The Governing Body is looking for passionate and motivated Pool Manager to join our amazing team. 
Millstead School caters for children aged 2 – 11 years who have severe or profound learning and/or physical needs, including complex autism.
The Governors and Executive Headteacher of our OUTSTANDING school (Ofsted January 2024) are looking for an engaging individual who has the desire, drive and enthusiasm to make a difference to our pupils’ lives and who can make an immediate contribution to the way our pupils learn and interact. We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic and skilled Pool Manager / Swimming Teacher to join our team and help keep this special space safe, calm and inspiring.
Our hydrotherapy pool is a much-loved and vital part of school life. It provides pupils with meaningful opportunities to build confidence, develop physical skills, and experience enjoyment and wellbeing in the water. The successful candidate will be instrumental in maintaining the upkeep of the pool and facilitating pool sessions for our very special learners.


Why Join Millstead
At Millstead, we celebrate every achievement and value every member of our community. This role offers the chance to be part of something truly special—helping our pupils experience joy, success and wellbeing through water-based learning.

The successful candidate will work with a talented and friendly staff team who are both forward thinking and innovative, and who have high expectations of themselves and the pupils they support. 
At Millstead School no two days are ever the same. Some days are challenging, most days are fun and every day is rewarding.
Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment to keeping children safe. Any offer of employment will be subject to statutory pre-employment checks including satisfactory references and Enhanced DBS and Barred List checks. 
This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended in 2013 & 2020) and shortlisted candidates will be required to disclose any relevant criminal history prior to interview.

The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (amended 2013 and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-filtering-guidance

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications & Training:

• NPLQ or another recognised lifesaving qualification.
• Pool Plant Operators Certificate (Level 3 or equivalent) or willingness to train.
• First Aid at Work qualification or willingness to obtain.
• Swimming teacher qualification (STA/ASA Level 1 or 2).
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Passionate about inclusion, with a genuine commitment to supporting children with complex needs
• Safety-focused, with a strong understanding of pool safety and safeguarding
• A team player, who enjoys working collaboratively within a supportive school community.

Experience:
• Experience working as a lifeguard or pool operator.
• Experience teaching or supporting swimming sessions.
• Experience supporting children or young people.
• Confidence in responding to emergencies.

Knowledge & Skills:
• Knowledge of Health & Safety legislation linked to swimming pools.
• Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities.
• Basic understanding of swimming teaching and adapted aquatic learning.
• Kind, clear communication skills.
• Awareness of the needs of pupils with SLD, PMLD, autism, physical disabilities or medical conditions.
• Ability to adapt approaches to ensure safety, dignity and inclusion.

Personal Attributes:
• Calm, caring and safety‑focused.
• Resilient and able to stay steady under pressure.
• Patient, positive and supportive when working with vulnerable children.
• A flexible, proactive team player.
• Reliable, punctual and committed to doing the best for pupils.

Desirable:
• Experience in a special school or SEND environment.
• Level 2 swimming teacher qualification.
• Training in moving & handling, medical awareness or behaviour support.

This job description will be reviewed annually and may be subject to amendment or modification at any time after consultation with the post holder. It is not a comprehensive statement of procedures and tasks, but sets out the main expectations of the school in relation to the post holder’s professional responsibilities and duties, including the provision of high-quality teaching and learning support across the school and the pastoral care of the
children in their charge.

Please note:
This work requires emotional and physical resilience.
It involves supporting pupils in participation in all areas of learning, including academic studies, therapeutic specialist support, life skills development and community-based activities.
The work does involve sitting at low tables or on the floor and may involve lifting or restraint of pupils; there is training available. 
The work is in a busy and, at times, noisy environment, with intensive interactions with pupils with communication and interaction difficulties.
Working with pupils who have severe learning difficulties requires a particular understanding and appreciation of the individual needs, such as physical limitations, learning, emotional, behavioural and language difficulties or problems with organisation. 
The behaviour of such children is often extremely challenging and is therefore emotionally and physically demanding. In some cases, the nature of the pupils’ special need may result in staff being verbally or physically assaulted.
The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.