Policy Overview
Please note that while some of the issues covered here are also covered in the FAQ's we would strongly advise you to read the following document.
What about Holidays?
Generally all co-workers have 6 weeks off per year, a period that is spread over the pupils’ school holidays, e.g:
- 3 weeks in summer (can only be taken after completion of a whole year)
- 1 week in October
- 1 week at Easter
- 1 week at Christmas
Exceptions are sometimes made on an individual basis after discussion with your house co-ordinators and your house community.
Please note that those volunteers placed in St Andrew’s Project or Cairnlee will have different entry and holiday dates from the rest of the School.
Monthly Allowance
New co-workers receive a personal allowance of £160 per month, reviewed periodically. This will cover your personal expenses, clothing, postage, stationery, long-distance telephone calls, holidays, etc. You will receive free accommodation and food as well as all basic toiletries and bedding provided by the house.
After one school year (4 terms) in Camphill you will receive a sum, which equals one month’s allowance, as a contribution to your holiday expenses. Any other holiday expenses will have to be met by you. If you stay for a shorter period of time the holiday contribution will be proportionally less.
Journeys Home - European Countries
We pay your journey home after a stay of a complete school year (4 terms) with us, unless it is differently arranged in writing before your arrival. If you decide to leave earlier, you are expected to fund your journey home yourself.
Journeys Home - Non-EU Countries
If you come for one year (4 terms) we contribute to your home journey with an amount which is the equivalent of a journey to a European destination with the cheapest reasonable fare. Requests need to be made to the Finance Committee, which will determine the amount. If you decide to leave earlier than the agreed period you are expected to fund your journey yourself. If you come to stay for the three-year BA Programme in Curative Education, we will pay your return ticket at the end of the 3rd year.
Clothes
Do remember that Scotland can be cool and wet, even during the summer months. You should therefore arrive well equipped with suitable clothing. You are required to have good casual clothes (‘Sunday clothes’) for taking pupils to the services on Sunday and for our festivals (skirts or dresses for ladies and trousers other than jeans for men).
The Use Of Alcohol And Drugs
Our policy is to actively discourage the consumption of alcohol on the premises. No one must ever be under the influence of alcohol when working within the Schools. Anyone who wishes to live and work in the field of Curative Education and Social Therapy within Camphill must, under all circumstances, abstain from using narcotics and drugs of any kind, unless prescribed by the doctor for your personal use.
Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to be in possession of, or to smoke Cannabis or any other narcotic or drug unless prescribed by a doctor.
Smoking
Smoking is allowed out-of-doors or in agreed designated areas.
Smoking is not allowed in areas where food is prepared or consumed.
You are not allowed to smoke when in the company of pupils.
You should have a lighter with your name on it. Matches should not be used.
Cigarettes should never be thrown away in the grounds but always placed in a suitable bin.
Access To Communication
E-mail/Internet facilities are available in every residential house. Use of telephone (including long-distance calls) is subject to regulations in the house in which you live. It is possible to send fax communications from the Office.
PC Use Policy
- PC use in Camphill School Aberdeen is regulated by an acceptable use policy.
- Before you use any Camphill School Aberdeen computer you must sign a Declaration Form available from the Systems Administrator.
Use of the internet is strictly forbidden for the following purposes:
- To contact pornographic sites or any pursuit of this nature.
- Carrying out illegal activity.
If you receive any unsolicited e-mail, or accidentally download any pornographic or offensive materials from the internet, you must immediately inform the Systems Administrator.
In addition:
- You must not tamper with the computers’ settings.
- The School computers are periodically checked to monitor this policy.
- The computers in the main office are not available to co-workers.
Personal Audio Equipment
Radios/cassettes are your own responsibility and should be used only in your own rooms, respecting that the sound levels are not disturbing to others. It is general policy not to have background music whilst working with pupils.
Insurance
The School is not responsible for your personal effects, e.g. musical instruments, jewellery, cameras, radios, etc. - these must be kept safely by you. The School has general public liability insurance only. If there is damage done to your personal belongings you may negotiate whether there can be some help for replacement. You will be provided with a lockable cupboard in your room to keep valuables safe.
Cars/Transport
If you come with a car it is your own responsibility to maintain it. The School has company cars with limited access for people with British licences only. If the community require additional drivers you may be approached to help with this if you stay longer and hold a suitable British licence.
There are good local bus services available to facilitate you on days off or to town. Transport between campuses is available to attend various activities within the School.
What About My English?
Most of our pupils have communication difficulties and we, as co-workers, must be able to speak a reasonable amount of English to be able to help and communicate with our pupils. Many of their frustrations can be understood and resolved if the pupils can be helped to express themselves. There can arise considerable difficulties if the co-worker is not able to converse freely in English. It is therefore important that those who do come to Camphill have an adequate command of the English language. Co-workers wishing to apply for the BA Curative Education Course must have a valid IELTS Academic Certificate (level 6 pass mark) or equivalent.
