Residential Experience Officer

Think FE; North East; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days holiday

Free on-site parking

Discounted gym membership

Cycle to Work Scheme

Course discounts

Staff discounts

Staff wellbeing programme

Annual volunteering day

Job summary

Think FE is recruiting a Residential Experience Officer in Northamptonshire to support students living in college accommodation, contributing to a safe, inclusive residential community.

You will provide pastoral support, enable student engagement, and help uphold safeguarding standards while supervising activities and assisting with inductions and community discipline. Normal hours include evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4 or above, or equivalent.
• Experience in a similar residential or safeguarding role.
• First Aid at Work qualification, or willingness to obtain.
• Full driving licence and ability to drive a minibus or undertake training.
• Excellent communication and active listening skills.
• Strong organisation and discretion, with safeguarding commitment.

Responsibilities

• Create a welcoming, supportive community in college accommodation.
• Provide pastoral support and an independent listening service to students.
• Plan and supervise social, sporting, volunteering and community activities.
• Support induction and integration of new residents into college life.
• Promote positive behaviour and uphold conduct/ residential regulations.
• Respond to safeguarding, welfare and behavioural concerns.
• Inspect accommodation areas and report maintenance needs.
• Assist with fire, health and safety procedures and emergencies.
• Liaise with students, parents, guardians and external agencies.
• Complete administration, reports, and records for residential provision.
• Contribute to Ofsted preparations for residential provision.

Skills

Pastoral support

Active listening

Communication skills

Boundary setting

Organisation

Safeguarding knowledge

Flexibility

Education

GCSE Maths & English C/4+

First Aid at Work

Degree-level qualification desirable

Tools

Driving licence

Minibus driving capability

Job description

Residential Experience Officer Location: Northamptonshire
Salary: £24,897.12 – £26,425.38 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week, 40 weeks per year
Working pattern: Some evening and weekend working required
Department: Safeguarding and Wellbeing

Think FE are recruiting a Residential Experience Officer to join the Safeguarding and Wellbeing team at a well-established further education college in Northamptonshire. This is a varied and rewarding role supporting students living in college accommodation and helping to create a safe, inclusive and positive residential community.

You’ll play an important part in students’ experience outside the classroom, combining pastoral support, student engagement, safeguarding and residential supervision. It would suit someone who is confident working with young people, able to build positive relationships and comfortable responding calmly and professionally when challenges arise.

The role Working closely with the Residential Coordinator and wider Safeguarding and Wellbeing team, you will:

• Help create a welcoming, inclusive and supportive community within the college’s residential accommodation.
• Provide pastoral support and an independent listening service to students, referring concerns appropriately when additional support is required.
• Plan, encourage and supervise social, sporting, volunteering and community activities for residential students.
• Support student induction and help new residents integrate successfully into college life.
• Promote positive behaviour and uphold the college’s Student Code of Conduct and residential regulations.
• Support students during evening activities and help maintain appropriate standards of behaviour outside the normal teaching day.
• Respond appropriately to safeguarding, welfare and behavioural concerns.
• Help protect students from bullying, intimidation, abuse and other inappropriate behaviour.
• Inspect bedrooms and communal areas, reporting maintenance issues and helping to maintain suitable residential standards.
• Support fire, health and safety procedures, including responding appropriately to alarms and emergencies.
• Liaise with students, parents and guardians, internal college teams and external agencies.
• Complete relevant administration, reports and records relating to the residential provision.
• Contribute to preparations for Ofsted inspection of residential provision for students under 18.

04th September, 2026

What we’re looking for You’ll need to be someone who can combine a caring and approachable manner with the confidence to set clear boundaries.

Essential requirements include:

• GCSE Maths and English Language at grade C/4 or above, or equivalent.
• Experience working in a similar role.
• A commitment to continued professional development.
• A First Aid at Work qualification, or willingness to undertake one.
• A full driving licence.
• Ability to drive a minibus or willingness to complete the required training.
• Excellent communication and active listening skills.
• A sensitive, discreet and professional approach.
• Strong organisation skills and the ability to use your own initiative.
• Confidence when challenging inappropriate behaviour.
• Ability to relate positively to young people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate with different stakeholders and produce written reports.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends when required.
• A strong understanding of safeguarding and a commitment to protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• Willingness to undertake an enhanced DBS check.

Experience within a residential environment, FE or HE setting would be advantageous, as would qualifications in youth work, residential work or social care. A degree-level qualification or equivalent is also desirable.

Benefits Alongside the opportunity to make a genuine difference to students’ day-to-day experience, the college offers a range of staff benefits, including:

• 33 days’ holiday including bank/public holidays, pro rata where applicable.
• Free on-site parking.
• Discounted on-site gym membership.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• 10% discount on college courses.
• High street discounts.
• Staff wellbeing programme.
• Opportunity for an annual volunteering day.

Benefits may be subject to eligibility and scheme conditions.

Important information Candidates will be required to provide evidence of their eligibility to work in the UK as part of the recruitment process. The college advises that this position is unlikely to qualify for visa sponsorship.