Head of Pastoral Care

Thank you for your interest in Geneva English School. We are passionate about high quality teaching and learning and want all of our staff to strive for excellence in what they do; it is what our students and families expect and deserve.

Founded in 1961, Geneva English School is a high-quality, innovative private school built on the strong foundations of the British Education system, providing structure and challenge at Primary level, and choice and opportunity at Secondary level. The school currently welcomes around 350 students and employs just over 100 academic, management and associate staff.

We are English in name, but our welcoming, thriving school community is as diverse as the Geneva area we serve, with over 60 nationalities represented among our students aged 3 to 18. We are deliberately a small school, focused on getting to know our students and their families to ensure that every young person is challenged and supported through their childhood and teenage years.

The GES approach is open, encouraging and outward-looking and we achieve outstanding results, placing GES in the top 5% of British schools worldwide. Our academic outcomes and pastoral care are graded outstanding by the Independent Schools Inspectorate and we are the only school in Switzerland accredited as a British Schools Overseas by the UK government’s Department for Education.

If this sounds like a learning environment where you could make a difference and you would like to join our fantastic team of professionals who put children at the heart of all we do, we look forward to receiving your application!

For further information, please visit the school’s website at http://www.geschool.ch

This is a permanent post, ideally starting in January 2025.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Take an active role in the pastoral care of all students with whom you come into contact, helping to monitor and promote positive and healthy behaviour, relationships, personal and social development.

• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Secondary school.

• Liaise with teaching staff to ensure effective systems are in place to support students’ social and emotional needs.

• Meet individually with students and parents, as required.

• Co-ordinate and be involved in teaching the Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PHSE) curriculum.

• Support and advise staff on all matters relating to safeguarding and mental health

• Be enthusiastic and proactive in your attitude to the role

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Qualifications Requirement:

An appropriate qualification in Psychology and relevant work experience with adolescents in a school setting.

The successful candidate will be:

• Fluent in spoken and written English with strong verbal and written communication skills. A good level in French is also necessary in order to liaise with local agencies, as required

• Confident liaising with the wider community, including external local professionals and parents

• Able to recognise signs and behaviours that indicate a mental health need

• Able to create and implement appropriate strategies and execute plans in relation to mental health needs

• Able to handle Primary and Secondary students’ emotional issues and react appropriately in crisis situations

• Able to work autonomously and effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team

• Discreet, proactive, empathic and accessible

THE POSITION OFFERS:

• Competitive salary and benefits

• Wonderful students and parent community

• Supportive environment and continuous professional development

• After-school care for Primary-age children until 18:00

• Free parking

SAFER RECRUITMENT:

GES is committed to equalities, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We welcome applications from suitable candidates no matter their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers, enhanced national/international criminal records checks and prohibition from teaching checks.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications should be made in English and consist of your CV and a covering letter (no more than one side of A4).

Deadline for applications: Monday 9th December 2024