Head Matron

Job Title: Head Matron
Responsible to: Deputy Head (Pastoral)
Contract: Full time
Start: April 2025

The Elms:
The Elms is a wonderful co-educational prep school situated on the Herefordshire/Worcestershire border. We are nestled in the foothills of the Malvern Hills in 45 acres of rural tranquillity, in the village of Colwall, which is 10 minutes from Ledbury or Malvern. We have our own working farm, with cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, poultry, and horses, all of which are part of the teaching and learning curriculum.

The Elms was founded in 1614, making us the oldest prep school in England still situated on its original site. We are an IAPS boarding and day school and pride ourselves on achieving excellent results to many Public Schools, both locally and across the UK. Despite being non-selective the school achieves consistently high standards academically.

A willingness to get involved in the wider community of school, including attending events, and attending school functions, as necessary, would be advantageous and welcomed.

JOB DESCRIPTION
This Job Description covers the principal tasks required of the Head Matron. It is not necessarily a complete list of everything required for the full professional discharge of duties. The post holder is initially responsible to the Deputy Head (Pastoral), but they will also need to work closely with the Head of Boarding. As this is a management position, they are ultimately responsible to the Headmaster for the fulfilment of these duties.

Head Matron's responsibilities

• To manage the day to day running of the Matron team: to discuss and implement, with the Matron team, their day-to-day duty requirements and ensure systems run smoothly.
• To put together the matron duty rota and to agree this with the Deputy Head (Pastoral) and Head of Boarding.
• To administer first aid as required and give pitch side first aid for school matches.
• To offer a caring, warm homely environment for day and boarding pupils. Give comfort and pastoral care.
• To manage and oversee the storage and administration of all medicines, ad hoc and prescribed, for the children.
• To maintain accurate records of all administered medicines.
• To manage the school's health records.
• To oversee and be involved in the efficient management of laundry processes.
• To carry out evening and weekend duties in the boarding house, as part of a rota.
• To set high standards of care for the children and ensure they are met, always working within the National Minimum Standards for Boarding code of conduct.
• To co-ordinate and oversee the school's immunisation programmes to ensure the pupils are up to date with their vaccinations. This will include liaising with local service providers.
• To manage and maintain stock and resources in the medical centre, within the allocated budget.
• To maintain stock of all first aid kits both around the school, minibuses and for matches.
• To educate students, staff and parents on health-related issues.
• To ensure all full boarders are registered with the local GP.
• To liaise with all parents in relation to all medical matters.
• To conduct annual reviews with the matron team and to feed back any agreed targets with the Headmaster and Deputy Head (Pastoral).
• To be involved in the recruitment of Matrons and their initial training and induction.
• To plan and communicate with parents regarding main school events such as: school photos, end of term packing, issuing of school uniform as well as new pupils' days.
• To communicate with parents regarding matters of school uniform and children's possessions on an ad hoc basis and to support other Matrons with this when needed.
• To liaise with the DFO to ensure a smooth handover between the school and any lets, regarding children's possessions and the lending of bedding.
• To assist with the second-hand uniform 'shop', assisted by the Matron team, and to ensure that the stock take, and accounts are completed at the end of each term.
• To ensure there is a stringent system of checking children for nits and liaise with parents when and where appropriate.
• To ensure First Aid Policy and Administration of Medicine Policy are kept up to date.
• To present a termly Matron report to the Governors.