POSITION AVAILABLE: ACCOMMODATION OFFICER (FULL-TIME)

Greg
Author

CELT is looking for a full-time Accommodation Officer to join our school as soon as possible.

We are looking for a friendly and caring individual to join our admin team in an engaging role which is a combination of admin work and face-to-face interaction with our international students and homestay providers.

ACCOMMODATION OFFICER

Full-time permanent position

CELT – Centre for English Language Teaching in Cardiff is a family-run English language school running year-round courses for adult students in addition to courses for teenagers during the summer and for closed groups at other times of the year.

We are looking for a full-time Accommodation & Welfare Officer to start as soon as possible. The role involves contact with our international students, local host families, and our agent partners. The position will suit someone with good interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and the ability to communicate well with people along with excellent administrative skills. Full training and support will be provided.

Main duties will include:

Recruiting new homestay providers when needed, and visiting their homes to ensure that they can provide suitable accommodation.
Maintaining regular contact with existing homestay providers, making sure they are aware of any changes in UK legislation or British Council accreditation regulations that affect them and ensuring that all hosts are fully compliant with current statutory regulations (e.g. annual gas safe certificates, fire risk assessments, DBS checks).
Booking students and group leaders with suitable homestay providers taking into account any special needs or requirements listed on their application forms.
Booking alternative accommodation (e.g., CELT Student Residence, hotels, B&Bs) for students and group leaders not staying with homestay providers.
Monitoring check-ins and check-outs in our residence and sending out relevant information to students arriving and leaving.
Monitoring availability in our residence and with our homestay providers, keeping the directors informed of occupancy levels.
Monitoring quality control and responding rapidly to any issues regarding both homestay and self-catering accommodation.
Emailing or posting accommodation confirmation to agents, direct students, and homestay providers as well as answering enquiries about accommodation.
Using current software applications which include Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook (e-mail, contact & schedule management programme) and our school database.
Meeting groups on arrival and introducing students and their group leaders to their homestay providers.
Regularly meeting students and group leaders to ensure that there are no problems or complaints either relating to their accommodation or their welfare.
Handling homestay problems out of hours if there is an emergency.
If a student needs to be removed from a homestay provider organising the move, liaising with all parties concerned.
As a Designated Safeguarding Officer liaising with the other members of the Safeguarding Team and deal with any day-to-day safeguarding matters at the school as described in the “Safeguarding Policy”, Prevent Policy, and other associated documents.
Providing admin cover when needed.

The nature of the language school is such that at certain times it will be very busy and work priorities may change. The role of accommodation and welfare officer is not a normal 9 to 5 job as it is not always possible to visit homestay providers during office hours, student groups often arrive at the weekend, and emergency situations can arise at any time.

Profile for the role:

Excellent customer service skills. The role requires kindness, diplomacy and understanding when dealing with international students and partners
Excellent admin and IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
Ability to work in a team and under pressure
Positive, hard-working attitude and calm approach to problem solving
Excellent communication skills both written and oral
Full driving licence and access to a car

Additional requirements that would be advantageous but not essential: