Contract Dates - 30/06/2025 - 03/08/2025
The Role
The Social Welfare Manager is responsible for the welfare of students and the planning and delivery of the social programme throughout the summer. They ensure the highest standards of pastoral care, student engagement, and safety by fostering a supportive environment and delivering an organised and vibrant programme. This role involves managing student wellbeing and leading a team of College Mentors. Excellent leadership, organisational, and communication skills are essential for thriving in this dynamic and student-focused role.
Responsible To: The College Principal or Summer School Director
The Site
Institute of Education, Dublin. Located in the vibrant Donnybrook area in the heart of the city, this renowned campus is celebrated for its academic achievements, state-of-the-art facilities and an inspiring learning environment. With inspirational Business teaching and close proximity to the city’s cultural landmarks, students will immerse themselves in an enriching summer of learning and exploration in one of Dublin’s most prestigious schools.
Ways we support our Social Welfare Managers:
• Fully paid DBS check
• Extensive, paid, on-site training prior to student arrival
• All meals and accommodation included
• CPD and Appraisals
• Staff Wellbeing Initiative
• Access to Employee Assist Programme (EAP)
• Continual support for all staff from the Head Office Team, both on the ground and via phone/email
• Online safeguarding and prevent training
• Professional, fun and supportive environment
Additional Role Specific Support
• Paid attendance to pre-course Management Training
• Paid attendance of a certified First Aid Course
Remuneration: Paid weekly, one week in arrears. The weekly rate received for Social Welfare Managers is £900 PLUS any accrued holiday to be paid at the end of contract)* Food and accommodation are included for all residential SBC staff.
Main Duties:
Student Welfare
• Oversee the wellbeing of all students, addressing behavioural, emotional, and medical issues with professionalism and empathy while ensuring compliance with safeguarding policies.
• Monitor and manage student welfare through daily meetings with College Mentors, regular communication with managers and the SBC Admissions Team, and maintaining comprehensive records of medication, incidents, and medical issues.
• Ensure the care of unwell students, including arranging healthcare appointments, liaising with staff, and communicating with parents as needed.
• Oversee meal and break times, ensuring appropriate supervision ratios and the implementation of allergy and dietary processes for student safety.
• Be available for emergency on-call or overnight duty up to six times per week.
Programme Delivery
• Develop and communicate an engaging Social Programme timetable of age-appropriate activities and events, maintaining relevant noticeboards.
• Coordinate the College Mentor team to ensure effective and timely planning, preparation, resourcing and promotion of activities and events.
• Manage student sign-ups, including resource creation, data entry, and registers.
• Brief staff for activities and events, ensuring clear roles and responsibilities are outlined.
• Provide support and feedback during and after sessions to ensure high-quality delivery.
• Collaborate with external providers to deliver a variety of activities and events.
• Attend excursions and off-site activities, taking the role of Excursion Leader when necessary
Team Management
• Manage the College Mentor team, providing direction, support, guidance and feedback.
• Lead daily meetings, training, performance management, and appraisals.
• Work with College Mentors to establish routines, foster proactive team communication, maintain appropriate student behaviour, and foster a positive and safe environment.
Resource, Facilities, Safety & Compliance
• Conduct risk assessments, communicate findings, and regularly inspect the site to ensure safety, safeguarding, cleanliness, and maintenance standards.
• Oversee the procurement, storage, distribution, and maintenance of programme and welfare resources, ensuring compliance with financial and quality guidelines, and briefing staff to efficiently handle equipment setup and pack-down.
• Ensure all activities and events adhere to safeguarding and welfare policies, maintaining appropriate student supervision.
• Serve as a First Aider and, if required, as the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO).
General Managerial Duties:
Teamwork & Communication
• Collaborate with the Management Team, attending meetings and maintaining open and proactive communication.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with students, staff, parents, agents, site hosts, and external stakeholders.
• Work with SBC Head Office to complete necessary paperwork and share updates.
Student Experience
• Encourage student engagement in the programme, promoting communication, confidence, and social skills.
• Promote a culture of equality, respect, and diversity, ensuring students adhere to the Student Code of Conduct and assisting staff in managing behaviour.
• Encourage student feedback and promptly address concerns or complaints.
• Contribute to hosting arrival and departure days, ensuring a welcoming and professional experience for students and parents
• Support the safe delivery of the programme, covering sessions, attending off-site activities & supporting breaks, meals, and welfare duties where needed.
Safety & Compliance
• Implement Health and Safety procedures, ensuring incidents are reported and risk assessments are followed.
