Head of Wellbeing - Frensham

About Frensham

Established in 1913, Frensham is one of Australia’s most respected boarding and day schools for girls. Frensham inspires its students to be critical, ethical and flexible thinkers, equipped to be future leaders in a complex and rapidly changing world.

Frensham is an outward-looking and forward-thinking school. Our passionate and dedicated staff work as a highly professional team that takes the time to consider and support each girl’s individual learning, growth and development as independent, empowered young people. Our belief is that students rise to the intellectual life around them, which creates a culture designed to inspire intellectual and emotional growth and maturity, helping every student to thrive.

In a stimulating living and learning environment, surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty, girls are challenged and supported to develop the skills and the motivation to contribute positively to their local and global communities. They are taught to value kindness, resilience, empathy and compassion, and to carry these attributes with them for life, alongside the School’s core values.

Role Overview

The Head of Wellbeing is a leadership position that reports to the Deputy Head of Frensham Schools to ensure a holistic approach to the care and development of each student. The role is on a full-time basis involving leadership and teaching responsibilities commencing from Term 4, 2024.

The primary responsibility of the Head of Wellbeing is to oversee day-to-day pastoral care and wellbeing for students from Year 7 to Year 12, ensuring the highest quality care and programs are provided. This includes ensuring that all pastoral and child protection documentation, administration and compliance is completed to the highest standard; and liaising with parents and external agencies as appropriate.

The Head of Wellbeing also provides leadership and mentorship to the Year Coordinators, assisting them to take a proactive approach to student wellbeing and to manage the day-to-day care of girls in their year groups.  

Key Responsibilities

Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Care

• Lead and develop the student wellbeing programs ensuring the highest levels of student engagement, including pastoral care programs, wellbeing development and student management.
• Be informed by current research, developments and emerging trends in wellbeing and student care to identify improvements to existing processes, policies, programs and resources.
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Studies and all teaching staff to monitor connections between student wellbeing and academic progress, developing programs to enhance student outcomes.
• Play an active role in engaging staff in the School’s child protection policies and procedures, ensuring that all training and accreditation is undertaken in this area.
• Engage external providers where relevant for the enhancement of the professional learning and student wellbeing programs. 
• Work collaboratively with families and external medical professionals for the care of the girl. 
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Student Life (Boarding) on the oversight of the wellbeing and school value aligned behaviour within the community. 

Leadership

• Lead the Year Coordinator Team in the daily pastoral care of the student body, development of the wellbeing program and the implementation of the positive peer relationship policy. 
• Oversight of the student body and their holistic development in collaboration with the Director of Studies, Director of Activities, Director of Student Life (Boarding), Deputy Head and Head of Frensham Schools.

Community Engagement and Relationship Management

• Provide prompt and courteous responses to parent requests, managing expectations and ensuring that a high level of client service is maintained by all staff in relations to pastoral care and wellbeing matters. This will involve supporting staff to manage complex or sensitive parent communications and interactions. 
• Investigate parent concerns in a timely manner implementing processes that are fair and transparent for all involved. Ensure all concerns and follow up are documented using the School’s student information system.
• Develop and present parent education programs to support the School’s approach to student wellbeing. This may include information sessions, new parent functions and open days.
• Assist in the management and development of teaching staff including coaching, mentoring, knowledge building and empowering teams to enable improvements in student wellbeing.

Role Requirements 

• Possesses the appropriate teaching and tertiary qualifications relevant to the position. 
• Experience as a Classroom Teacher and demonstrated excellence in this role.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with a wide range of student wellbeing or pastoral issues and have a particular passion for the care and management of girls as they navigate their Secondary years.
• Demonstrated experience in communicating with parents regarding sensitive situations.
• Experience in managing challenging situations involving student mental health and wellbeing with a clear understanding of appropriate management strategies within a Boarding and Day School environment.
• Experience in managing staff, encouraging, mentoring and supporting them to excellence and building a culture of ongoing improvement and responsiveness.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex relationships with the broader School community.
• An understanding of Child Protection legislation and its application in a school environment.

Personal Capabilities and Characteristics 

• Commitment to the values and ethos of Frensham Schools. 
• Flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm for working as part of a highly professional and motivated team.
• Ability to work collaboratively with all key stakeholders. 
• Willingness to contribute to the full life of the School, including weekends, evenings and non-term time. 
• The ability to Influence, empower, motivate and inspire others to meet or exceed performance expectations.
• The skill needed to create, evaluate and implement new possibilities.
• The ability to integrate and utilise technology to enhance teaching and learning across the School.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Open-minded, collaborative, enthusiastic and optimistic.
• Personal integrity, honesty and fairness.
• Creative and well-organised.

Please note: The provision of accommodation on campus may be available to the suitable candidate.

Commencement: Term 4, 2024 (or by negotiation).

Applications: Applications should be addressed to the Head of Frensham, Mr Geoff Marsh and must include a statement of educational philosophy, curriculum vitae, university transcripts and the contact details of three referees. 

Please email application to: **@frensham.nsw.edu.au 

Please do not apply through Seek.

Closing date for applications: Sunday, 28 July 2024.

Early applications are appreciated to assist the interview process.

Further information: Call Victoria Hindmarch, +61 2 4860 2000.

All staff at Frensham Schools take an active role in ensuring our Child Protection programs, policies and processes are at the forefront of all that we do. A Working with Children Check Clearance Number must be provided to the School prior to confirmation of the appointment.

The successful applicant will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or other diseases (as advised by the School) and provide the School with evidence it considers satisfactory regarding vaccination. Being fully vaccinated may include additional doses and booster injections.