SRS Concierge Host Family Code of Conduct
Note: This policy is subject to change at any time. Please check all SRS Concierge Policies on a regular basis for updates.
Congratulations on choosing to participate in a Homestay organized by the StudentRoomStay Concierge (SRS Concierge). This Host Family Code of Conduct sets out the guidelines and expectations for behavior that apply to Hosts participating in a Homestay, and it should be read together with the SRS Concierge Host Agreement as applicable. The Host Family Standards of Conduct, has been developed by SRS Concierge to ensure the safety and well-being of all students participating in the SRS Concierge (“Program”). All capitalized terms have the same meaning as defined in the agreements, and the terms of the agreements will apply to the extent of any inconsistency with this policy. The Host Family and all individuals over the age of 18 who reside in the Host Family’s home, are required to fully abide by the rules, regulations and standards of conduct set forth herein.
Please read through this policy carefully and contact us at support@studentroomstay.com if you have any questions. It is your responsibility as the Host (as well as any other applicant named on your application form and registered by SRS Concierge as a Host) to ensure all residents in your Home abide by the obligations outlined in this Policy. This includes residents under the age of 18.
SRS Concierge’s Role:
MUTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Both Hosts and Students must:
Host Family Obligations:
General:
● Make yourself and your Home available to your Student. You must be a permanent resident of the Home and be available to your Student on a reasonably frequent basis. You must specifically be present at the Home when your Student first arrives or arrange for a trusted friend or family member with a current background check to be present. Your Student should also be able to contact you within reasonable hours.
● The Host Family will maintain open communication, by phone, text message, e-mail or in-person as deemed necessary by SRS Concierge, with the Local Manager and/or any other representative of StudentRoomStay Concierge. The Host Family will respond within 24 hours to all communications received from the Local Manager and/or another representative of StudentRoomStay Concierge. The Host Family will allow the Local Manager, or another representative of StudentRoomStay Concierge to enter the Host Family’s home, with reasonable notice to the Host Family, for the purpose of ensuring or confirming the Student’s well-being and care.
● The Host Family will provide the Student with a safe, healthy, caring and loving environment during the Student’s stay in their home. Generally, the Host Family will treat the Student as a member of their family. The Host Family will interact with the Student daily, will encourage the Student to participate in the Host Family’s activities and will treat the Student with kindness and respect. Include your Student in normal activities and help them to learn. Your Student’s privacy is important but you should make a genuine effort to involve them in your Home and community. Be flexible, sensitive and patient when communicating with your Student and use clear, understandable English.
● Student will be required to abide by the SRS Concierge Student Code of Conduct. A copy of the Student Code of Conduct will be provided to Host Family prior to the beginning of the Enrollment Period. Host Family is expected to review and become familiar with the Student Code of Conduct. In the event Host Family becomes aware of any Student violation or potential violation of the Student Code of Conduct, Host Family Agrees to immediately report such incident to the SRS Concierge Local Manager.
● Host Family will not exhibit abusive, aggressive or otherwise inappropriate behavior toward the Student, and will not permit any family members or guests to exhibit such behavior. The Host Family will honor and respect the Student’s privacy.
● The Host Family will establish house rules before the Student arrives. Within 72 hours of arrival, the Host Family will provide a home tour and openly communicate with the Student to discuss house and bathroom rules, expectations, and standards of behavior; this may be in addition to the Student Code of Conduct, while the Stduent is living with the Host Family. Make your Student aware of the layout of the Home, any instructions (for household appliances or amenities such as a pool). The Host Family will ensure that a written copy of the House Rules is available to the Student at all times.
● The Student should have internal access to the Home at all times, meaning you must provide a key, security code or other means of entry in case you are not present at the Home at any time.
● The Host Family must always reside in the home. Any exceptions must be notified and approved by the Local Manger. The Host Family will ensure that the Student is not unsupervised for more than six hours if 15 years old or younger unless previously approved by the Local Manager; the Student will not be unsupervised for more than twelve hours if 17 years old or younger unless previously approved by the Local Manager. The Student will not be unsupervised overnight if 17 years old or younger under any condition; a High School Student above the age of 18 cannot be left unsupervised overnight without prior approval from the Local Manger and written approval from SRS Concierge.
● Hosts must notify SRS Concierge, in advance, of any short-term visitors or new residents so that appropriate checks can be arranged.
● No more than two international students may reside in the home, unless approved by SRS Concierge Management; No other international student may reside in the home from another agency or student service provider without prior notification to and approval from SRS Concierge. If you are hosting an international student directly or from another homestay provider, they are not required to obtain clearances, however, you must sight their visa for validity and let SRS Concierge know immediately if you have any concerns.
● The Host Family will assist the Student in establishing local contacts with banking institutions, appropriate medical providers, a mobile phone provider, and identify a safe place in case of emergency.
● The Host Family will not lend money to the Student, nor accept a loan from a Student. The Host Family will not open any joint account nor make any financial arrangement with the Student the Host Family will not co-sign on any accounts and to never exchange money directly with Students or their and family members. The host family agrees not to discuss financial matters with Students including those related to this agreement.
● The Host Family will encourage the Student to limit the duration and frequency of communication with their home-country friends and family to the extent necessary to promote the Student’s successful participation in the Program.
