Camphill Community Glencraig

Applicant Information

A person living and working in a Camphill Community is known as a Volunteer Co-worker. Camphill Community Co-workers live and work along side children and adults with a learning disability contributing to the overall well being of the community.

The following information provides a brief outline of life as a volunteer in a Camphill Community. Please contact us for an application pack should you wish to progress your interest.

What this Booklet Explains

Living Together

Challenges or “Real Life Experience”

What do we expect from a Co-Worker

Workshops

Length of Stay

Free Time

Health Needs

Challenging Behaviour

Personal Care

The Application Process

Induction Training Course

Living Together

You will be part of a "house community", where you will live together with adults or children with special needs, long-term co-workers (so called House-coordinators, some of whom have children) and other volunteer co-workers. During the week, you will help in the house, workshop, school / training college or on the land and you will be asked to contribute to the community in a variety of ways. Everyone is expected to share the necessary cooking, cleaning, personal care and house tasks in their own house community. During the weekend, you will spend time together with your house community both at home and going for outings. Participation in community activities such as festivals, concerts, activity groups, events and talks in the hall also constitute an important part of your experience with us.

Challenge or "Real life Experience"

When you join us, you will be part of a group of people attempting to live a very special kind of community life. There is a diversity of nationalities working in Camphill, with each individual contributing with their own qualities and strengths.

Life in Camphill can at times be demanding. You will be kept busy throughout the day and some evenings. Challenges can be intense and demanding and flexibility is required. Most people who come find that as well as struggles and failures they meet interesting and rewarding experiences, learn new skills, grow within themselves and meet many new friends. Our experience has taught us that you will find life in a Camphill Community very rewarding and fulfilling.

A very important aspect of our Community is our Spiritual and Cultural life and the use of television is discouraged. Evenings and weekends are full of different activities; therefore we encourage all Co-workers to participate in Community plays, join the choir or band, show a film, or help to lead arts and crafts or sporting activities.

What do we expect of a co-worker?

  • To have a genuine interest in living and supporting with people with special needs.
  • To be able to cope with long hours and challenges.
  • To be tolerant and flexible.
  • To show an active interest in overcoming difficulties in yourself as well as others.
  • To be able to work as part of a team as well as independently.
  • To be able to communicate in English.
  • To be open-minded and accept guidance.
  • To be enthusiastic and willing to learn

All work is on a voluntary basis. Board and lodgings are provided by the Community, together with a small amount of pocket money (£150) to cover personal necessities. A basic principal of a Camphill Community is that no Co-workers are paid for their service. Each person gives the benefit of their work to the Community and in return the Community will meet their personal needs. Co-workers are responsible for their travel expenses and fares to and from Glencraig.

A flexible attitude to life and work in Glencraig is essential. While the recruitment group will take note of particular requests from volunteers around the type of experience they would like to have, in particular should they want to work with children or adults, we cannot always meet this requests. The recruitment group must meet the needs of the community when placing coworkers; therefore we cannot always accommodate these requests.

Workshops

The needs of the Community will determine where you will be asked to work. Some individual preferences can be catered for but it is part of the Camphill approach to do what is needed. Please state on the application form if you have any physical or medical impediment to working on the farm, in the estate or garden.

Length of stay

Our greatest needs are for individuals who are prepared to commit to Camphill for a year or longer. This will help provides stability, continuity, and security for our children and adult residents. It also provides you with the opportunity to experience the Camphill festivals and how life in Glencraig changes with the seasons. It also gives you an opportunity to become more deeply involved and take responsibility in the workplace and house community.

Free time

Co-workers have two free days a week and are asked to be available at all other times, according to a reasonable daily routine and the needs of the individual house community.

There are many different things to do on your day off as each Camphill Community in Northern Ireland is surrounded by a host of local attractions and in close proximity to most major towns and cities. Public transport is to a reasonably high standard with regular services provided.

Health Needs

Basic health needs and emergency treatment for Co-workers are covered by the Northern Ireland National Health Service. Please ensure that your dental and ophthalmic requirements have been met before arrival at Camphill Community Glencraig. If you are an E.U. citizen, please obtain the form from your country, which allows you reciprocal medical treatment if you are coming for six months or less.

Challenging Behaviour

Living with the adults and children cared for in Glencraig can bring challenges and help develop particular skills. Volunteers may experience what is known as challenging behaviour from the residents.

Challenging Behavior is defined as “People with learning disabilities sometimes engage in what are called challenging behaviors. These are behaviours that might be dangerous for the individual themselves (e.g. kicking, biting or hitting themselves, bashing themselves against objects), or to others (e.g. kicking, punching, or biting other residents or staff). Such behaviours also include other actions that are considered inappropriate within society in general (e.g. sexually inappropriate behaviour, verbal abuse, eating inedible substances/objects, smearing, and persistent shouting/screaming).

