Skip to navigation | Skip to main content | Skip to footer
Menu
Search the University of Manchester siteSearch Menu StaffNet

Appointment of Wardens: Two posts at City Campus

29 Jun 2007

Applications invited from members of academic or academic-related staff

Applications are invited from members of academic or academic-related staff of The University of Manchester for the positions of Warden at Whitworth Park and the New Hall of Residence opening September 2007. These posts will provide an excellent opportunity for a member of staff to contribute to students' wider education and development.

Both Halls are located off Oxford Road on the main University Campus. Whitworth Park provides self catering accommodation in eight low rise houses containing one to three storey flats with shared facilities accommodating for over 1000 students of which around 1/4 of the places are assigned to postgraduate students. The new hall of residence opening in September as part of the University Place development and will provide en-suite accommodation on a 51 week let to postgraduate students. Bedrooms are arranged in self-contained flats in groups of five.

1.  Overall Purpose of the Role

In liaison with the Senior Warden, Directorates of Academic Services and Planning (DASP), and Sport, Trading and Residential Services (STARS), to lead a carefully selected Pastoral team in its support for residential students in hall, both individually and collectively, so that they are able to benefit from the experience of communal living, integrate into the University community and are given a supported conducive environment away from the Schools in which to study. This support is integrated into the over-arching University Student Support structure, which aims to provide the best possible Student Experience.

2.  Key Responsibilities

  • To make effective facilitation for residential-student pastoral care in the Hall through proactive monitoring and management of day-to-day issues, and leading the Hall Pastoral team in providing initial support and guidance to students in matters of an academic, financial, practical and emotional nature.
    o Wardens and Tutors are NOT to provide Medical/Counselling services (even if qualified), but instead should refer individuals to the appropriate professional services within and outside of the University as appropriate, and should gain advice/guidance themselves in how this should be provided, in liaison with the Senior Warden.
  • To engender and maintain a proactive and integrated approach amongst the Pastoral team and the Residents Association, and in liaison with other wardenial colleagues - for enriching the student experience in halls, encouraging collegiality, fostering healthy social activity and growing individuals' awareness of regard and respect for co-habitants and those who interact with residents.
  • To ensure that Health & Safety, Security, Fire Evacuation and Building Emergency procedures are promoted and continuously monitored and managed throughout the Hall, and to liaise with internal Security and external Emergency services as necessary.
  • In liaison with the Senior Warden and through the direction of the Hall Pastoral team, to implement, monitor and maintain the University's policy on expected standards conduct and discipline amongst the residential students within the hall.
  • To be 'On call' as the key contact for the 'On Call' Tutor(s), on a rota basis covering both term-time and vacation periods; it is expected that the Warden will be located in/around the hall at these times.
  • To undertake campus-wide responses to student residence-affecting issues as they arise, when 'on call', and to effect appropriate actions as may be necessary.
  • To respond to and/or to undertake wardenial involvement in issues within other University halls when reasonable requested to do so by the Senior Warden.
  • To conduct regular Hall meetings for the Tutor team, ensuring effective communication is maintained and the team harmony and cohesion benefited from this.
  • To support, direct and to assist Tutors in effectively carrying out their duties; to carry out regular reviews from monitoring performance, and providing feedback and advice.
  • To document periodic Tutor reviews, which are carried out at least three times over the course of the academic year, aimed at ensuring the best attainable experience is enabled for the individual Tutor and for the residents.
  • To assist the Senior Warden in the Recruitment of Halls Tutors.
  • To ensure that appropriately effective training and development is given to Tutors, in support of them carrying out their duties in line with University and halls policies.
  • To record performance and training attainments of Tutors, ensuring that their abilities are being developed and monitored as undertaken in their duties; to address performance issues with the individual and in liaison with the Senior Warden as may be necessary.
  • To assist the Senior Warden with re-admission of Students and other hall administration matters, which fall within the Pastoral remit, as and when may be deemed necessary and reasonable.
  • To assist the Senior Warden and Halls Management in facilitating Hall Registration, 'Open Days' and similar events, as required.
  • Attendance at relevant committee meetings and producing/presenting related reports as required

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

  • A member of University staff
  • An understanding of 'healthy' residential student life - covering pastoral approach to engendering social and interpersonal development
  • Good communication skills and evidence of working effectively/constructively with others
  • Demonstrable ability to delegate to,  manage and motivate others
  • Evidence of accepting individual accountability and effective use of  initiative in leadership,  to encourage a strong team ethic
  • Organisational skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Conducting effective meetings - skills
  • Training/Development and Coaching/Support/Appraisal skills
  • Awareness of University Health & Safety, Security, Fire and Emergency procedures
  • Awareness of University's policies affecting Student Discipline and Conduct

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

  • Experience in a wardenial capacity or as a Residential Tutor
  • Recruitment and Induction skills
  • Report-writing skills

3.  Terms and Conditions of Appointment

  • The post must be held on a residential basis with the hall being the primary home.  Accommodation is provided rent-free.  The University will be responsible for the payment of all utility charges; the Warden will be provided with free Internet access, telephone and postal services.  However, the Warden will be expected to pay for all personal use of the telephone and postal services.
  • Wardens are responsible for appropriate licensing of television equipment in their flat and payment of any subscriptions etc for satellite, digital or other television services.
  • Both appointments will commence as soon as possible and will run until 31 August 2010 in the first instance.
  • Appointments may be terminated by three months' notice in writing on either side and will be terminated should the appointee's main appointment at the University cease.  The post may not continue beyond the cessation date of a University appointment without prior approval, which will be granted only in exceptional circumstances.
  • The Warden, his or her family and/or partners will be required to vacate their flat by midnight on the day of the end of their appointment, unless prior approval has been granted by the university for a later vacation date.
  • The person appointed will be required to satisfactorily attend appropriate induction and training programmes before commencing duties.  Attendance at periodic refresher training programmes will also be required.
  • A superannuable and taxable stipend is attached to the post.
  • Wardens will be liable to pay tax on their accommodation to the Inland Revenue.  The University will make statutory returns to the Inland Revenue annually with regard to the accommodation and send a copy of their return to the Warden.
  • Wardens must have the agreement of their Department, Directorate or School Head to undertake the duties, which will normally be out of hours.  However, Wardens may be required to be available for some daytime commitment for key meetings and to handle incidents as appropriate.
  • As this post will involve contact with young people, including some under the age of 18, on a one to one basis, it is a condition of appointment that you are cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau  Details of the clearance process will be given with the offer of appointment.

 4.  Further Information

Informal enquiries may be made to:

Arrangements can be made to visit the Hall and  the residential accommodation provided for the Warden.

5.  Application

Completed application forms together with a covering letter outlining your reasons for your interest in the post should be sent to:

  • Helen McGlashan, Head of the Accommodation Office, The University of Manchester, University Precinct Centre, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RS

to arrive not later than Friday 13 July 2007.