Our seasonal programmes operate during the following periods:
Winter: January to mid-February
Spring: Late March to mid-April
Summer: Late June to early/mid-August
Specific start and end dates will be confirmed based on your role, assigned centre, and required induction training.
Overview
As Welfare Manager with Oxford International Junior Programmes, you will have overall responsibility for the welfare, safeguarding and operational welfare provision across one of our residential language centres.
You will lead the Student Support Team, taking responsibility for their deployment, working hours, performance and development, while ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding, student welfare, accommodation, catering and pastoral care are maintained throughout the programme. Working closely with the Centre Manager, you will support the overall day-to-day operation of the centre.
This is a senior management role requiring strong leadership, organisation, communication and decision-making skills.
Must-Haves
- Experience working with children and young people in a residential, educational or similar environment.
- Previous experience leading or managing a team.
- Experience supporting student welfare, safeguarding or pastoral care.
- Strong organisational, communication and decision-making skills.
- A proactive approach to identifying and resolving welfare and operational issues.
- Ability to remain calm and effective when responding to incidents, emergencies and safeguarding concerns.
- Experience managing confidential or sensitive information appropriately.
- Ability to build positive relationships with students, staff, Group Leaders and external stakeholders.
- A genuine commitment to safeguarding, student wellbeing and creating a safe and inclusive environment.
- Confidence managing competing priorities within a fast-paced residential environment.
- A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Strong work ethic, professionalism and willingness to take ownership.
1. Staff Leadership & Management
The Welfare Manager directly manages the Student Support Team, consisting of multiple Student Support Leaders deployed across the centre.
Build an efficient and cohesive staff team by:
- Take day-to-day management responsibility for the Student Support Leaders.
- Deliver effective induction for all welfare staff.
- Hold daily welfare briefings.
- Manage performance.
- Complete appraisals.
- Monitor working hours.
- Allocate responsibilities.
- Coach and mentor staff.
- Ensure appropriate staffing levels.
- Support wellbeing.
2. Staff Rotas, Deployment & Working Hours
- Create and communicate effective Student Support Leader rotas.
- Rota SSLs onto break times, meal duties and night duties.
- Work with the Centre Manager on deployment of SSL’s on transfer days.
- Monitor and manage Student Support Leader contracted hours.
- Ensure staffing levels remain appropriate across welfare and safeguarding duties.
- Work with the Activity Manager & Director of Studies to deploy Student Support Leaders to support activities where operationally required.
- Ensure Student Support Leaders understand whether they are carrying out welfare or activity responsibilities during each shift.
- Monitor staffing requirements and adjust deployment accordingly.
- Escalate staffing concerns to the Centre Manager where appropriate.
3. Performance Management & Development
- Observe Student Support Leaders.
- Complete appraisals.
- Provide coaching.
- Address performance concerns.
- Monitor improvement plans.
- Recognise excellent performance.
4. Student Welfare & Safeguarding
- Lead safeguarding across the centre along with the Centre Manager.
- Manage Emergency Phone duty.
- Act as the welfare lead and deputy safeguarding representative where appropriate.
- Ensure all safeguarding concerns are recorded, managed and escalated correctly.
- Maintain oversight of student welfare, Group Leaders & Staff throughout the programme.
- Support students experiencing homesickness, anxiety or emotional wellbeing concerns.
- Ensure appropriate pastoral support is available.
- Work closely with Group Leaders regarding welfare matters.
- Ensure welfare information is shared appropriately with the Centre Manager.
5. Accommodation & Rooming
Accommodation:
- Lead/Support accommodation management.
- Produce rooming lists.
- Manage room changes.
- Liaise with accommodation teams.
- Resolve accommodation issues.
- Maintain accommodation records.
- Coordinate arrivals and departures.
- Manage lost property.
Catering:
- Produce catering numbers.
- Update catering numbers.
- Manage dietary requirements.
- Communicate allergies.
- Liaise with catering providers.
- Support meal service.
- Maintain student records.
6. Incident Management
- Take ownership of the Proactive Incident Management system.
- Manage Risk Assessment submission.
- Ensure incidents are accurately recorded within required timescales.
- Review incidents for quality and completeness.
- Ensure incidents are escalated appropriately.
- Maintain welfare logs.
- Produce incident reports requested by Head Office.
- Identify trends and recurring welfare concerns.
7. Centre Operations
Support the Centre Manager by:
- Supporting the day-to-day running of the centre.
- Supporting Senior Staff meetings.
- Identifying operational issues early.
- Supporting contingency planning.
- Making operational decisions when needed.
- Escalating significant issues appropriately.
- Gathering GL & Student Feedback.
8. Medical & Student Welfare
- Manage student medication procedures.
- Maintain medication logs.
- Coordinate first aid provision.
- Hold responsibility for Mental Health First Aid support where appropriate.
- Liaise with local medical providers.
- Maintain records of allergies.
- Maintain dietary requirements.
- Ensure dietary information is communicated to centres and catering with the required notice.
- Monitor student illness.
- Monitor student attendance.
- Track absences.
- Follow up unexplained absences.
- Ensure student registration information remains accurate.
9. Staff Welfare
- Act as the first point of contact for staff welfare concerns.
- Promote positive wellbeing amongst staff.
- Support managers with staff welfare issues.
- Signpost staff to additional support where appropriate.
- Escalate serious concerns to the Centre Manager and Head Office.
- Promote a positive and supportive staff culture.
10. Student Inductions
- Lead student arrival welfare inductions.
- Deliver site safety briefings.
- Explain fire procedures.
- Explain safeguarding reporting.
- Explain welfare support available.
- Ensure students understand site rules.
- Ensure students know how to access help.
As a member of the Oxford International team, you will:
- Lead by example.
- Promote collaboration across departments.
- Make confident operational decisions.
- Support the wider Senior Team.
- Take ownership of centre welfare standards.
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 applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. This role involves working with children and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
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.