All volunteers in Glencraig are provided with the necessary information, training and support needed to look after themselves and the adult or child they care for.

Personal Care

During their time in Glencraig volunteersmay be tasked with providing personal care for the residents in their care. This is the responsibility of the coworker and house coordinator together. Personal care can include helping someone to shower or bathe, wash their hair, visit the toilet, brush their teeth or choose clothes for the day ahead.Volunteers will be given all necessary information and training to allow them to provide this care with confidence and dignity.

Camphill is a Christian community based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. This does not mean that you need to be a practicing Christian, or have knowledge of Anthroposophy. What we ask is that you come with an open heart and mind and a willingness to understand that life in a community needs some considerable give and take to create a harmonious wholeness. This means accompanying our residents to services, taking part in our festivals and participating in the daily and weekly household observances. With enthusiasm and humor, we can all learn a great deal from each other and from life together, resulting not in a certificate, but a real life experience!

The Application Process

This begins with the initial contact with Glencraig should it be via email, telephone or letter. If you have not already provided one; we will supply you with our Application Form. Please give as much detailed information as possible. If the Recruitment Group feels that you would be a suitable candidate as co-worker and that Glencraig can offer you a suitable and worthwhile placement, we will make you an initial offer.All documentation must be supplied in advance of your start date and your place in Glencraig will not be confirmed until it is all received.Please note that photocopied or scanned copies are acceptable during the application process but originals must be provided when you arrive – failure to provide them may affect your placement. In the case of providing Birth Certificates, a certified copy is acceptable.

You will be required to supply a Confidential Medical Report, completed on a form the recruitment group will send you as part of your application pack. This should be signed, dated and stamped by your own doctor.

References are an essential part of the application process for coworkers in Community as legislation in Northern Ireland prohibits healthcare employers from engaging new volunteers until two written references have been received.Your referees must be two people you have known for at least two years or more and they must not be family members; professional people such as previous employers, teachers or tutors and members of the clergy are all acceptable candidates. We will contact them for references regarding your character and your work or school experiences. Supplying email contact addresses for your referees makes the process much faster.

If you are applying from outside the UK you will be required to obtain a Police Criminal History Certificate from your local authority. If you are a UK citizen or a resident of the UK we will request a Criminal Records check. All applicants must supply a copy of their Birth Certificate and photocopy of their ID card or passport during the application process as a proof of identity. In addition we will ask you for proof of your current address such as a bank statement, credit card statement or residency certificate from your local council which shows your name and address. You must bring your original Birth Certificate, Medical Certificate (certified copies of your birth certificate will be accepted), Police Certificate and Photographic Identification (passport or ID card) to the office upon your arrival to be copied and certified for your file if not already given. Failure to produce these documents will mean that you are unable to take up your placement in the house and workshop and that you will not be allowed to remain in Glencraig.

It is a legal requirement in Northern Ireland that anyone working or volunteering with vulnerable children and adults must have an Access NI form. From the 1st April 2015 this must be applied for online through the following website: . When applying for this you will be asked to create an account and Glencraig will provide you with a PIN code in order to link your application to our checking service. Through your account you will be required to fill in an application that will then be validated by our organisation. We will not validate your application before you have provided us with copies of all the required identification documents detailed above.

Access NI no longer issue Glencraig with a copy of an individual’s clearance certificate therefore we require applicants to provide us with a scanned copy of their certificate during their application process and the original MUST be provided for validation on arrival in community.

Once we have all the above information in your file the recruitment group will again look through your application form, references and other documentation and will decide if we can offer you a suitable placement. We will contact you with the decision. If your application is successful you will receive an official letter of invitation and some further information. At this point you will be free to make your travel arrangements.

Induction Training course

All new co-workers attend the Induction and Foundation courses. These offer a better understanding of our way of life and the wider aspects of Anthroposophy, the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, on which the ethos of Camphill is based.

The course will also teach you the skills you will require to provide care for our residents. The training courses you will receive are: Keeping Children Safe, Keeping Adults Safe, Health and Safety, Infection Control, Manual Handling, Managing Aggression and Potential Aggression (MAPA), First Aid, Communication, Therapeutic Use of Daily Life Events, Outcomes that Matter (OTM) and Tutorials. This provides all volunteers with a total of 116 hours of training which involves Holistic Social Care Units, supported by the Crossfeilds Institute and the Northern Ireland Social Care Councils Induction Standards. Additional training is available throughout the year in other areas.

