organisation
- Show a willingness to be flexible
- Be able to work independently and as part of a team
- Have good presentation skills for liaison with parents
However, all those who are offered a post at Benenden are expected to be:
- responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom they are responsible or come into contact with.
- supportive of and committed to the School’s policies on Child Protection.
- supportive of the School’s policies on Equal Opportunities.
- mindful of their personal responsibilities relating to Safety, Health and the Environment.
- mindful of the need to treat all sensitive information relating to students, fellow employees and the business of the School as confidential.
- mindful of the need to behave appropriately and professionally at all times with students, their parents, peers and other staff.
- accepting of the need to follow all other school policies and procedures as appropriate and relevant to their post.
We are totally committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects the same from its employees. All new staff will be subject to enhanced pre-employment clearance, including identity checks, criminal background checks, qualifications checks and pre-employment verification to include an exploration of any gaps in employment.