Appointment of Assistant Houseparent (Girls House) in Dunbar

Appointment of Assistant Houseparent (Girls' House)

Overview

This role would suit an individual with high levels of ambition. The intention is to provide the successful candidate with a range of opportunities to express their full range of skills or to develop their career by working with well-established professionals, to contribute to the lively atmosphere in the Girls’ boarding house.

Alongside their central role within the Girls’ Boarding House, the successful candidate will make a contribution to the wider life of the School during the working day. We are deliberately open-minded about what this might look like, and would be keen to shape this aspect of the role around the skills, experience, and interests of an outstanding candidate. This might include teaching, learning support, sport, music, art and design, or work within the School’s administrative and marketing teams. We would particularly welcome applications from candidates who could contribute in more than one area, but no particular combination of skills is required.

Candidates might like to study other Belhaven adverts to assess if they might be able to combined responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervision and safeguarding:
  • To take three duty nights in the boarding house alongside a member of teaching staff and a matron
• Leadership:
  • To run some activities on weekends in, acting as the point of contact for duty staff
  • To create and lead activity sessions during the week and plan the weekend’s activities in conjunction with the Houseparents
• Communication:
  • To be responsible for an agreed number of breakfast duties, including the delivery of notices for the day
• Support:
  • To assist the Houseparent on an ad hoc basis, by mutual agreement
  • To work with boarding staff and senior boarders to create a positive atmosphere in the boarding house
• Development:
  • To create, develop and execute a ‘boarding improvement plan’ in conjunction with Houseparents, matrons and boarders
  • To take an active role in promoting the Belhaven award, a junior and Belhaven version of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme

Opportunities For Development Within This Role

To work across the spectrum of the prep school curriculum, including:

• Performing arts
• Sports coaching
• Learning Support

To work closely with the School’s Head of Admissions and Marketing to assist with the following:

• The administration of the registration of domestic and international pupils
• The organisation of major School and alumni events
• Data entry to ensure that School communications are efficiently delivered
• Marketing and design work to broaden and develop the School’s brand

To act as a mentor to the Gap students

To gain the necessary qualifications/experience that would enable you to pursue your chosen career path.

Living and working within a boarding community is one of the most rewarding roles in school. It encourages teamwork and a collaborative attitude and requires the development of outstanding working relationships under the pressure created by the vital safeguarding of the children within our care. This is a small business that requires everyone to develop multiple skills above and beyond the teaching or pastoral care of the children.

Accommodation: to be discussed at interview. A flat, and all meals (meals during term time), will be provided as part of the remuneration package for the role.

Location

Belhaven Hill School

Belhaven Road

Dunbar

East Lothian

EH42 1NN

Supporting documents

• Job Description
• Information Pack
• Application Form in .pdf format
• Application Form in Word format

Application closing date: 25th September 2026

Interview process

Applications will be assessed against the information provided in this document. Longlisted candidates will be invited to attend a longlist interview which may be held remotely. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to attend an interview held at Belhaven.

References

Please note that references will be taken prior to interview unless indicated otherwise.

Overseas Police check

Applicants who have lived outside of the UK for more than 3 months in the past 10 years will be required to provide a police check from their country/countries of residence.

Key dates

Safeguarding and Equal opportunities

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. A copy of the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available to download from the School’s website www.belhavenhill.com. Please take the time to read this document.

It is the policy of this School to employ the best qualified personnel and to provide equal opportunity for the advancement of employees including promotion and training and not to discriminate against any person because of their race, colour, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, religion or religious belief, disability or age.

All new appointments are subject to a probationary period of 1 year.