THE ROLE
The Matron is resident in the Boarding House and, in conjunction with the Housemaster, is responsible for the pastoral care and wellbeing of approximately 65 pupils aged 13-18.
Together, the Housemaster and Matron are responsible for creating a warm, supportive home community, establishing a strong rapport of trust with pupils and colleagues, and working in partnership with others to promote the health and wellbeing of our pupils.
They encourage the pupils to contribute positively to the House and the wider school, encouraging them in their extra-curricular activities, with a strong emphasis on mutual support and respect.
The Matron is also responsible for the management of the House and its domestic staff. This part of the role is supported by the Catering Management Team and the Domestic Services Supervisor who supply professional support in catering and management of staff.
A Relief Matron allows for time off during the week.
The following list of duties is quite full and comprehensive in order to provide applicants with a clear idea of the range of duties required. It will be appreciated that some of the items are an occasional requirement while others form a more regular part of the Matron's daily routine.
The Matron will need a current driving licence and be able to use their car for school business. The school's insurance covers this use.
a) Provide pastoral care and support for pupils, ensuring that their health and safety, physical, social, emotional, medical and mental wellbeing are properly cared for.
b) Ensure that any safeguarding concerns are identified and reported to the DSL / Deputy DSL in accordance with school policies.
c) Provide support for new pupils as they settle into the school and to boarding life, being aware of any pupils who are homesick or needing extra care.
d) Liaise with parents on domestic, medical and welfare matters and keeping the Housemaster informed.
e) Obtain prescribed medicines, retaining in accordance with current regulations, and issuing as required.
f) Run the House surgery, dealing with minor ailments and injuries and caring for pupils who are unwell in the House. This includes:
i) Carrying out an initial diagnosis and referring pupils to the Medical Centre if appropriate;
ii) Ensuring pupils take medicines when required;
iii) Updating SIMS (the schools information management system) to record pupil absence or illness;
iv) Retaining a record of pupils' illnesses and their treatment;
v) Ensuring relevant staff are aware of pupils with allergies and serious medical conditions in accordance with medical protocol;
vi) Organising and escorting pupils to and from appointments at hospital, opticians' appointments and dental surgery.
g) Liaise regularly with the Medical Centre about pupils' medical treatment.
h) Assist the Housemaster in supporting pupils experiencing personal difficulties.
i) Investigate any pupils' absences from lessons, events, appointments etc.
j) Take an interest in pupils' extra-curricular interests, and where possible, attend extra-curricular events.
k) Assist the Housemaster in the organisation and delivery of social and fun events for the boys (e.g. socials with girls' schools, themed dinners, trips to ice rink etc.).
Pupils eat all their meals in the House unless participating in external outings or sports fixtures. This is considered a key part of the day giving an invaluable opportunity for informal time with the pupils. The Matron should:
a) Be present at most meals, particularly lunch and tea.
b) Ensure this time is used as a chance to catch up with the pupils in an informal way and keep an eye out for any pastoral concerns.
c) Be aware of any pupils not attending meals and follow up unplanned absences.
The Matron will be responsible for and supervise the general management of the House as discussed/agreed with the Housemaster and supported by the Catering Management Team and Domestic Services Supervisor within the financial budget set for the House. This includes:
a) Reconciling and authorising invoices.
b) Monitoring the condition of the House and equipment; liaising with Works Department or other agencies when any areas or equipment require repair.
c) Ensuring that high levels of cleanliness are maintained in the House.
d) Maintaining stocks of cleaning supplies, household items, bedding and mattresses.
e) Arranging for regular deep cleaning, carpet cleaning, washing of curtains etc.
f) Liaising with the school’s commercial lettings department (Enterprises) when the House is to be used for lettings.
g) Liaising with the Catering Management Team, for all matters relating to food.
The Matron will be responsible for supervising House staff with support from the Domestic Services Supervisor. This includes:
a) Ensuring adequate staffing provision, informing the HR Director and Housemaster of any changes and when staff leave.
b) Line manager responsibility for the Relief Matron and the Domestic staff, including annual appraisals.
c) Ensuring that appropriate cleaning schedules are in place and regularly monitoring that they are being followed.
d) Arranging cover for absent staff via the appropriate channels.
e) Ensuring that a personal handover takes place when the Relief Matron starts and ends her shift.
f) Requesting recruitment adverts to be placed when necessary and interviewing and appointing staff, in consultation with the HR Director in accordance with current procedure as advised by the HR department.
g) Bringing disciplinary or performance matters to the Housemaster's and HR Manager's attention.