Glencraig can also provide the opportunity to enroll in the Holistic Support and Care of People with Special Needs (HoSC) courses. Training begins with Level 2 which is an introduction to social care issues. Level 3 then involves the Anthroposophical approach to social care. Volunteers who have completed levels 2 and 3 can progress to the more in depth HoSC levels 4 and 5. These courses are Pearson Assured and provide Crossfields Institute certification.

Co-Worker Information Checklist Form

If you wish to apply to be a volunteer in Glencraig, please complete this checklist and return to Recruitment Group with your application form.

Tick
Please list any questions you may have at the end of this questionnaire
Do you accept and understand that you are coming to a community where you will live and work with adults/children with a learning disability?
You will be part of a house community, either living in the house or a room nearby
You will take on part of the household tasks, i.e. washing up, bathing, dressing and undressing people with learning disabilities, caring, escorting people with learning disabilities, cooking, gardening, house sitting etc.
You may be asked to work as an assistant to a work co-ordinator or you may be asked to take charge together with another co-worker
You will have one free day a week
All other free time is by arrangement with your house community
You may be asked to lead or to be involved in evening activities with adults/children with learning disability
As part of your experience you would be expected to attend the cultural events.
Holidays must be arranged and agreed with your house co-ordinator / work shop co-ordinating in accordance with community policy
No payment is made for your work as a volunteer.
You will receive out of pocket expenses
Travel fares and expenses are your responsibility.
There will be compulsory training which you must complete
Are you aware that our life and work is based on the work of Rudolf Steiner, which is known as Anthroposophy?
During your stay you will be under the E.E.A. Health Insurance Scheme of Northern Ireland.
Please ensure that you bring appropriate clothing for your stay. You will need winter and wet weather clothing as well as appropriate clothing for warmer weather and for festive occasions and Sunday services
Upon your arrival you will be asked to submit your passport or ID card for certification. The front cover, passport photo and if applicable your visa stating entry clearance and expiry dates will be copied and kept in your personal file. These pages are stamped, signed and dated and can be inspected by our regulatory inspectors and / or the UK Border Agency if applicable
All original official documents – i.e. your Medical Certificate, police clearance and Birth Certificate must also be produced on arrival in community for verification, if not already sent during the application process
All tier 5 visas are issued subject to the visa holder being solely in community as a volunteer with no recourse to public funds. You will receive out of pocket expenses only – as stated in the Co. Worker handbook
If visa holders leave prior to the visa expiry date, the community is legally obliged to inform the UK Border Agency immediately
References regarding your character and work or school experience will be taken up
Under the points system Visa are required unless you come from an EEA country. Police registration and Access NI checks will be required
I have read and understood the above information and questions and/or have noted below any points upon which I would wish to have further discussion or clarification
Signature: Date:

CAMPHILL COMMUNITY GLENCRAIG

When you have applied to Glencraig you should keep this form and use it to make sure you have provided all the required documentation

Completed Application Form / Please supply as much information as possible including a full chronological history. Please explain any gaps in your history
Criminal History Certificate / From your local police authority to state if you have any criminal record.
Medical Certificate / We will supply you with a questionnaire you can take to your GP to be completed and signed by your doctor and yourself and stamped. This will state you are physically and mentally well.
Photocopy of your Birth Certificate / This must be scanned or faxed to our office prior to your acceptance as a co-worker. * please read note below *
Photocopy of your Passport/ID card / This must be scanned or faxed to our office prior to your acceptance as a co-worker
2 References / Contact details should be given on your application form and we will contact them directly. They MUST NOT be family members but should be teachers/tutors, previous employers, member of the clergy or professional person who has known you for at least 2 years. If your referee fails to respond within 2 weeks we will email you again to ask for a further referee and their contact details. If we are unable to gather 2 references we will not confirm your place in Glencraig.
Completed Access NI form / This form will be emailed or posted to you from our office. This is an essential part of your application form. If the form is incomplete or incorrect it cannot be submitted and this will delay confirmation of your placement. We will be happy to check it through before you post it. Please scan and email the completed copy to our email and we will email you back with any corrections; this will save you a lot of money in postage. *The completed Access NI form must be submitted in its original form - scanned or faxed copies will not be accepted. Please return them to The Recruitment Group, Camphill Community Glencraig, 4 Seahill Road, Holywood, BT18 0DB, Northern Ireland.
Proof of Address / In order to send the Access NI we need to ask you for a proof of your address so we need a recent copy an official document with your name and address on it – ideally a bank statement (you don’t need to give us the part with the balance on it) or a letter from a government office, residency confirmation from your local council, or even an electricity or telephone bill.
Completed Sponsorship
Certificate Questionnaire / This is only relevant to those applying from outside the EU.

*PLEASE NOTE*