Full time Leisure Assistant / Lifeguard

Are you ready to make a difference while keeping others safe, active, and having fun?

If you're passionate about health, safety, and wellbeing—and enjoy working with young people and the wider community—this could be the role for you. We are looking for a proactive and dedicated Leisure Assistant / Lifeguard to join our Leisure team at the Dorset Centre of Excellence.

This is a varied and rewarding role, from supervising school swimming sessions during term time to preparing and supporting community and commercial use outside of school hours, you'll play a key part in maintaining a safe, welcoming, and high-quality leisure environment. The Dorset Centre of Excellence, which includes Coombe House School, is seeking a Leisure Assistant / Lifeguard to assisting all visitors to the Leisure facilities on site.  What you’ll be doing:

-  Lifeguarding; you will supervise the pool, ensure safety, and respond to emergencies with confidence and professionalism.

-  Health & Safety: complete daily checks, water tests, and ensure full compliance with legislation and internal procedures.

-  Facilities & maintenance: from cleaning to equipment setup, you’ll help maintain high standards across all areas of the leisure facilities.

-  Community engagement: you will work with a variety of users, providing excellent customer service and supporting events and lettings.

To succeed in this role, you will be a qualified NPLQ lifeguard (or willingness to achieve this with our support), a team player who can stay calm under pressure and takes pride in doing a job well. You will have excellent communication skills with the confidence to engage with both children and adults. We are looking for someone who is reliable, flexible, and able to work a shift pattern predominantly Monday to Friday but in the future this may include evenings and weekends.

Please review the job description and person specification for further information about the role. Do you want to be part of a thriving environment where your role directly impacts the development and well-being of young people? 

About the Dorset Centre of Excellence:   

The Dorset Centre of Excellence is located at the eastern edge of Shaftesbury, approximately 2.3 miles from the town centre. The site is accessed via a private road and enjoys a secluded setting within its grounds. The accommodation extends to over 160,000 sq ft, set within in grounds of 55 acres.  Coombe House School located at the Dorset Centre of Excellence meets the needs of children and young people with social communication, social emotional and learning needs, and all are supported by an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).     

What the Dorset Centre of Excellence can offer you:  

• 31 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), with some restrictions when the school is open. 
• A workplace set in beautiful surroundings. 
• Competitive salary. 
• Pension (10% employers’ contribution). 
• Little perks of appreciation including free tea/coffee/milk. 
• Use of leisure facilities (gym and swimming pool), at specified times. 
• Wellbeing support, including qualified Mental Health First Aiders on staff body.  
• Access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme.  
• Continuous professional development and training 

This post involves working with children or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them and will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.  

If you would like to work in this unique and beautiful environment, please complete the application process. Call 01747 449 858 and speak with Claire Taylor, Assistant HR Manager should you wish to discuss role. Closing date for applications:  Monday 30 June 2025 (NOTE: We will close the post earlier if sufficient suitable applications are received.)

Hours: Full time 37 hours, pattern to be confirmed between 06.30 and 18.00 Monday to Friday, with possible future rota cover on a Saturday. All working hours and availability will be considered – so if you are looking for specific part time hours please do get in touch. 

Contract terms: Permanent   

Start Date: September 2025

We are committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works in our school (and visitors to our school) to share this commitment. We take all safeguarding and welfare concerns seriously and encourage our pupils to talk to us about any worries they may have. We will always act in the best interests of the child. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS.