Brillantmont International School is seeking to appoint:

Boarding Houseparent – Term time only

From September 2025 (with training/induction days August 2025)

Please note: The position is full time residential and no teaching is involved.
Required:

  • Hold a European or Swiss passport or a Swiss residence permit. 
  • Have a driving license valid for Switzerland and be confident to drive a minibus of 9 seats (Driving licence category B)
  • Have previous boarding experience or similar, with students aged 11-18
  • Be able to work in English; knowledge of French is an asset
  • Be committed to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of young people and adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding Policy at all times
  • Have experience of supervising a team
  • Be a dynamic individual, proactive and a great team player
  • Be flexible, sensible and approachable
  • Be a good communicator, particularly with teenagers

Deadline

Applications are to be submitted exclusively via the form below and should include a CV and a cover letter of one page maximum.

The closing date for applications is Monday 31st March 2025.


All the boarding accommodation is on the Brillantmont campus, on the upper floors of five buildings. The buildings are secure, accessible by door-codes and the boarding rooms are spacious, warm and welcoming. Boys and girls live in separate houses, organised by age and gender. A member of the boarding team lives in the boarding house, looking after the students and helping make their boarding experience happy and successful. Students share a room with a student from another nationality, encouraging intercultural learning and understanding. 

We expect our boarding staff to always have the students’ physical, mental and emotional well-being at the heart of all they do. Our caring, supportive boarding environment safeguards the students and allows them to develop and grow with confidence.

Living away from home is not always easy, especially in the teenage years. It’s a time of change and questions. We are here to help our students find the answers to their questions, to feel strong and grounded on their journey to becoming well-balanced, responsible young adults, who can live with others and who are global citizens. Your support will help them secure high standards and identify barriers to learning and development.


1. Goals and Objectives

To use leadership, organisational skills and professional skills to:

  • Assure the smooth running of the Boarding House emphasising good communication amongst the students and staff working within the boarding school
  • Serve as a professional role model for the Brillantmont boarding students
  • Oversee and manage the conduct and discipline of the boarders applying Brillantmont’s rules consistently
  • Actively support the Head of Boarding or Senior Houseparent by encouraging students to participate in clubs, activities and trips
  • Collate weekly student monitoring notes and raise concerns to the Head of Boarding
  • Set a good example in terms of dress, punctuality and attendance
  • Be a positive role model in all aspects of professional and private life
  • Extensive involvement in the busy weekend programme
  • Supervise daily study periods
  • Undertake airport transfers
  • Accurately report and collaborate with the Head of Boarding on all matters relating to boarding
  • Actively promote Brillantmont’s Guiding and Mission Statements.
  • To be a key member of the Pastoral Team
  • Undertake one day per week of “cover” during the school day to support areas of the school where cover is needed


2. Key responsibilities

Under the responsibility of the Head of Boarding you will be expected to:

Well-being

  • Nurture a family atmosphere of trust, support and guidance
  • Adopt a holistic approach to the students’ education and development
  • Provide an environment where students feel safe, comfortable and secure
  • Take measures to ensure students social integration
  • Monitor the physical and psychological health of the students
  • Assist with the ongoing monitoring of student behavior and progress and report concerns to the Head of Boarding or Senior Houseparent in a timely manner using all available reporting systems
  • Promote a peaceful environment in the boarding house which actively supports rest
  • Promptly communicate any medical concerns to the appropriate senior member of staff

Induction

  • Develop purposeful activities to help new students settle and integrate the new students with the current students
  • Put strategies in place which nurture the development of a community
  • Ensure, in conjunction with the Head of Boarding, the distribution and understanding of the Student Boarding Handbook

Academic focus

  • Promote academic ambition and achievement
  • Follow the academic progress providing support and guidance to each boarding house student
  • Actively support the academic development of each boarding house student
  • Communicate meaningfully with the Academic Direction
  • Provide support and guidance to students experiencing academic challenges.

Personal development

  • Promote the importance of personal hygiene and ensure boarding students adhere to the school dress code
  • Engender respectful behaviour stressing the importance of sharing ideas and listening to others
  • Engage with students over personal appearance agreeing upon what is appropriate whilst remaining sensitive to the individual
  • Ensure students are punctual
  • Provide avenues for students to voice grievances ensuring an appropriate course of behaviour and action
  • Educate the development of personal responsibility
  • Promote respect for table manners and a relaxed atmosphere at meal times

Internationalism

  • Organise team building opportunities which celebrate internationalism, raising and cultivating international awareness
  • Structure activities which enhance global awareness
  • Provide avenues for students to celebrate their cultures and learn from other cultures

Global Citizenship

  • Promote an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect necessary for living in an international community
  • Educate on sustainability and responsible use of resources, promoting a Green community
  • Organise opportunities for students to engage in service and charity work

Learning experiences

  • Promote independent learners with ambition through celebrating success
  • Help students manage their ambitions purposefully
  • Provide educational activities making the learning explicit
  • Promote an understanding of the need for an all-round development of the student
  • Promote opportunities for the students to benefit from the local environment with particular focus on learning French

Child safety

  • Collaborate with existing systems in place to monitor student location
  • Provide clear communication procedures for what to do if a child is missing
  • Report any possible hazards or concerns to the Direction and Head of Boarding without delay
  • Communication with the Health Department
  • Take measures to ensure confidentiality of students’ health issues
  • Be aware of students’ needs whilst monitoring and supporting effectively
  • Provide clear written and oral communication with the Health Department and senior staff of any concerns about student health
  • Implement any guidance provided by the Health Department
  • Observe the students closely to ensure early detection of possible concerns

Collation of Evidence

  • Support students in recording their experiences, reflecting on the learning achieved and making a meaningful comment in their digital portfolio
  • Ensure all lists for trip participation are accurate
  • Ensure completion of all boarding administrative processes

Supervision

  • Liaise regularly with the Head of Boarding and Senior Houseparent and deputise where necessary during periods of absence
  • Communicate concerns and regularly appraise the Head of Boarding as to student and Assistant House Parent’s progress
  • Line manage and support the Assistant House Parents when working within the boarding department
  • Undertake on call periods when deputising for the Head of Boarding or Senior Houseparent
  • Undertake any tasks reasonably requested by the Head of Boarding or Senior Houseparent that support the boarding ethos and the wider school community


3. Working Hours

    • According to the published rota, fixed at the beginning of each half term
    • One night a week and one weekend a month off


4. Accommodation and food

When on duty, you will be expected to sleep in one of the boarding houses and will have your own bedroom and bathroom on one of the floors with the students, and you must eat the meals with the students. It is also possible for you to eat meals in school whilst off duty.

When you are off duty, you live in one of the houses reserved for houseparents and share the facilities: bathroom, kitchen, sitting room.