Welfare Assistant - Residential

Oxford International Education Group

Welfare Assistant - Residential

Department: Year-Rounds Groups

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: EFL Programmes UK

Compensation: £605 per week + holiday remuneration

Description

Our seasonal programmes operate during the following periods:

Winter: 1st January – mid-February
Spring: 23rd March – 10th/12th April
Summer: 23rd/24th June – 12th/17th August

Specific start and end dates will be confirmed based on your role, assigned centre, and required induction training.

Overview

As a Welfare Assistant with Oxford International Junior Programmes, you will play a key role within the Student Support Team, working under the direction of the Welfare Manager to deliver outstanding welfare, safeguarding and pastoral care across one of our residential language centres.

You will provide visible welfare support throughout the day, helping to ensure students remain safe, supported and engaged while contributing to the smooth day-to-day running of the centre.

Welfare Assistants are deployed across a range of operational duties including student welfare, meal supervision, break-time cover, night duty, airport arrivals, excursions and other welfare responsibilities.

You will work flexibly across the programme to provide support wherever it is most needed while maintaining student welfare as your highest priority.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Welfare Team Operations

Support the Welfare Manager by:

Providing visible welfare cover across the centre throughout the day.
Being deployed across break times, meal times and transition periods to ensure appropriate student supervision.
Supporting the supervision of communal areas and maintaining a safe environment.
Responding to welfare concerns as they arise and escalating appropriately.
Supporting student movement around the centre.
Assisting the wider Senior Team with operational welfare duties where required.
Remaining flexible to changing operational priorities.

2. Break Time, Mealtime & Night Duty

The Welfare Team will provide operational supervision by:

Supervising students during meal times.
Supporting dining hall organisation and student behaviour.
Monitoring student welfare during break periods.
Completing allocated night duty shifts.
Carrying out room checks and welfare checks where required.
Responding to overnight incidents appropriately.
Recording and reporting welfare concerns arising during duty.
Working closely with the Welfare Manager to ensure appropriate staffing across all welfare duties.

3. Student Welfare & Pastoral Care

Ensure students are safe and happy in our care by:

Providing high-quality pastoral care to students.
Supporting students experiencing homesickness, anxiety or emotional wellbeing concerns.
Building positive relationships with students.
Being visible and approachable throughout the programme.
Supporting student discipline positively.
Escalating welfare concerns immediately.
Supporting safeguarding procedures.
Ensuring students know how to access welfare support.

4. Airport Arrivals & Departures

Support the successful arrival and departure of students by:

Being allocated to a designated airport or arrival location on transfer days.
Welcoming students and Group Leaders on arrival.
Supporting student registration and arrival procedures.
Assisting with luggage, documentation and student check-in.
Communicating with the Centre Manager regarding arrivals.
Escorting groups safely onto transfer coaches.
Supporting departure procedures where required.
Maintaining a professional and welcoming first impression of Oxford International.

5. Welfare Administration & Student Records

Support the Welfare Manager by:

Assisting with student registration records.
Recording incidents using Proactive.
Maintaining welfare logs.
Recording attendance.
Monitoring absences.
Reporting unexplained absences.
Recording illnesses.
Recording allergies.
Recording dietary requirements.
Maintaining confidentiality.

6. Medical Support

Provide basic first aid.
Respond appropriately to illness.
Support students attending appointments.
Liaise with medical providers where directed.
Report all medical concerns promptly.

7. Individual Student Co-Ordination

Support those students who travel independently by:

Helping individual students to settle into life in the UK and meeting them on arrival
Accompanying individual students on excursions and during onsite activities
Organising regular meetings and maintaining clear communication
Ensuring students money/passports are secure.

8. The Activity Programme

Ensure activities are delivered to the highest standard by:

Support the Activity Team where operationally required.
Deliver activities when allocated.
Encourage participation.
Maintain welfare while supporting activities.
Assist Activity Leaders where required.
Ensure students remain safe throughout activities.
Work collaboratively with the Activities Team.

9. The Excursion Programme

Help produce an exciting and interesting excursions programme by:

Support student welfare throughout excursions.
Monitor student wellbeing.
Support vulnerable students.
Assist with headcounts.
Support behaviour management.
Communicate concerns immediately.
Support Activity Leaders where required.

10. Student Inductions

Support student arrivals.
Help students settle in.
Explain welfare support.
Reinforce site rules.
Explain fire procedures.
Promote safeguarding awareness.

Expectations

As a member of the Oxford International team, you will:

Put student welfare first.
Represent Oxford International professionally.
Be approachable.
Maintain confidentiality.
Be visible around centre.
Work collaboratively with the Activities Team.
Support the Welfare Manager.
Respond positively to feedback.
Remain flexible.
Uphold safeguarding.

Person Specifications

Legal status

Right to work in the Uk
Willing to undergo an Enhanced DBS check and/or an Overseas Police Check, where applicable.

Qualifications

Currently enrolled in, or holding, a university degree programme in any discipline.
Currently enrolled in, or undertaking, a university degree in a health-related discipline (e.g., Nursing, Medicine, Public Health, Allied Health Sciences, or a related field).(Desirable)

Experience and knowledge

Experience working with children or young people.

Skills and Abilities

Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Strong organisational skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Personal qualities

A caring, approachable and supportive attitude.
Ability to remain calm under pressure.
A proactive approach to solving problems.
Flexible approach to working across welfare and activity duties.
Commitment to safeguarding.
Genuine enthusiasm for working with international students.
Strong work ethic

Disclaimer

This job description is provided as a guide to the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive description of duties and responsibilities and may be subject to periodic revision.

Oxford International is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service and, where appropriate, online searches of publicly available information as part of our safer recruitment procedures.

Oxford International is an equal opportunity employer. Every applicant and employee has the same opportunities regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date should we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible.