House Parents – Married Couple, start asap

Introduction

NT Christian Schools is a Christian organisation. It exists to advance the Christian religion through the provision of education and religious instruction.  Accordingly, in furtherance of the religious ethos of NT Christian Schools all staff will be required to deliver or contribute to religious education, to lead or otherwise assist in the conduct of religious services and otherwise engage in religious practices and observances (including, but not limited to, leading prayers or devotions and sharing testimonies), either with fellow staff or students.  As representatives of NT Christian Schools, it is a genuine occupational qualification of such roles that applicants hold and act consistently with the religious beliefs of NT Christian Schools, including as articulated in the Policies and Procedures of NT Christian Schools.

NT Christian Schools exists to provide a thoroughly Christian education and to give effective witness to the biblically based religious beliefs of the Company. As such, holding the religious beliefs of NT Christian Schools as articulated in the Policies and Procedures of NT Christian Schools is a genuine occupational qualification of this role.

You are expected to have a clear understanding of, and unqualified commitment to the biblical basis, including as articulated in the Policies and Procedures of NT Christian Schools, and to act both in the work place and in other contexts in ways that are consistent with those beliefs, in order to provide an authentic Christian witness.

This role requires House Parents to practice, deliver and contribute to religious education in a manner that is consistent with the Policies and Procedures of NT Christian Schools and to model a life consistent with those beliefs.  As such, this role requires the highest commitment to the Lord, the Bible and to schooling from a distinctively Christian perspective, consistent with the Policies and Procedures of NT Christian Schools.

This will be evident in supporting the teaching of the Australian curriculum from a biblical worldview, participating in and leading staff devotions and leading student devotions and prayer time and through the sharing of your personal testimony.  In addition, staff offer a reflection of their own growing relationship with Christ, which is itself affirmed by living a life consistent with the teaching of the word of God. Accordingly, the modelling of an authentic Christian life is a core requirement of the position, reflecting the foundational contribution the position makes to the maintenance of the religious ethos of the school.

With a mutual commitment to God through Jesus Christ, staff members ought to serve and love one another as Christ loves them.  This also means an acknowledgement that all people are fallible and need to be entirely reliant upon God. NT Christian Schools has expectations of mutual love, service, trust, acceptance, patience, forgiveness and support.

All employees for NT Christian Schools are to be committed to ensuring child safety, health and wellbeing practices are followed and upheld.  These practices are embedded in NT Christian Schools policy and culture as guided under current legislation.

General Expectations

Marrara Christian College seeks to be a learning community where parents and staff partner together, and where students are nurtured through a loving, biblically based school curriculum to build their faith, character and desire to serve. We desire to be a Christian community, learning together to live life as God intended, offering hope for the world.

Offering a unique boarding program for remote indigenous students, boarders live in a combination of suburban houses and on-site family group homes, with a mature Christian married couple (a ‘Mum and Dad’ figure) who care for them full-time. These house parents take boarders to church and youth group, and arrange sport, weekend activities and healthcare appointments for them. Boarders learn to live in harmony with others, to be good neighbours and take on responsibilities at home – like chores and doing life together.

It is an expectation that House Parents meet the National Standards for Boarding and Student Accommodation (Copy of which can be obtained from your Line Manager) in conjunction with the NT Christian Schools Strategic Framework and Code of Conduct.

These responsibilities and duties are underpinned by expectations of generosity, openness, teamwork, effectiveness, efficiency, attention to detail, pleasant working relationships and maintenance of an effective, Christ-centred and safe work environment.

Primary role

Your main responsibility will be managing the daily operations of the Family Group Home, which includes caring for students, providing meals, establishing routines, maintaining the house, and communicating with parents, communities, and teachers in a manner that aligns with Christian principles. Working according to rosters with averaging of hours to cover any additional hours worked during term time.  This should be done while ensuring that students receive a Christ-centred education as outlined in the Policies and Procedures of NT Christian Schools.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• To effectively witness to the beliefs articulated in the Company’s Policies of NT Christian Schools by modelling an authentic life of faith lived in accordance with those beliefs, and with general Christian principles.
• To contribute to the spiritual life of the boarders by leading or otherwise assisting in the conduct of religious services and otherwise engaging in religious practices and observances (including, but not limited to, leading prayers or devotions and sharing testimonies).
• Lead the boarders into a life of faith, leading by example and facilitating attendance at church, worship, youth group and practical biblical strategies in management of the home.
• Ensure boarders are prepared for and transported to and from school, including homework, lesson preparation, reading, laundry, hygiene and school supplies and camp planning and preparation.
• Promote general wellbeing by committing to a food and meal schedule, maintaining food inventory, shopping and cleaning, promoting healthy choices, a clean and safe environment.
• Organise recreation, support relationship development within the context of age appropriate associations, assist in attending or developing culturally relevant experiences, and promote leadership opportunities within the home, sporting and church communities.
• Liaise with boarders families, fostering an open relationship with parents and community.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills, written and verbal and work collaboratively.
• Develop and maintain household budgets, responsibilities lists and monthly status reports for vehicles, home upkeep and finances.
• Meet weekly as a home, attend all Program coordination meetings, meet with other group home parents to update collective needs and share best practices.
• Provide ongoing supervision, inside and out of the home that is reasonable and adequate in the context, including first aid as required, medical recording and completing physical risk assessments.
• Comply with, monitor and update emergency response plans including fire, child safety, critical incident response, missing student and risk aversion and assessments.
• Experience in, or willingness to learn, technology including computers, online platforms and data management software.

Selection criteria

Essential:

• A committed Christian actively involved in your local church.
• Prove an ability to effectively model Christian values as expressed in the Policies and Procedures of NT Christian Schools and to give an authentic witness to those values.
• Demonstrate or be willing to develop, the ability to draw upon the beliefs articulated in the Policies and Procedures of NT Christian Schools to prepare an environment and culture of biblical perspective enhancing significant outcomes for students.
• Experience in managing a home environment, behaviours of and expectations for teenagers within a cross cultural understanding and setting.
• An understanding of conflict resolution and trauma informed communication approaches.
• Certificate IV in Community Services – Student Residential Care through Boarding Australia Training or a willingness to obtain qualification (within 1st year of employment).
• Knowledge of building and managing an organised home and school routine including financial management (budgeting), property care and overall stewardship.

Desirable:

• Experience working in a boarding, after hours or long-term care setting.
• Experience in working cross cultural settings.
• Experience in computer proficiency, including school’s information management systems such as; Technology One, Canvas, Compass, Edval.

Further Requirements:

• Must hold or be willing to obtain a valid Working with Children (Ochre) Card.
• Must have or be willing to obtain a valid NT police check within the last 12 months, or invoice of order for one.
• Must hold a current NT Driver’s License.
• Must hold a current First Aide Certificate or a willingness to obtain.
• Must hold a current Bronze Medallion or a willingness to obtain.
  • At least one house parent per home or as negotiated.