Night Owl

Pay: £4,500 (Summer Contract) 

Job Summary

The Night Owl is an important residential role at Camp Cooper, with a particular focus on the supervision and safeguarding of campers during the night.

The main responsibility of the Night Owl is to supervise camper accommodation from approximately 12.30am to 3.00am, ensuring that campers are safe, asleep and in their own designated accommodation.

The Night Owl will also support our existing on-duty system between approximately 10.30pm and 12.30am and will have general Camp responsibilities during the late afternoon and evening.

As a residential summer camp, we have an important safeguarding responsibility to keep the children and young people in our care safe throughout their stay. The Night Owl plays an important part in our overnight safeguarding and supervision arrangements.

Night-Time Supervision

Campers generally go to bed between approximately 9.45pm and 10.30pm, depending on their age.

From 10.30pm until 12.30am, Camp Cooper operates an "on-duty" system. Camp Counsellors are scheduled to supervise the accommodation areas while campers are settling and going to sleep.

The on-duty responsibilities include:

• remaining in the designated accommodation area and being available to respond to any issues, including homesickness, illness or campers having difficulty sleeping;
• checking designated camper rooms approximately every 5–10 minutes to ensure that campers are safe, settled and going to sleep;
• proactively encouraging campers to settle, for example by remaining outside a room where campers are still awake and reminding them that it is time to sleep;
• ensuring campers remain in their own designated rooms and accommodation areas; and
• immediately responding to and reporting any safeguarding, behavioural, medical or welfare concerns.

One of the main responsibilities of the Night Owl is to assist with this on-duty period between approximately 10.30pm and 12.30am and then continue the overnight supervision arrangements from approximately 12.30am until 3.00am.

During this period, the Night Owl will continue to monitor the accommodation areas and check that campers are safe, asleep and in their own rooms. They will also be alert to campers moving between rooms, remaining awake for prolonged periods or engaging in inappropriate or unsafe behaviour.

The Night Owl must be confident working independently during this period and able to respond calmly and appropriately if an issue arises. This may include dealing with a camper who is unwell or homesick, addressing inappropriate behaviour, contacting the on-call nurse or waking a member of the Camp leadership team where additional support is required.

The Night Owl is not expected to manage a serious safeguarding, behavioural or medical situation alone. Appropriate senior staff and medical support remain available overnight, and any significant concern must be escalated immediately in accordance with Camp Cooper's procedures.

Evening Responsibilities

The Night Owl will also have general responsibilities as part of the wider Camp team, normally working from approximately 4.15pm until 10.30pm before moving into their night-time supervision responsibilities.

These responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with cabin activities: Helping to run activities, supervising campers and supporting Camp Counsellors.
• Assisting with evening special events: Helping to run activity stations, supporting the Event Coordinator and assisting cabin groups where required.
• Supporting the bedtime routine: Assisting Camp Counsellors with night-time snacks, showers, teeth brushing and helping campers settle and prepare for bed.
• Supporting camper welfare: Being a positive, approachable adult and helping campers with the normal challenges that can arise in a residential environment.

About You

This is a role with significant responsibility. The successful candidate needs to be experienced, confident and comfortable working independently, particularly during the overnight period.

Essential Experience and Requirements

Candidates must demonstrate the following:

• Experience working directly with groups of young people aged 7–17.
• The ability to work independently and confidently without constant supervision.
• Willingness and confidence to work with all Camp Cooper age groups, from 7 to 17 years old.
• Fluency in English.
• The ability to be a positive role model for young people.
• Experience working in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
• The maturity and judgement required to take responsibility for the care, wellbeing and safety of young people.
• The ability to remain calm and make appropriate decisions when dealing with unexpected situations.
• The confidence to challenge inappropriate behaviour and enforce Camp rules in a calm and professional manner.
• The ability to recognise when an issue needs to be escalated to a senior member of staff.

All applicants must successfully complete our enhanced background and reference-checking processes.

Given the level of responsibility associated with this position, our reference checks for the Night Owl role will include contacting all relevant previous employers where the applicant has worked with children or young people, wherever reasonably possible.

Essential Personality and Skills

We are looking for someone who demonstrates:

• Kindness
• Caring
• Responsibility
• Confidence
• Patience
• Maturity
• Reliability
• Good judgement
• Calmness under pressure

Beneficial Experience

It would be particularly beneficial to have:

• Experience working in a residential youth environment.
• Experience working with young people from a range of nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
• Previous experience with overnight or residential supervision.
• Safeguarding or pastoral experience.

