Welfare Manager

Summer Boarding Courses; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A summer educational organization in Cambridge is seeking a Welfare Manager to oversee the welfare of students during the summer program. The role involves managing House Teams, ensuring student wellbeing, and maintaining communication with the admissions team. Candidates should possess strong leadership and communication skills, previous managerial experience, and a compassionate approach. This position includes accommodation and remunerates £1010 per week, including holiday allowance, reflecting a commitment to student care in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Accommodation included

Extensive paid on-site training

Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Qualifications

• Previous management experience with a confident and supportive approach.
• Experience of managing welfare and behavioural issues effectively.
• Proven professional experience of working in a medical or pastoral role with young people.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the welfare of students throughout the summer programme.
• Manage House Teams and communicate with SBC Admissions Team.
• Attend to unwell students and liaise on healthcare appointments.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Leadership abilities

Organisational skills

Empathy

Ability to work under pressure

Tools

Excel

Job description

The Welfare Manager oversees the welfare of students throughout the summer programme, ensuring the highest standards of pastoral care. They manage the House Teams, foster positive and safe boarding communities, lead daily welfare meetings, communicate closely with the SBC Admissions Team, guide staff on pastoral care, and keep meticulous records. Strong communication, leadership, and organisational skills are essential for this dynamic role that places student health and wellbeing at its core.

Appealing to ambitious students wishing to prepare for future success and to gain the opportunity to spend the summer in the beautiful historic city of Cambridge, Durham Cambridge students undertake academic courses exploring their chosen subject through a series of engaging lectures, tutorials, and industry workshops. Their academic programme sits next to their social programme allowing them to explore Cambridge, take part in college events, wellbeing activities and the greatly enjoyed excursion to London. Duke's Cambridge replicates a city university model based at dedicated university student accommodation giving students a true taste of university living. Students on the college programme are 14‑17 and the capacity is 140 students each week.

Support for Welfare Managers

• Full DBS cost covered for first contract.
• Extensive paid on‑site training prior to student arrival.
• Accommodation included.
• CPD and appraisals.
• Staff wellbeing initiative.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Continual support from the Head Office team on the ground and via phone/email.
• Online safeguarding and prevention training.
• Professional, fun and supportive environment, student welfare.

Student Welfare

• Assume overall responsibility for the welfare of all students.
• Be available and approachable, addressing behavioural and emotional issues with professionalism, empathy, and positive reinforcement.
• Communicate with parents and admissions managers about welfare matters via telephone or face‑to‑face.
• Advise and support staff in dealing with unfamiliar student wellbeing issues.
• Monitor and manage student welfare through daily meetings with House Parents and regular communication with the summer staff, managers and SBC admissions team.
• Attend to unwell students, liaise with relevant staff, arrange healthcare appointments, and accompany them when necessary.
• Ensure medical policy compliance, monitor allergies and dietary needs, and provide feedback to site hosts on food standards.
• Be present during meal and break times, ensuring supervision ratios and allergy/dietary processes for student safety.
• Maintain comprehensive records of medication, incidents, sickness, and medical issues in line with SBC’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Assist in processing and responding to all student feedback.
• Coordinate on‑site student laundry procedures.
• Serve as a First Aider and complete First Aid training arranged by SBC.
• Complete Level 2 Safeguarding Course and potentially act as Site Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO).
• Be available for emergency on‑call or overnight duty up to six times per week.

Team Management

• Lead and manage Boarding Teams, ensuring effective communication and smooth operations in creating safe, welcoming, and engaging boarding houses.
• Work with House Parents or College Officers to establish routines, maintain appropriate student behaviour, and foster positive boarding communities.
• Provide guidance to House Parents or College Officers during on‑call or overnight duties.
• Lead daily morning meetings with House Parents or College Officers and support them in supervising sick students and addressing wellbeing concerns.
• Ensure accurate record‑keeping, including house logs, registers, activity sign‑ups, medical records, and incident logs.
• Foster a positive relationship with the host site staff.
• Communicate with parents and admissions managers regarding welfare matters.
• Oversee the induction of new pastoral staff, ensuring their familiarity with house routines, welfare policies, and record‑keeping requirements.

Safety & Compliance

• Conduct accommodation risk assessments and ensure safety controls are communicated to relevant staff during training.
• Regularly inspect accommodation and common areas to ensure cleanliness, maintenance, and safety.
• Provide support during setup to ensure houses are presentable and ready for student arrival.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Approachable and empathic to the needs of students.
• Enthusiastic and engaging.
• Diplomatic, responsible, and motivated.
• Flexible within the summer school environment.
• Strong communication skills, ability to work under pressure, flexibility.
• Previous residential summer school experience.
• Previous management experience with a confident and supportive approach.
• Rigorously organised approach and excellent administrative skills.
• Comprehensive working knowledge of Excel.
• Experience of managing welfare and behavioural issues effectively.
• Proven professional experience of working in a medical or pastoral role with young people.
• An empathic and positive manner.
• The ability to guide, empower, and support staff to best meet the pastoral and emotional needs of our students.
• Will have to provide details of two recent referees, undergo DBS check, confirm no known reason they cannot work with children, provide official identification and certificates; SBC may conduct online searches for shortlisted candidates as part of safeguarding duties.

Desirable

• Experience of residential international summer schools.
• Experience of the UK boarding environment.
• Experience of working within the education sector.

Additional Role Specific Support

• Paid attendance to pre‑course Management Training.
• Paid attendance of a certified First Aid Course.

Remuneration

The salary for the Welfare Manager role is £1010 per week (subject to tax and national insurance), paid weekly in arrears. This sum includes a holiday allowance at 12.07% of basic pay of £108.78, plus accommodation at the summer site.

Founded in 2008, Summer Boarding Courses have united students from around the world through education. Delivering award‑winning, future‑focused courses that strike the perfect balance between academic and social enrichment.

Our courses unlock potential and ignite a spark for long‑term success. Our residential summer courses take place at some of the UK's top boarding schools and university college campuses, including Eton College, Oxford University Colleges and Headington School. We carefully select our campuses to ensure they provide the perfect environment for our students to live and study. Over 15,800 students from 152 nationalities have been welcomed to study with us to date. Whether it's preparing for future studies, developing 21st‑century skills or building confidence, the knowledge gained on an SBC course allows students to go forward and apply what they have learned to other areas of their education and beyond; giving them the necessary skills to achieve their future goals. The EL Gazette publishes a league table based on British Council inspections, and SBC have been ranked Number 1 from 2018 to 2023. We are very proud of this achievement and will continue to grow and develop our courses to offer students extraordinary experiences. SBC is the only multi‑campus summer school provider in the UK to have achieved a perfect 15/15 areas of strength by the British Council. A true hallmark of educational quality.