Matron

The Society of Heads; Berwick-upon-Tweed; Remote; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

The Society of Heads is seeking a dedicated School Matron to provide medical and first aid support for pupils, staff and visitors at our Berwick-upon-Tweed campus. The role covers urgent clinical care, administration of medicines, and maintaining a hygienic and welcoming Surgery.

You will oversee first aid kits, support boarding pupils, coordinate health checks, and contribute to medical policy updates while upholding strict confidentiality and professional standards in line with NMC guidelines.

Qualifications

• Nursing validation and relevant qualifications and training must be up to date to meet NMC guidelines.
• Level 3 Child Protection training is required and should be kept current.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills with people at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Attend to the clinical needs of pupils, staff and visitors and arrange transfer to GP or hospital if needed.
• Administer medicines and ensure only trained staff do so.
• Maintain the School Matron’s Surgery, keeping it welcoming and hygienic.
• Oversee care of boarding pupils when House Parents are off duty and assist on school trips as necessary.
• Liaise with Health and Safety Coordinator, Catering and safeguarding teams to support wellbeing and health education.
• Record and share medical information appropriately and maintain confidentiality.
• Update medical records and policies, and write care plans for pupils with complex health needs.

Skills

Discretion

Independence

Teamwork

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Education

NMC nursing validation

Level 3 Child Protection training

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Databases

Job description

Medical and First Aid:

• Ensure the best possible medical care is available to pupils, staff and visitors on an immediate and/or an emergency care basis.
• Attend to the clinical needs of all who visit the Surgery and where necessary, arranging to get the pupil or staff member home safely or to alternative care, for example the individual’s GP or to hospital.
• Ensure that any pupils are seen promptly and any further treatment is identified so they are able to return to lessons as soon as possible. If pupils are unable to return to lessons, the School Matron will inform all those who need to know, such as teachers, parents, guardians, etc, recording all information in a timely and accurate manner.
• Oversee the care of boarding pupils if necessary, during the school day when House Parents are off duty. Being available to take them to doctors, dentists or hospital appointments if necessary.
• Maintain the School Matron’s Surgery as a welcoming and hygienic room, suitably equipped for serving the medical needs of the pupils and staff.
• Have an overview of the use of the surgery and spotting patterns or trends with individuals or groups, sharing this information as appropriate with the wider pastoral and or safeguarding teams.
• Provide appropriate and time-specific health and wellbeing information to all pupils and staff.
• Be responsible for the administration of medicines and that only staff who are appropriately trained can administer them.
• Administer first aid, and in conjunction with the Health and Safety Coordinator, identity key members of staff who should also be first aid trained, ensuring there is always an adequate proportion of trained personnel at any point during the School terms. This will include travelling to school via the bus network, school trips and boarding.
• Ensure First Aid kits around school are monitored and are restocked. Supply First Aid kits for the school buses and for trips.
• Assist pupils to manage long term conditions e.g. diabetes, asthma, eczema.
• Ensure all pupils’ keep their medical supplies up to date, for example epipens, inhalers etc and ensure the safe storage, usage and disposal of medical supplies and drugs.
• Advise pupils and staff on pupil medical issues and child and adolescent physical health and emotional wellbeing.
• Organise any regular in-school medical checks and School Health Immunisations programmes.
• Be available to staff leading school trips to offer advice and information regarding individual pupils and medication. To be available to attend School trips if a significant medical need is identified.
• Inform staff of procedures if faced with a medical emergency, such as more serious medical conditions which may be encountered.
• Liaise with Health and Safety Coordinator and Catering team to ensure dietary needs are met, and to help promote healthy eating.

Pastoral Support:

• Be involved in the health education of the pupils and, at times, to help deliver PSHE.

Communication and record keeping:

• Ensure effective information sharing with the wider pastoral team or any other relevant member of the School community.
• Assist with staff INSET sessions on health and wellbeing in conjunction with the Senior Leader/DSL and Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead.
• Make contact with parents as appropriate, ensuring that thorough records are kept of the conversations and any action taken.
• Liaise with the relevant member of staff (Form Tutor, Head of Year, Head of Pastoral and Designated Safeguarding Lead) on issues which arise through the care of pupils in the Surgery.
• Attend weekly staff briefings and other relevant staff meetings as directed.
• Meet regularly with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and be available to meet when appropriate the wider pastoral and safeguarding teams.
• Ensure all general health information is always up to date and any medical, dietary and allergy needs are communicated with all relevant staff members.
• Update all medical related policies and procedures and ensure all the appropriate associated paperwork is completed and kept up to date.
• Be responsible for writing and reviewing medical or care plans for pupils with more complex health needs, and sharing these appropriately.
• Ensure comprehensive and timely notes and records are made in relation to incidents/accidents, and report to relevant staff as necessary within the appropriate confines of confidentiality.
• Complete accident reports as and when required, passing them to the Health and Safety Coordinator.
• Update medical records on the school database and liaise with parents as necessary if further information is needed.
• Liaise with local public health teams regarding immunisations and any other medical matters which the school needs to act upon. Liaise with the local GP surgeries and Berwick Infirmary when necessary. .
• Ensure that while medical and personal confidentiality is respected the school observes a “joined up” approach in the care of pupils.

Attributes:

• Demonstrate tact and absolute discretion in dealing with all matters.
• Be independent but with the ability to work as part of a wider team of support staff and pastoral staff.
• Show loyalty, energy, articulacy and diplomacy.
• Be Flexible in approach to people and to working arrangements.
• Use a professional, adaptable and proactive attitude.
• Be able to respond calmly, quickly and willingly to urgent and unexpected requests.
• Appreciation of and sympathy for the objectives of an independent school.
• Have Competent IT skills, including use of word, spreadsheets and databases.
• Demonstrate good personal skills in a pleasant, friendly and competent manner and be able to welcome, help or reassure all visitors by telephone and personally to the Surgery.

Skills and Training and Development:

• Ensure nursing validation and relevant qualifications and training are up to date to meet NMC guidelines on mandatory training.
• Complete Level 3 Child Protection training and keep up to date with any other training relevant to the school setting.
• Prioritise and manage situations as appropriate.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to interact with people at all levels, combining confidence and assertiveness in a calm, courteous and professional manner.
• Participate in annual performance reviews and performance management meetings.
• When a training need is identified, to attend relevant and appropriate training courses during working hours when offered.
• Have a good working knowledge of the relevant sections of the Keeping Children Safe in Education legislation.