Role Description for Volunteers

Role Description for Volunteer Co-Workers

General Introduction

Camphill Community Mountshannon is part of the worldwide Camphill movement and a member of AOCC (Association of Camphill Communities). We are a very small rural community based on the outskirts of the lakeside village of Mountshannon in County Clare. CCM provides both residential, day care and social enterprises for adults with learning disabilities. For more information on the community please go to www.camphillmountshannon.ie

We have two residential care houses and two semi-independent apartments plus a variety of day care projects such as weaving, crafts, animal care, gardening etc.

Ethos of the Organisation

As part of the Camphill Movement, Camphill Community Mountshannon works to create a community in which vulnerable adults can live and work with others in ‘shared lives’ based on mutual care and respect.  Our life and work is based on the Rudolf Steiner principles of curative education and social pedagogy. Through working with these principles we aim to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the individuals in our care.

Camphill Community Mountshannon strives to create situations where each person has the opportunity to participate in services that benefit others, believing that work is the primary vehicle for personal growth and development.  Our definition of work is ‘that which you do for others’.   

Key Responsibilities

The volunteer co-worker is responsible to the Person in Charge (PIC) and to the individual House Coordinators.

Co-workers work as part of a team made up of both volunteers and salaried co-workers with particular responsibility for their house.  They will support  the House Coordinator for the delivery of all aspects of the running of their house and for the care of our residents. All co-workers and staff collectively share the responsibility for the long term well-being of the whole community.

Key Tasks of the volunteer co-worker are:

To uphold Camphill values, and to appreciate the values of “life sharing” in both a practical and philosophical way.

To provide with humility, kindness, dignity and respect, all aspects of personal care to meet the needs of individual Residents.

To register for online training with HSEland and to become familiar with all policies as part of induction training and to uphold the standards of care set by HIQA and Health Act 2007.

To attend morning meetings and reviews as required and to keep informed regarding any changes to the routine or care for Residents as they arise

To maintain  co-worker working timetable and house task rota within the house diary and ensure that these are carried out to the appropriate standards.

To upkeep the daily notes for the residents you work with within each house

To share responsibility for the cleanliness of areas used by Residents

To liaise with PIC, house coordinators, parents, carers, HIQA inspectors, HSA, HSE and Safety representatives, plus other health care professionals and therapists and to maintain house forms as required.

To facilitate and participate at all meal times in ensuring that all Residents are included, that their needs are met and supported, including preparation of some meals

To administer medication where appropriate following the correct procedures and guidelines and to keep all records as required

To accompany Residents outside of the community for work, walks, trips, outings, house holidays and appointments and to ensure they have an appropriate clothing, equipment and medication they may need

To play an active part in maintaining and developing a rich cultural life and celebration of festivals with the community, which is central to us as a Camphill Community.

To assist Residents to actively participate in the cultural and spiritual life of the community and to maintain festival atmosphere at the appropriate times of year

To demonstrate a flexible approach towards enhancing community life, such as evening activities e.g games nights.

To participate in shared general house tasks which may include cooking meals, cleaning and laundry tasks, transport duties, minor maintenance tasks, gardening, farming etc.

Plus any other task that may be required as part of the general running of the community.

Training and Supervision 

There is an initial period of induction for new co-workers.  For more experienced co-workers, support and appropriate further training and professional development will be agreed with the PIC. For volunteer co-workers who volunteer for a second year, Intellectual Disabilities (QQI level 5) will be included as part of their professional development. Other professional development training options could include for example, growing food organically.

Volunteer co-workers will have access to reviews, supervision and support sessions, where issues of concern or those needing clarification can be raised, and where practices can be reflected, with the PIC or house coordinator, or co-worker of choice. 

Terms and Conditions

The application process is described in more detail in the volunteer section of our website.

Camphill community Mountshannon is committed to the standards set by HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority). As such, we are required to carry out checks on your work and personal references, and also Garda checks.  All offers of employment are subject to these checks being completed to our satisfaction.