Confidentiality
As a co-worker, you will have access to confidential information about individual pupils in order to carry out your day-to-day work. Please take the greatest care when you are in a social situation out with the School to respect this confidentiality.
Commitment
We do hope that co-workers will stay for the time that they have committed themselves to but we do realise that this work, although deeply rewarding, can at times be very demanding. In such circumstances, we shall try to provide the support to go through these times but this will very much depend on your willingness to discuss this honestly with your house co-ordinator or senior co-worker.
Regular support talks will facilitate you to learn and develop your skills. It is a lengthy procedure to fulfil all requirements to work as a volunteer. Should you for an unforeseen reason need to alter your date of departure, it is important to give adequate notice to the house co-ordinator.
Medical Cover
During your stay in the Schools you can register at the Camphill Medical Practice. Once registered with a Doctor, you benefit from the regular medical cover provided by the National Health Service, including full N.H.S. hospital treatment. The Camphill Medical Practice specialises in Homeopathy and Anthroposophical medical treatments alongside mainstream medical treatments.
Dental services under the National Health Scheme for EC nationals and citizens of some other countries can be used for emergency treatment only. We strongly advise that you have a dental check before travelling to Camphill. You may wish to consider paying for private Dental Insurance for the duration of your stay in Camphill.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B can be a serious, life-threatening illness; people at risk are generally immunised against the infection. It has been recognised that staff and clients of residential accommodation for the mentally handicapped are a risk group for Hepatitis B. (Please read Dr Geider’s letter, attached to our application form, regarding this serious infection.)
New co-workers who come to the Camphill School Aberdeen are strongly advised to take up the immunisation for Hepatitis B before joining our community.
HIV - Blood-Borne Viruses
HIV is another blood-borne virus that could be transmitted under similar circumstances, although the risk of HIV transmission is considerably less than for Hepatitis B. The prevalence of HIV in the general population of the UK is low; nevertheless in your daily routine you are advised to strictly follow Infection Control precautions as outlined in the Health & Safety section of the Co-worker Information Handbook. If there is a specific risk for you to contract HIV or Hepatitis B you will receive sufficient information, instruction and training, if necessary.
As care workers we have an ethical as well as legal duty to protect the health and safety of our pupils. If you have any reason to believe that you may have been exposed to infection with HIV, in whatever circumstances, you must promptly seek and follow confidential medical advice on whether you should be tested for HIV. Examples of how a person may have been exposed to HIV infection include if they have:
- engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse between men
- shared injecting equipment whilst misusing drugs
- had unprotected heterosexual intercourse in a country where transmission of HIV through sexual intercourse between men and women is common
- engaged in invasive medical, surgical, dental or midwifery procedures in parts of the world where infection control precautions may have been inadequate.
Additionally, a person who is aware that they had unprotected sexual intercourse with someone in any of the above categories may also have been exposed to HIV infection.
In case of a positive test for HIV or Hepatitis B you must promptly seek and follow appropriate expert medical and occupational health advice.
Courses and in-service training
Camphill is committed to providing co-workers with opportunities for regular and ongoing training and support. You will have a supervisor, usually the House Co-ordinator, who will meet with you regularly to provide support, supervision and guidance. There will also be regular meetings and training sessions in your house as well as occasional conferences and training events during the year that you will be expected to attend. Sometimes you will be expected to attend events held during holiday periods.
During your initial year here you will be expected to complete the Induction Process and, as a minimum, participate in the Foundation Process. These consist of a series of learning activities designed to enable you to become competent for your role as a co-worker.
Induction Process
The Induction Process is essential for anyone involved in the care and education of the children within the Community. Induction takes approximately 20 weeks to complete. It starts when you arrive with a course that goes over important elements of the Co-Worker Information Handbook, e.g. health and safety, child protection, house and school life. You will also participate in Emergency First Aid, and Moving and Handling training at this time.
At an early stage you will be introduced to your new colleagues and to the children with whom you will live and work. A key part of your learning in these early days will be the regular supervision talks that you will have with your house co-ordinator. Your co-ordinator will encourage you to think about how you are developing and seek to support and challenge you to grow further. You will be expected to keep track of your progress and demonstrate your skills and understanding through everyday activities, conversation, and completing written worksheets and notes. Completing induction is important preparation for moving on to the Foundation Process.
Foundation Process
The Foundation Process is designed to enable you to further develop your knowledge, skills and understanding about your role. It consists of the following compulsory elements:
- Attendance at a minimum of 15 (of 21) two-hour weekly lecture/workshops based on an Anthroposophical topic.
- Regular supervision talks with your House Co-ordinator.
A Foundation Completion Certificate will be issued to all those who fully complete the Foundation Process by satisfying the competence criteria through discussion and completion of relevant Worksheets.
Volunteer >> FAQ
