Security Officer

SECURITY OFFICER

THE SCHOOL

Fettes College is a leading HMC co-educational boarding and day school close to the heart of Edinburgh. It has a strong tradition of academic, sporting and cultural excellence underpinned by outstanding pastoral care. Fettes opened its doors in 1870 and became fully co-educational in 1980: it is now an independent school of some 780 students. There are 590 students in the Senior School (13-18 years) and 190 students in the Preparatory School (7-13 years). The academic staff in the College consists of the Head and 90 full-time members of the Common Room. Our Prep School shares the same site and consists of a further 30 teaching staff.

The school stands on a magnificent site of approximately 100 acres, but still within walking distance of Edinburgh’s city centre. The historic main building holds the Chapel, Library, the English, Classics and History Departments as well as the Medical Centre and two boarding houses. A large purpose-built teaching block (the Spens Building) houses Art, Modern Languages, Mathematics, Economics, Geography and Music. The Theatre, Science Laboratories and Dining Hall are adjacent. The Preparatory School and seven further boarding houses (including Craigleith, our U6th House, specifically designed to prepare students for university) are also on the campus. Our sports facilities (including extensive playing fields, two all-weather pitches and a private Health Club) are excellent

As well as our teaching staff, we employ over 220 Operational Staff across the many departments, including Estates, Security, Housekeeping, Finance, Admissions and Marketing with a pervading sense of community amongst staff, students and parents alike.

Fettes College aims to nurture the individual while fostering a happy, well-ordered and caring community with strong family values at its core. To this end, we will do our utmost to ensure our students:

• Receive the highest possible quality of education within a boarding environment.

• Feel safe, valued, have a sense of personal worth, are thoughtful and considerate of the needs of others, possessing a willingness to take on responsibility.

• Develop their self-confidence, integrity, emotional resilience, loyalty, good manners and humour, leadership skills and teamwork.

• Value a sense of community and service, and develop a clear sense of right and wrong, equipping them for life beyond Fettes.

• Are provided with equal opportunities regardless of gender and identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity or religion.

• Are encouraged to stretch and challenge themselves in everything they undertake.

The Vision and Context

Fettes College’s vision and strategy (Fettes Moving Forward: A place to live. A place to learn. A place to grow.) are founded on the four key strands of learning, wellbeing, our community and our people, each of which is integral to the ongoing success and growth of the school. There are many parts to all these strands, including the design of a curriculum for the future, further broadening our engagement in and with the local community and, of course, our steadfast belief in promoting a full boarding ethos but crucial to each in some way is the improvement and/or development of facilities to allow the vision to be fully realised.

This is therefore an extraordinarily exciting time for Fettes College as it embarks on the delivery of our Head’s new vision for the school, which includes a very significant and ambitious facilities development programme over the next 5 to 7 years through a combination of new debt facilities, internal resources and philanthropy. A recently approved funding facility is now available to support those key projects and it is critical that the financial reporting is accurate and timely to allow the Bursar to oversee and manage that facility.

Finally, Fettes College has just concluded a significant restructure of its constitution, originally established as a body corporate under statute in 1870. The new entity, a company limited by guarantee and a charity, represents a much more modern approach to governance whilst retaining elements of the original Trust scheme under which it was originally created. This, coupled with the need to fully embed a new accounting system, offers an exciting opportunity for the right individual to make a real impact on the operational efficiency and success of Fettes College.

THE ROLE

An opportunity has arisen for a diligent, responsible and approachable individual to join Fettes College as a Security Officer within the Security Department.

The Security Team’s primary objective is to provide subtle and unobtrusive security that supports a safe and secure environment in which students can learn, our staff can work and visitors to Fettes College are welcomed appropriately. The current Security Team consists of six full time officers carrying out general security and custodian duties within the college and as part of the wider Estates Team having reception and postal responsibilities.

Key Aspects of the Job

• To provide and maintain a safe environment for pupils, staff and visitors;

• Be a visual deterrent for criminals and helpful in redirecting trespassers;

• Ensure buildings and premises are properly secured and identify any security or fire risk that may compromise this;

• Be able to respond and act appropriately in the case of alarm, incident, the reporting of strangers or any unexpected events always;

• Be smart, professional and contactable always whilst on duty.

Some of the following responsibilities below further define this role:

• Provide an appropriate welcome to visitors to the School by making sure their first experience of Fettes College is a positive one;

• Patrol the grounds and buildings checking for obvious signs of crime;

• Assist visitors and contractors by ensuring they are appropriately badged, properly directed or escorted;

• Keep all school buildings and facilities secure, including locking and unlocking routines as well as setting and de-activating alarm systems;

• Identify, respond to and deal with any reports of strangers;

• Check staff and vehicles are displaying the correct accreditation.

• Issue Car Passes and maintain the College Vehicle Database;

• Respond to incidents that involve the security and safety of pupils, staff, visitors, buildings and contents in an appropriate manner;

• Respond to fire or alarm activations, calling the emergency services and other colleagues to support if necessary or reporting alarm faults as directed;

• Report any Building faults when identified;

• Monitor and utilise CCTV to identify and detect strangers and criminals;

• Complete accurate reports by email, to a good standard;

• Communicate with staff and pupils as necessary;

• Be an initial point of contact for emergency services;

• Assist with event parking;

• Provide a visible presence at evening pick up times.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Criteria

• Good verbal and written communication skills

• Responsible, punctual and organised

• Confident, personable and approachable with a helpful attitude;

• Computer literate;

• Smart and professional in presentation, wearing the uniform provided;

• Impeccable integrity;

• Good standard of fitness and overall health;

• Clean full driving license;

Desired Criteria

• D1 license;

• SIA qualified SCQF level 6

BENEFITS

The remuneration package will be competitive and will, to an extent, depend on the experience of the successful candidate.

In addition to being part of a great team you will be entitled to a range of benefits that include:

• Free parking within the campus grounds. The campus is easily accessed by car and bus; there is a bus stop located outside the campus serving several routes across the city and to rail stations.

• Membership of Westwoods gym and health club which offers a range of excellent fitness and leisure facilities including a 25m swimming pool.

• Free lunchtime meals .

• Death in service cover.

• Excellent Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

• You will be opted into the Fettes College Non-Teaching Staff Pension Scheme after 3 months service.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The closing date is 12 noon on Thrsday, 16th February 2023, with interviews being held within a fortnight of the closing date.

If you would like further information prior to applying for this role Mr Andy McGowan, Head of Security is available for a phone call by arrangement (ag.mcgowan@fettes.com).

Applications including the details of 2 referees should be made via the Fettes College email to recruitment@fettes.com. All applicants are asked to provide, as well as a CV, a covering letter setting out how you meet the person specification and what you feel you can bring to this role.

An offer of employment will be subject to two satisfactory references being obtained from your referees and a clean report being obtained on you from the Disclosure Scotland PVG Scheme in view of the contact you will have with children during your normal duties.

New staff at Fettes join a friendly and supportive team with a vibrant mixture of age and experience. We value every member of staff’s contribution to the life of the school. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

We are keen to welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds into our staff body. If you would like a friendly conversation with an employee who identifies as an ethnic minority, please feel free to contact Sara Medel Jiménez (s.medeljimenez@fettes.com) who will be happy to share her experience of Fettes.