Accommodation Office

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

Subwardens Role Description (2013-14 session)

Details about Residential Services As part of the services offered to students, the University of Leeds has a wide range of accommodation, encompassing traditional halls of residence as well as high quality modern developments. Residential Services is responsible for the management of this accommodation and over 300 staff are employed within the Division. In our aim to provide an exceptional student experience, we take the welfare of our student residents very seriously and strive to provide excellent pastoral care, delivered by our wardens and subwardens.

1.

Eligibility

Applicants must have had at least 6 months experience as an undergraduate living in halls and be a registered student of the University of Leeds. There are no minimum or maximum age criteria. However, applicants will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient maturity to discharge their responsibilities, and sufficient understanding of younger people to be able to build a rapport with undergraduates. Subwardens must agree to live in their allocated university accommodation throughout term time, and enter into a standard form tenancy agreement for that accommodation. Subwardens must agree not to be away from their hall more than three weekends per term during term time, and only after obtaining their wardens agreement to the absence. Subwardens must not carry out any work outside the university for more than two nights a week. Subwardens must not carry out any work outside the university which requires them to be away from their residence overnight during term time. Subwardens will be rotad for some duties over part of the Christmas [and/or Easter] vacation but may apply to take leave at this time]. Subwardens are expected to have their own telephone. Some residences house students under the age of 18. Applicants for posts at these residences must consent to the university checking the applicants criminal record through the Disclosure and Barring Service (previously known as Criminal Records Bureau). The appointment will be subject to satisfactory clearance. Applicants must be prepared to work an average of 7.5 hours a week and be flexible about the timing of the work. Subwardens are busiest at the beginning of the academic year. Appointments will normally be for a full residence year. Appointments may be made mid-year to replace any departures. The precise start and end dates will be specified in the terms and conditions relating to the appointment.

2. Duties of the Post Subwardens work as part of a team, made up of warden(s), residence managers, residence staff and fellow subwardens, which is responsible for the smooth and efficient running of the residence. Each residences team plays an important role in delivering the best Leeds student experience. The principal duties of the subwarden will usually involve assisting the warden(s) with the maintenance of discipline, student welfare, and the development of the community aspects of residence life. Whilst pastoral care and community building are important aspects of the role, and subwardens are encouraged to actively participate in community life at their hall, these are not the core functions of the job. It is likely that issues of student discipline, (noise, etc.) supervisory and administrative duties will be the main activities. Listed below are some of the tasks necessary to fulfil the duties of the post, but it is stressed that the list is not exhaustive and there may be additional site-specific duties. 2.1. Assisting in the allocation of rooms. 2.2. Helping to greet new arrivals and their parents and hand out room keys, during the intake period: typically th nd Monday 16 Sunday 22 September 2013, inclusive. For subwardens at Central Village, St Marks, Sentinel th th Towers and The Tannery, which is on a longer contract length, this will also include the weekend of 14 and 15 September (there will be an additional allowance for these extra two days). 2.3. Being resident during term time, unless their work for the University or their academic studies requires them to be away from Leeds. Permission must be sought from the warden(s) before making any arrangements to be absent. Weekends away from the residence should be limited to no more than three weekends per term. Being resident on site means that for an effective presence to be maintained, outside jobs (such as bar work) should be limited to no more than two nights per week and no work should entail being absent over night. 2.4. Taking responsibility for a designated group of students, for whom they provide an initial point of contact for academic, personal or disciplinary problems, keeping a record of the time spent working, and referring all matters to the warden(s). 2.5. Participating in a rota to provide a responsible presence on site each evening and every weekend during term time. This should not usually necessitate individuals being on duty more than one weekday night in four and th three weekends per term. At most residences*, the rota will commence on Monday 16 September and subsequently the weekends before and after University vacations, up until the end of the accommodation contract. *At Central Village, St Marks, Sentinel Towers and The Tannery, which have a longer residence th th contract duration, duties will commence the weekend of 14 /15 September (see point 2.2). Duties include, amongst others: being available to respond to any situation that requires it, answering the duty mobile phone and liaising with the warden(s) and University Security/Emergency Services as appropriate. being present in the residence office or other designated area (usually between 6 p.m. and 7p.m.each evening when on duty) to take enquiries from residents and distribute post. admitting locked-out residents or new arrivals to their rooms (when feasible). undertaking a walk round of the residence at 11p.m. when on duty, and performing locking-up duties if directed to do so.

2.6. Assisting in the maintenance of discipline by requesting those engaged in disruptive behaviour to stop (but without putting themselves at any risk to their personal safety). Advising the warden(s) of breaches of the Universitys disciplinary code. 2.7. Assisting in the maintenance of the Universitys policy on the misuse of illegal drugs by reporting any suspicion of drugs-related activity to the warden.
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2.8. Assisting in the carrying out of a fire drill each term, in co-operation with the residence manager and warden(s). Subwardens are expected, as responsible members of the community, to report to the warden or residence manager any obvious defects or deficiencies in the fire-fighting equipment, or other concerns about health and safety, in the area of the residence for which they are responsible whether the subwarden is on duty or not at the time. 2.9. Attending meetings with the warden(s) and other subwardens at a frequency to be decided by the warden(s), and (for senior subwardens) attending the termly site communications group.

2.10. On a rota basis undertaking some limited duties during the Christmas and/or Easter vacations. There may be an additional allowance for some of these duties. 2.11. Any other subwarden duties as required by the warden(s), the Accommodation Manager or the Head of Residential Services. This may include assisting subwardens at other sites and/or transferring residence.

3. Person Specification 3.1. Essentials 3.1.1. 3.1.2. 3.1.3. 3.1.4. 3.1.5. 3.1.6. 3.1.7. 3.1.8. 3.1.9. registered (preferably full-time) student (postgraduate, or undergraduate) of The University of Leeds at least 6 months experience of living in halls at The University of Leeds or another university willingness to participate fully in the community life of the residence, both on- and off-duty good communication skills ability to handle disciplinary or welfare issues responsibly good problem solving skills good social skills ability to work well as part of a team able to be resident during term time (except for limited unavoidable absences)

3.1.10. an understanding of the University rules and regulations regarding residential life.

2.2 Desirables 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.2.4 previous position of responsibility with students or young people (aged 16 25) experience of organising social, sporting and cultural activities possessing First Aid skills/qualification(s) familiarity with The University of Leeds Student Support Network.

Standard terms and conditions of employment are available on request from the Accommodation Office.