• Keep staff informed of student welfare needs and maintain required welfare records.
• Ensure staff and students understand Emergency and Fire Evacuation procedures.
• Securely manage summer camp data, following GDPR and confidentiality policies.
General
• Attend SBC Management Training prior to arriving at the school to familiarise with all aspects of the programme, roles, and responsibilities
• Assist with Induction Week, preparing the site and inducting staff
• Demonstrate flexibility and assist in emergency situations, whether on duty or not.
• Provide feedback to the Head Office team throughout and at the end of the summer
• Uphold the reputation of Summer Boarding Courses and the host venue
Safeguarding Duties
Be committed to the safeguarding and welfare of students in your care
Complete online safeguarding training and attend on-site safeguarding training during induction week
To read and understand SBC’s Safeguarding Policy, Staff Handbook, Operations Policy Handbook and Part 1 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (including annexes A & B)
To be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect, and report any concerns to the DSO immediately (including low level concerns)
To know what to do if a student tells a member of staff they are being abused, exploited or neglected
To help students understand how to keep themselves safe and manage risk; earning their trust while maintaining professional boundaries
Please see the attached Job description for a more complete list of the duties associated with this Management role.
About You
SBC PERSON SPECIFICATION
All members of staff employed by SBC will be expected to bring certain key qualities to the operation. There must be a professional interest in working with young people and particularly international children. Safety and welfare of the students is of paramount importance at SBC and a practical enforcing of this belief should be a quality exhibited by all staff.
We look for staff who are:
Approachable & empathic to the needs of students
Enthusiastic & engaging
Diplomatic, responsible & motivated
Flexible within the summer school environment
We expect all SBC staff to be able to communicate effectively with our students, using an appropriate level of language to suit the group. SBC staff must demonstrate patience, empathy and an emotional awareness towards students both individually and in within a group setting. We expect all staff to take control of students and to manage discipline and behavioural issues in a firm, positive and constructive manner.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Essential
• Strong communication skills, ability to work under pressure, flexibility
• Previous residential summer school experience
• Previous management experience with a confident and supportive approach
• Proven experience of coordinating staff in an events or activity programme capacity
• Rigorously organised approach & excellent administrative skills
• Experience of managing welfare & behavioural issues effectively
• Proven professional experience of working in a medical or pastoral role with young people
• Good working knowledge of Excel.
• An empathic manner
Desirable
• Experience of the UK boarding environment
• Experience of working within the education sector
About Us
Founded in 2008, Summer Boarding Courses have united students from around the world through education. Delivering award-winning, future-focused courses that strike the perfect balance between academic and social enrichment.
Our courses unlock potential and ignite a spark for long-term success.
Our residential summer courses take place at some of the UK’s top boarding schools and university college campuses, including Eton College, Oxford University Colleges and Headington School. We carefully select our campuses to ensure that they provide the perfect environment for our students to live and study.
Over 15,800 students from 152 nationalities have been welcomed to study with us to date.
Whether it’s preparing for future studies, developing 21st–century skills or building confidence, the knowledge gained on an SBC course allows students to go forward and apply what they have learnt to other areas of their education and beyond; giving them the necessary skills to achieve their future goals.
The EL Gazette publishes a league table based on British Council inspections, and SBC have been ranked Number 1 from 2018 to 2023. We are very proud of this achievement and will continue to grow and develop our courses to offer students extraordinary experiences.
SBC is the only multi-campus summer school provider in the UK to have achieved a perfect 15/15 areas of strength by the British Council. A true hallmark of educational quality.
TO APPLY
We want to make sure we do all we can to set candidates up for success in this process. If you require any adjustments to help you at interview and/or you have any questions at all, please contact us at: (email protected)
Please note, as this post involves direct contact with vulnerable children, it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected'. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account.
SHOULD YOU BE SUCCESSFUL
Any gaps in your CV will be enquired about and must be explained satisfactorily
You will have to prove your Right to Work in the UK
You will provide the details of two recent and relevant referees who we will contact and specifically ask about your suitability to work with children and any concerns.
You will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS), and equivalent if you live, or have lived, outside of the UK
You will be asked to state that you have no known reason why you cannot work with children
Official identification and certificates will be required for our records
Please be aware that SBC may conduct online searches for shortlisted candidates as part of our legal duty to meet out safeguarding duties.
SBC SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
Summer Boarding Courses is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We have a comprehensive Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and procedures in place which all employees, volunteers and contractors are expected to adhere to.
SBC EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT
We operate a policy of equal opportunities and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of sex, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin or disability.