Boarding Matron/Houseparent (Part-Time)

The School

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] was established by Royal Decree in 1608 and is an academically selective voluntary grammar school for boys and girls aged 4 – 19 years. The School is situated approximately 40 miles South West of Belfast in Armagh City and enjoys an excellent reputation, both locally and nationally. There are at present 798 pupils and has a large and expanding Sixth Form. Boarding forms an essential and integral part of our school life and identity and there are presently 98 boarding pupils. There is also a Preparatory Department which is situated on the School site. The School occupies an attractive 30-acre site and is well known for its high academic standards and its significant extra-curricular programme. The Facilities are excellent and the past 15 years have seen considerable investment in new buildings and refurbishment. At [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] we are committed to providing quality learning and teaching, caring for our pupils on an individual basis and developing sound character through providing each pupil with challenging and enriching opportunities. The School is a high achieving 4-19 school and the most recent ETI Inspections affirms the achievements of the School.

The Position

The Board of Governors is seeking to appoint a part-time temporary Matron/Houseparent. The Matron is a key member within the Boarding Department. The success of a Matron’s appointment depends on the establishment of a harmonious relationship with the Head of Boarding, based on mutual trust, and in support of the boarding pupils achieving the very best outcomes from their time as a boarder at the School. The position may become permanent.

General Responsibilities

The main function of this post is to assist in the oversight of the health and welfare of pupils enrolled in the Boarding Department and to be an adult presence to be responsible for the safeguarding, welfare and security of boarding pupils. The Matron is required to play a key role in the pastoral care of all the pupils in the boarding house on a day-to-day basis, with particular responsibility for the physical, social and emotional well-being and presentation of the pupils in Boarding. The Matron should be an approachable, kind and friendly person who is available to all pupils without discrimination or favouritism. The ideal candidate will have a genuine interest in the welfare of young people and will be prepared to go the extra mile. Good organisational and communication skills are essential to thrive in our international boarding community and to be an effective member of the boarding team.

Hours of Work

Matrons work on a rota basis from Monday to Sunday during Term time. Normal working hours are between 3.00pm and 9.00am, including appropriate rest periods. The Matron is off-duty from 11.00pm but sleeps in Matron’s accommodation within the Boarding Department. Working patterns alter at weekends (9.00am to 6.00pm and 6.00pm to 9.00am) and end of terms to reflect the operational needs of the boarding houses.

Holidays

The job is term-time only and school holidays can usually be taken in their entirety, except for the requirement to work for a minimum of two working days before the start of each term and two days after the end of term, in order to prepare Boarding for use by outside groups and organisations.

Remuneration

The matron’s salary is paid in line with NJC scale point 5. FTE £25,583 pa. plus allowances. The approx. rate per duty is £106.00.

Criminal Records Screening

We are committed to the safeguarding and promotion of pupil welfare and are an equal opportunities employer. All job offers are subject to satisfactory enhanced vetting procedure, including receipt of a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure Certificate from AccessNI. The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. All applicants must therefore be prepared to undergo screening to confirm their suitability to work with children and young people.

Applications

Applications should be submitted on [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]’s application form. The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Tuesday 30th November 2021 at 4.30pm. Email applications are acceptable. Late applications will not be considered. Unless applicants indicate that they would prefer otherwise, the School may approach referees prior to selecting candidates for interview. [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] reserves the right to check the accuracy of statements made as part of an application process. Those submitting an application are deemed to have given consent to such checks being made. Applications must be sent to: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], College Hill, Armagh BT61 9DH or submitted via email to [contact hidden]

Equal Opportunities

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], Armagh welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

Person Specification

• A good general education (Essential)
• Driving licence and preferably own car (Essential)
• Food hygiene certificate (Desirable)
• Emergency first aid certificate (Desirable)
• Level 2 safeguarding child protection qualifications (Desirable)
• Boarding School Matron experience (Desirable)
• Nursing experience (Desirable)
• Residential care experience (Desirable)
• Experience in an educational or medical environment (Desirable)
• General office administration (Desirable)
• Working as part of a team (Essential)
• Working unsupervised and on own initiative (Essential)
• Working with children out of their home environment (Desirable)
• Working at a supervisory level (Desirable)
• Good verbal and written communication skills (Essential)
• Ability to work well in a team (Essential)
• Ability to supervise domestic staff (Desirable)
• Ability to work quickly and calmly under pressure (Essential)
• Ability to prioritise and manage own work (Essential)
• Ability to offer a high level of pastoral care to pupils (Essential)
• Proficient IT skills (Desirable)
• Ability to motivate and work with pupils (Essential)
• Ability to develop a culture of mutual respect with pupils (Essential)
• Emotional resilience (Essential)
• A caring disposition and an empathy with and understanding of young people (Essential)
• High level of discretion (Essential)
• Patient, unflappable, flexible and adaptable (Essential)
• Good manner with parents and other staff (Essential)
• A good sense of humour (Essential)

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All adults in the School community are expected to follow its child protection procedures. Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 4.00pm on 11th May 2026.