● The Host Family will attend all information and orientation sessions and host family gatherings organized by SRS Concierge. If the Host Family will be unable to attend any of these functions or events, then the Host Family will give prior notice to their assigned SRS Concierge Local Manager.
● The Host Family will ensure that the Student removes all their belongings at the conclusion of residency. The Host Family will consult with the Local Manager for summer-storage of the Student’s personal belongings. The Host Family will be responsible for recording any discarded or gift items over $600.00 estimated value on their taxes as applicable.
● The Host Family must agree to accept personal responsibility for students under the age 18 pertaining to care, support, and protection.
When hosting Students in high school or younger enrolled in a Long-Term School Program:
● The Host Family will be assigned an SRS Concierge Local Manager who will assist Student and Host Family in facilitating Student’s participation in the SRS Concierge Program. The Host Family will meet with the Local Manager at the Host Family’s house on a quarterly (twice per academic semester) basis to discuss matters relating to the Student’s participation in the Program.
● Host families agree to monitor the Students whereabouts at all times and provide standard parenting activities such as transportation to and from school, (and to academic and some extracurricular events, and attend parent/teacher meetings, orientations, and other such meetings if agreed upon as part of the student’s placement)
● The Host Family will keep SRS Concierge informed of any issues or concerns relating to the Student and will take all reasonable action to ensure and support the Student’s full participation in the Program, including as related to the Student’s enrollment in School. The Host Family will contact the Local Manager promptly if the Host Family learns that the Student is experiencing academic, emotional or social difficulties.
● The Host Family will notify the school and Local Manager if the Student is going to be late or absent from school; the reason for the tardiness or absence must be provided. Notify SRS Concierge if you believe there has been excessive non-attendance from school.
● The Host will never leave the Student under age 18 alone at Home overnight or without an approved adult who has a current background check and notifying SRS Concierge immediately of any overnight visitors who are not permanent residents with the appropriate checks.
● The Host will provide SRS Concierge with at least two weeks’ notice if going on holidays without the Student so that a suitable temporary homestay can be arranged.
● The Student is prohibited from possessing, consuming and being under the influence of alcohol or tobacco products. The Host Family will not purchase alcohol or tobacco products for the Student nor provide the Student with alcohol or tobacco products of any kind. The Host Family will take reasonable steps to prevent the Student’s access to alcohol and tobacco products in the home.
● The host will immediately notify SRS Concierge of any incident or allegation of child abuse - See Sexual Abuse Prevention Policy.
Meals:
If providing meals is part of the placement agreement, provide healthy food for your Student. This means preparing adequate healthy meals in accordance with the agreed meal plan detailed in the placement report, with at least one meal per day consisting of meat/other protein, vegetables and rice/noodles. Ensure you have adequate grocery items for any meals (breakfast or lunch) that your Student may be required to prepare themselves and take the time to show them what to do.
When hosting Students in high school or younger enrolled in a Long Term School Program: The Host Family will provide or ensure the Student has access to three proper and nutritious meals per day. Hosts will work with students to understand their meal preferences and provide a reasonable variety of options for each meal. Breakfast may be self-serve food options, but hosts must work with students to understand how to access and prepare the food items. Lunch on non-school days may be self-serve food options provided by the host. On school days, students can be shown how to pack their own lunch using self-serve food options provided by the host or will purchase lunch at school at their own expense. Hot, home-cooked dinners must be prepared regularly and provided for students each night, with exceptions of restaurant food or leftovers. Leftovers, instant or frozen food is acceptable as an exception but not on a regular basis. The student must always have access to clean, safe drinking water and reasonable, student-preferred nutritious snacks unless food is being regulated for a medical or health reason.
Transportation:
Show your Student around the community. Help your Student to understand the route to and from their Education Provider. If this involves public transport, show them how to buy transport tickets. Make your Student aware of places of interest within the community such as shops, parks and important services such as banks, post offices and local police stations. Also ensure they know the emergency contact number is 911. For further information, please refer to the SRS Concierge Travel Policy
When hosting Students in high school or younger enrolled in a Long Term School Program:
Living Environment:
Medical Care:
Travel and Transportation Policy for Students in High School our Younger
The safety of our students is our top priority. All students in High School and Younger and their host families are required to comply with the SRS Concierge Travel Policy while participating in the Program. Please contact your Local Manager with any questions.
The Host Family will ensure adequate arrangements are in place for transportation of the Student to and from school and school related activities that contribute to the Student’s engagement with the Program. The Host Family understands and acknowledges that SRS Concierge does not authorize, approve or condone a Student under the age of 18 using third-party ride-sharing services, such as Uber or Lyft, without an adult member of the Host Family present. Unaccompanied students are able to use licensed taxi services provided the travel is otherwise in compliance with the SRS Concierge Travel Policy and in compliance with the policies of the taxi service provider. Depending on the nature of the travel and age of the student, documentation and approval requirements apply.
For students in high school or younger enrolled in a long term academic school program, The Host Family will be responsible for Student’s airport pick-up at the beginning of each Enrollment Period and airport drop-off at the end of each Enrollment Period, as well as up to one airport drop-off and pick-up in the event the Student travels to their home country during Winter break (only applies to the designated airports, and at pre-specified arrival and departure dates and times). The Host Family shall bear all the costs arising out of failure to fulfill this responsibility.
Updated August 15, 2020