Pre-University Summer School Residential Welfare Lead

Reference
1107875

Branch
University of Warwick

Start date
06/07/2026

Duration
Other - See Job

Hours and days
On a rota basis over the programme and training days

Dress code
Uniform Provided

Rate of pay
£24.26

Holiday rate
£2.93

Role

The Warwick Pre-University Summer School is a 10-day residential programme for students aged 16–17 who are considering university study. Participants attend academic taster sessions delivered by Warwick lecturers across five subject areas (Business, Economics and Finance; Health, Medical and Life Sciences; Science and Engineering; Social Science; Arts and Humanities) and take part in personal development workshops. Alongside the academic and skills programme, students enjoy a varied and engaging social and cultural schedule designed to enrich their experience.

The Residential Welfare Lead is a live-in role focused on safeguarding and supporting students throughout the programme. The postholder will create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming residential environment, oversee welfare and pastoral care, and act as the primary point of contact for wellbeing. This includes managing and escalating safeguarding concerns, guiding and supporting the ambassador team, and ensuring compliance with institutional policies.

The postholder will contribute to the delivery of a high-quality summer school experience by promoting student engagement through social and cultural activities and reinforcing training and guidelines across the ambassador team.

Strong communication and teamwork skills are essential, along with the ability to build positive relationships with students and colleagues. The programme is fast-paced and intensive, so you will need enthusiasm, energy, and resilience, as well as the ability to take initiative, think on your feet, and remain calm and solution-focused when responding to welfare or behavioural concerns.

The postholder will be required to live in the designated student residence between 12–24 July 2026 and have a valid enhanced DBS with child’s barred certificate. Accommodation will be provided in halls of residence on the University of Warwick campus, with each staff member allocated a single ensuite room. Meals will be provided on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), with vouchers for lunch when on campus.

You must be available for the entire programme and scheduled training days (6 – 13 July). Attendance at all training sessions, including any online components, is mandatory.

Duties and responsibilities

Support for Students

• Serve as the welfare and pastoral care lead for the Warwick Pre-University Summer School (PRESS), living on-site in Halls of Residence and being visible and accessible to PRESS students, ambassadors and lead ambassadors.
• Promote a safe, inclusive, and supportive residential environment for our PRESS students, who are aged 16-17, in line with institutional/WGA safeguarding policies.
• Ensure students with additional needs (e.g., disabilities, neurodiversity, medical conditions, or other support requirements) are appropriately supported throughout the programme, working closely with Summer School Ambassadors, Lead Ambassadors, and the Departmental Safeguarding Officers to implement reasonable adjustments and monitor wellbeing.
• Manage minor behavioural issues sensitively and effectively, ensuring appropriate boundaries are maintained and escalating more serious concerns as needed.
• Escalate more serious safeguarding or welfare concerns to the Departmental Safeguarding Officers appropriately and promptly in line with WGA processes.
• Notify the Academic Services Team of any welfare concerns—such as illness or minor injury—that could affect a student’s or ambassador’s ability to attend lessons or participate in activities. 
• Actively engage in key social and cultural activities to foster connections with students, maintain visibility, and provide approachable support throughout the programme.
• Promote the social and cultural activity programme effectively to students, encouraging high participation and engagement

Support for Ambassadors

• Act as the primary escalation point for Lead Ambassadors regarding safeguarding and student welfare concerns, minor incidents, and behavioural issues, and follow established emergency and escalation procedures and processes.
• Provide guidance and support to the ambassador team, including supporting ambassadors in the management of students with minor welfare needs (e.g., homesickness, minor illness and injuries).
• Assist with the induction and ongoing training of Summer School Ambassadors and Lead Ambassadors, reinforcing safeguarding, welfare, and residential guidelines during daily briefings and catch-ups.
• Support the Lead Ambassadors by offering advice and practical assistance as needed, including for resourcing issues that might arise as a result of pastoral and welfare issues.
• Hold daily catch ups with Lead Ambassadors and handovers with Night Duty Managers  to maintain strong teamwork and a supportive work culture. Use these meetings to reinforce training and guidelines, ensuring consistency and high standards across the team.

Administration and Compliance

• Maintain a daily incident log, ensure accurate documentation of incidents and responses, and adhere to GDPR/data protection requirements.
• Attend daily briefings with the Departmental Safeguarding Officers.
• Carry out morning and evening flat check-ins to ensure attendance is accurately recorded and promptly follow up on any absences as a priority
• Carry out regular accommodation checks to ensure Ambassadors monitor noise levels, tidiness, and damage, and that all residential systems and procedures are followed.
• Ensure compliance with curfew procedures by confirming nightly check-ins from ambassadors. Follow up promptly on any absences or reports of students not adhering to curfew requirements

Skills and experience

Essential Criteria

• E1 - Proven experience taking responsibility for the welfare and conduct of students aged 16–17 in a residential or pastoral setting—such as a boarding school, summer school, or university accommodation. Ideally, this experience will have been gained through a residential summer school or similar initiative, involving direct oversight and incident management.
• E2 - Demonstrable experience of managing and escalating safeguarding concerns, and overseeing the safeguarding responsibilities and activities of others (particularly when working with young adults), ensuring compliance with institutional policies and procedures.
• E3 - Experience supporting international students or individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• E4 - Experience supporting students with complex needs, such as those with disabilities, neurodiversity, or medical conditions.
• E5 - Strong evidence of following established processes and procedures, including escalation policies.
• E6 - Awareness of GDPR and data protection principles, with a proven ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• E7 - Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust with young people and peers.
• E8 - Ability to remain calm and solution-focused when responding to welfare or behavioural concerns, with the ability to prioritise.
• E9 - Experience in managing or supervising staff in a residential, pastoral or student focussed environment. 
• E10 - Willingness to live on-site in Halls of Residence for the duration of the programme and be available for flexible hours, including evenings.

Location
On campus and off campus when on organised trips that form part of the Pre-University Summer School programme.

Additional information

For informal enquiries, please contact Suzi Barrett (Business Development and Projects Delivery Officer) at Suzi.Barrett@warwick.ac.uk

• Predicted interview date - 19 March 26
• Start and end date: 14th – 24th July, with training 6th – 13th July.
• Deadline to apply: Sunday 8th March 26

Please provide a CV and cover letter with your application.

Please note upon applying for this role you are consenting to your contact details being shared directly with the hiring manager.

If selected for the position you will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check and must be in the UK to complete this along with a Right to Work check.

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