Facilities Assistant in Essex

We are seeking a Staff Support Manager to join our School. The Staff Support Manager is a key element of the School’s employee wellbeing strategy, acting as the dedicated “active listening” provision for all staff. The role provides a confidential, impartial, and supportive space for colleagues to discuss any aspect of their working life that may impact their wellbeing. This role is designed to ensure staff feel heard, valued, and supported, contributing to a positive, healthy, and sustainable working environment. It is a role that has been newly created to reflect New Hall’s ongoing commitment to investing in our staff. The Staff Support Manager can be undertaken on a full‑time basis, or a part‑time basis by up to two people.

Key responsibilities:

• To provide a safe, confidential, and non‑judgemental space for staff to talk openly.
• To use active listening techniques to support staff in exploring concerns related to work and wellbeing.
• To offer empathetic support without acting as a decision‑maker or line manager.
• To offer first line employee relations advice on how to deal with situational examples.
• To help staff reflect on challenges and identify potential coping strategies through coaching strategies.
• To direct staff to appropriate internal or external support services where needed.
• To maintain awareness of available wellbeing resources and support pathways.
• To always uphold strict confidentiality, within safeguarding and legal boundaries.
• To build trust across the staff body through professionalism, discretion, and consistency.
• To communicate clearly the limits of confidentiality when necessary.
• To identify emerging themes or trends (anonymised) to inform leadership decision‑making.
• To support the development of a proactive, preventative approach to staff wellbeing.
• To offer flexible appointment times to accommodate part‑time and shift‑based staff.
• To promote the service regularly to ensure awareness and engagement, e.g. through staff INSET.

Qualifications:

• To have strong active listening and interpersonal skills.
• To have high emotional intelligence and empathy.
• To maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• To be trustworthy, approachable, and non‑judgemental.
• To be skilled in signposting and supporting without directing.
• To have an awareness of staff wellbeing challenges within educational settings.
• To be a practising Catholic.
• To have experience of employee relations / generalist HR.
• To have previous coaching experience.

What New Hall offers:

• Lunch without charge in term time.
• Discounted annual membership for New Hall Sport Club.

New Hall School offers an exceptional working environment. The main campus occupies the stunning Grade I listed former Tudor palace of Beaulieu. The School’s conference and events venue is at the Grade I listed Boreham House, one mile away. New Hall is a warm, welcoming, and supportive community, with a staff of around 300. Beaulieu Park railway station is at the entrance to New Hall’s Avenue: 30 minutes to Stratford and 38 minutes to London Liverpool Street. The Elizabeth Line at Shenfield (13 minutes by train) terminates at Heathrow airport. There are nearby airports: London Stansted, London Southend and London City.

Early applications are encouraged. We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date of this advertisement. All adults employed by the New Hall School have a responsibility for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations. All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. As part of our need to comply with UK immigration rules, you will be required to provide Home Office stipulated documentation prior to interview. As well as verification of identity, we ask all successful candidates to undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we may also conduct an online search about any shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal duty to meet safeguarding duties, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). New Hall School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Safeguarding and further information:

Due to the nature of this role, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. In making your application, it is essential you disclose whether you have any pending charges, convictions, bind‑overs or cautions and, if so, for which offences. This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act, and, in the event of the employment being taken up; any failure to disclose such convictions will result in dismissal or disciplinary action. The fact that a pending charge, conviction, bind‑over or caution has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this appointment.