House Parent

Purpose of the role

To provide safe, consistent and child-centred pastoral care within the Kimichi boarding house, ensuring that each young person is supported to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. The House Parent will build trusting relationships, create predictable routines, promote independence, and uphold high standards of safeguarding and welfare.

Additional responsibilities specific to this post

• Shared leadership of the boarding house alongside the second House Parent, providing consistent cover across the week.

• Act as named key contact for a cohort of boarding students, coordinating routines and communications for those students.

Key responsibilities

1) Safeguarding and welfare (core)

• Act in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), the school’s safeguarding policy, and local safeguarding partnership procedures.

• Recognise and respond to signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation, self-harm or harm from others; escalate to the DSL/DDSL without delay.

• Record concerns promptly and accurately on the school’s safeguarding/incident recording system.

• Maintain professional boundaries, uphold safe working practice, and model respectful relationships.

• Implement missing child procedures and required notifications as directed by policy.

2) Pastoral care, routines and positive culture

• Provide day-to-day supervision and support before and after the school day, including evenings/weekends as required.

• Maintain clear, predictable routines (mealtimes, prep, leisure, bedtime) that support wellbeing and good sleep hygiene.

• Create a calm, welcoming environment; reinforce positive behaviour and restorative approaches.

• Support independence skills (organisation, self-care, time management, appropriate decision-making).

• Promote meaningful activities, community engagement and evidence children’s choices and participation.

3) Behaviour support and de-escalation

• Apply the behaviour policy with an emphasis on prevention, de-escalation and restorative practice.

• Implement individual behaviour support plans and crisis/de-escalation plans; contribute to reviews with staff and families.

• Use least-restrictive approaches and document incidents in line with policy, capturing learning and follow-up actions.

4) Health, medication and first aid (within competence and training)

• Support implementation of individual healthcare plans (HCPs) and agreed routines for health needs, including mental health support plans.

• Administer medication only if trained and assessed as competent; follow medication policy, MAR procedures and controlled drugs processes where applicable.

• Respond appropriately to first aid needs and seek medical assistance when required; document incidents and actions taken.

• Support appointment attendance and follow-up arrangements, ensuring consents and records are in place.

5) Communication, family liaison and multi-agency working

• Maintain professional communication with parents/carers and placing authorities (where applicable), in line with agreed arrangements.

• Contribute to reviews/meetings with clear, child-centred updates and agreed actions.

• Work closely with DSL/SENDCo, Head of Pastoral and wider staff to coordinate wraparound support.

6) Record-keeping and compliance

• Maintain accurate boarding records: routines, incidents, health/medication, activities, and child voice/choice evidence.

• Contribute to individual and activity risk assessments and ensure controls are implemented.

• Support H&S compliance during boarding hours (fire procedures, site security, visitor/key control).

• Maintain confidentiality and comply with data protection requirements.

7) Professional practice, supervision and development

• Engage in supervision and appraisal focused on children’s outcomes and staff wellbeing.

• Complete mandatory training and refreshers (safeguarding, PREVENT, first aid, medication, behaviour support/de-escalation).

• Participate in debriefs and reflective practice, contributing to continual improvement.

Working relationships

• Executive Headteacher: Sally Alexander (overall strategic oversight).

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) / DDSL and school leadership team.

• Head of Pastoral, teaching staff and support staff.

• Parents/carers, placing authorities (where applicable), and external professionals.

Safeguarding statement

Kimichi School Worcester is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be required to undergo safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and barred list check, as appropriate to the role.

Person specification (summary)

Essential

• Experience of working with children/young people in a pastoral, residential, education or care context.

• Keen understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and professional boundaries.

• Ability to build trusting relationships and maintain calm, consistent routines.

• Competence in de-escalation and restorative approaches (or commitment to training).

• Excellent communication and accurate record-keeping.

• Ability to work evenings/weekends/overnights through term time.

• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable

• Relevant qualification (childcare/youth work/pastoral/residential childcare) or equivalent experience.

• First aid and/or medication competence (or willingness to train).

• Experience supporting SEMH/neurodiversity/anxiety-based school attendance or trauma-informed practice.

• Experience of multi-agency working and supporting reviews/plans.

Competency framework (at-a-glance)

• Safeguarding vigilance and sound judgement

• Warmth, consistency and professional boundaries

• De-escalation and restorative practice

• Organisation, record-keeping and follow-through

• Independence-building and positive role modelling

• Collaborative working with families and professionals