The Matron will work with the Catering Management Team, who have overall responsibility, to ensure the catering provision within the houses meets accepted levels. This includes:
a) That required standards and quality of food are met and that any special dietary requirements are provided for.
b) That the proper food hygiene and environmental health practices are followed.
c) Holding regular meetings regarding food with the Head Chef and Catering Management Team, and the House Food Committee.
The school has its own central laundry. The Matron will be responsible for:
a) Supervising arrangements for the pupils' linen and laundry service, liaising with the school Laundry Team when necessary.
b) Arranging for the sewing on of name tapes and minor repairs of clothes for pupils.
The Matron will assist the Housemaster in meeting Health and Safety standards in the House for both pupils and staff. This includes:
a) Assisting the Housemaster with Risk Assessments; obtaining advice from the Health and Safety Officer where appropriate.
b) Assisting the Housemaster in ensuring that fire equipment tests are carried out as required by law.
c) Carrying out internal training for staff as required.
d) Maintaining an up to date record of all staff training.
e) Ensuring House and pupils' electrical equipment is available for PAT testing when scheduled.
f) Ensuring First Aid boxes are fully equipped in accordance with current guidance.
g) Maintaining an accurate record of any accidents.
The Matron will be expected to:
a) Meet regularly with the Housemaster and keep him informed of relevant matters involving the pupils or staff.
b) Assist the Housemaster with the entertainment of pupils’ parents.
c) Assist the Housemaster with beginning and end of term arrangements.
d) Attend termly meetings organised by the Domestic Bursar.
e) Participate in an annual appraisal system for Matrons.
f) Maintain professional development and competence by attending training events.
g) Liaise and communicate with other departments in the College or external agencies.
h) Assist the Housemaster in such other duties when reasonably required.
Start Date
April 2022
The annual salary will be circa £28,000 per annum depending on the experience of the successful applicant. Salary levels are reviewed on 1 September annually.
The 'normal' working hours each day are: 8.00am to 2.00pm, then 6.00pm to 7.00pm and 9.00pm to 10.30pm. One and a half hours are floating hours to be worked if required in the afternoon, particularly to deal with routine medical matters. If these floating hours are not worked then they can accrue to cover busier days.
Between 2.00pm and 6.00pm the Matron is “on-call” in the event of any emergency and, though not required to be in the house, should be contactable via their school mobile.
It is considered important that the Matron has a break between 7.00pm and 9.00pm each day and they should feel free to use it as leisure time when they are not required in the House.
The Matron is on call overnight, except when the Relief Matron is on duty.
The Matron is entitled to a continuous period of 30 hours off each week in term time. If all parties involved are in agreement it is hoped that there may, on occasions, be flexibility regarding the specific days taken. The Matron may be required to work increased hours for up to three weekdays at both the beginning and at the end of each of the three major school holidays.
The Matron is required to be resident for the proper performance of their duties, including pastoral duties. An unfurnished flat is provided free of rent and is exempt from any charges for Council tax, gas and electricity. The flat may also be occupied during College holidays. There is a tax liability on the benefits in kind of provisions and the utility services.
The Matron can, if they wish, consume all meals cooked from the House kitchen when on duty during term time only.
The first four calendar months of employment will be a probationary period. During this period conduct and performance will be reviewed. The College may extend the probationary period if it is deemed to be required. During the probationary period the notice required to terminate employment will be one week (by either the employee or employer). The notice period will increase to one month upon the successful completion of the probationary period.
Upon starting employment, employees will be auto-enrolled into the College’s pension scheme according to legislative thresholds. Those who are not eligible for auto-enrolment may still elect to join the College’s pension scheme.
Initially, when joining the school’s pension scheme, employees will become a member of the College’s Group Personal Pension Plan (GPP). For this Plan, known as Tier 1, the employee contributes 4% and the employer 3%.
After 9 month’s membership of the Tier 1 plan employees may opt to join Tier 2, which is also a Group Personal Pension Plan and the contributions are 5% from the employee and a 9% contribution from the school.
Employees in Tier 1 automatically qualify for a Life Cover of 2 times salary. On entry to Tier 2, Life Cover changes to 4 times salary.
Winchester College is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children at the school. Therefore, this appointment will be subject to a successful Enhanced Disclosure Barring check. This will provide details of convictions, reprimands, warnings, cautions and bind overs as per the DBS filtering guidance. A policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, and information about DBS filtering, is available upon request from the HR Department if required. The college may approach previous employers to seek verification, in addition to obtaining references provided by the candidate.
Winchester College collects and processes relevant personal data as part of its everyday operations and is obliged to process it in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. The school is the Data Controller of this data under the Act and is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office; its registration number is Z5751669. Any queries about this policy or how personal data is processed by the school should be referred to the Data Protection Liaison Officer.