Staff Package

Our staff packages are carefully designed to help us create the very best staff team, full of energy, enthusiasm and positive role models for our campers. In return, we provide a strong staff package that reflects the value of the role and the work our staff undertake throughout the summer.

Wages and Work Schedule

The Night Owl role is paid £4,500 gross for the full summer contract, before applicable PAYE and National Insurance deductions.

The amount includes the applicable government accommodation and food deduction allowance.

Wages are paid by bank transfer and are normally paid in two instalments, with the first payment at the end of the first month and the remaining balance shortly after the end of Camp.

Because of the specific nature of this role, the Night Owl's working pattern is different from that of a standard Camp Counsellor.

The Night Owl will generally begin work at approximately 4.15pm, supporting the afternoon/evening programme, evening event and bedtime routine. They will then assist with the on-duty system before taking responsibility for the later overnight supervision period until approximately 3.00am.

A detailed work schedule will be provided, and appropriate breaks and time off will be scheduled around these responsibilities.

Staff who have previously worked a full summer at Camp Cooper and return for another full summer will receive a £150 returning staff bonus.

Returning staff are expected to take on additional responsibility, including being able to hit the ground running, acting as outstanding role models and mentors to new staff and consistently performing to the highest standards throughout the summer.

Time Off

We know how important it is for staff to recharge and take care of themselves, particularly when working in a residential environment.

Camp Cooper operates on two-week session schedules, and staff receive two full days off during each two-week session, as well as a day off at the end of each two-week session.

We try to accommodate as many time-off requests as possible and always do our best to accommodate important requests such as weddings and graduations.

When you are not scheduled to work, your time is your own. Staff use their time off to relax, exercise, speak with family and friends or explore the local area.

We encourage staff to make the most of their summer in Scotland, and we are always happy to point staff in the right direction for places to explore and adventures to have during their time off.

Summer Contract Dates

Start Date: Monday 28 June 2027
Arrival Time: 10.00am

End Date: Saturday 14 August 2027
Departure Time: 4.00pm

These dates include our mandatory residential staff training period.

Unfortunately, we are unable to hire new staff who are unable to start on Monday 28 June 2027, as attendance at staff training is mandatory.

Professional Development

From the interview process and staff training through to regular feedback throughout the summer, the skills developed while working at Camp Cooper are invaluable.

Staff learn how to work professionally with children and young people while developing their communication, time management, organisation, leadership, safeguarding and conflict-resolution skills.

The Night Owl role provides particularly valuable experience in residential safeguarding, pastoral care, independent decision-making and the supervision of young people.

We are also happy to provide references and letters of recommendation upon request.

Good Food

We provide three meals a day, seven days a week for our staff and are able to accommodate most food allergies and vegetarian diets.

Our food is home-cooked using fresh ingredients, and we pride ourselves on providing healthy, nutritious and enjoyable meals for both campers and staff.

Because of the Night Owl's later working hours, arrangements will also be made to ensure that the staff member has appropriate access to food around their working schedule.

A Place to Live

Don't worry about having to pay rent during the summer. All staff are provided with clean, comfortable residential accommodation while employed at Camp Cooper.

Staff accommodation is normally shared with other members of the staff team.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate couples sharing accommodation or guarantee that staff members will have their own room.

Given the Night Owl's working hours and need to sleep later in the day than other members of the staff team, we will take this into consideration when allocating appropriate staff accommodation.

Staff Training

Our intensive residential staff training is a critical part of Camp Cooper.

Staff training sets the tone for the entire summer. During training, staff learn how to create a fun and positive Camp environment, run engaging activities, manage behaviour, support camper wellbeing and, most importantly, keep the children and young people in our care safe.

The Night Owl will receive specific training relating to overnight supervision, safeguarding, appropriate boundaries, responding to incidents, escalation procedures, camper welfare and dealing with emergency situations during the night.

Staff training will be based in central Scotland, with final location details provided in due course. Staff from both our Edinburgh and Crieff programmes come together for training before moving to their respective Camp locations.

Training is fully residential and is also an important opportunity for our staff team to get to know one another, understand how we operate and develop the confidence and skills needed for the summer ahead.

By the end of training, our aim is for every member of staff to understand both the enormous responsibility and the enormous privilege that comes with looking after the children and young people who attend Camp Cooper.